Page 38 of Small Town Beast

She told him what she had told the P.I earlier today.

“I left Amari with my mother. It was the first time I ever let them spend time together alone.” She shuddered, wishing for the umpteenth time she had done differently. But the entire reason she’d let Mama watch him was to apply to a job in Rowanville that would pay more.

She didn’t get the job, and she lost Amari forever.

Numbly Tanya continued, “Mama took him to the park. She ran into her friend from church and they got to talking. Mama said Amari wandered off. He was kidnapped. Three years ago there was a little girl that went missing around that place, but the police don’t think it’s connected. They didn’t help me at all. That’s all I know.”

To her surprise he listened carefully, and just held her close, stroking her gently to give her comfort. All he asked was, “Is your mother on drugs?”

That was everybody’s first assumption.

“No,” said Tanya. “I knowfor a factshe doesn't mess with that stuff.”

“You don’t like her,” Saverin said, reading her tone.

“She was a bad mother to me,” Tanya admitted bitterly. “But when Amari was born she started trying to make back. We wentto church and talked to her pastor together. I thought we had mended fences. Daycare was so expensive and it always made Amari sick — these people kept that place so dirty. Mama told me she could help me, and she wanted to spend time with her grandbaby. I thought I could forgive her. For Amari’s sake. You know sometimes people treat grandkids different from their own kids. It was a mistake.”

Tanya swallowed hard. “Lord, it was the worst mistake. And when he disappeared? She said it wasmyfault!” Out of breath, she hid her eyes behind a shaking hand.I won’t cry again.“It was my fault for trusting her with my son. It’s all my fault.”

Saverin’s deep voice rumbled in her ear. “Did she take him, you think?”

“Take who? Amari? That makes no sense,” Tanya snapped. The very idea!

“Why not? If your mother was the last person to see the kid alive –-”

“He’s still alive! My son is still alive!Get off me!” She began to struggle wildly. “Easy,” he said, holding her wrists. “Hey, hey, take it easy.”

“He’s still alive!” she shrieked. “Don’t say my son is dead! It’s not true!”

He held her close now; both arms around her, and he’d let go his death grip on her hands, which tingled as the blood returned. But Tanya wasn’t minding that. Despair, fear and frustration had blacked out her mind.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry, darlin’.”

He could be so kind…her head was spinning.

“Why is this happening to me?” she moaned. “I just wanted to come home and sleep.”

“I know honey, I know.”

“Why did God take away my baby?”

The man just held her, saying nothing. He stroked her back until she calmed down, going from terrifying to gentle in the blink of an eye.

He’s got a soft side.

She remembered how when he’d thrust inside her that first time, and she flinched, he had stopped and waited for her to adjust.What is this? Why do I feel this way? He’s a monster, he’s going to hurt me…He just put a knife on my neck! But this feels nice…it feels nice to have him here.

“You good?” he grunted.

“Go away,” she replied blearily. She felt so confused and tired, afraid, angry…I just want to sleep.But she couldn’t; not while a man was keeping her prisoner in her own room, trapping her in her bed with one knee pinned between her spread legs. His thigh was pressing slightly on her pussy. Was it deliberate?

Why did it feel good?

She whispered, “You need to get out of my house.”

“I will,” he said. “I promise. I never wanted to hurt you— that wasn’t my intention.”

She shuddered. Something metal and shiny glinted in the light: his watch.

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