Page 76 of Sutton's Shadow

“I don’t just think it; I know it.”

She barked out a laugh. “You know nothing. We could have made a lot of money, her and me. Bethany was gonna be my ticket out of here, but you stole that away from me.”

“And just how was she going to help you out of here?”

She hesitated, and Wyatt was sure she was searching for a grand lie. “Modeling. I was negotiating a modeling contract for her.” Wyatt fought the need to roll his eyes. Modeling... right. That was the biggest crock he’d ever heard from his mother. “Thankfully, I found another avenue that’s just as lucrative.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You think you’ve won by taking my Bethany away from me. But you’ll see. I’ve already made a ton and have plans to make even more; no thanks to you.”

“Why do I think your endeavors aren’t entirely legal?”

She emptied the bottle with one last gulp and smiled, a smirk that said she had big plans and would stop at nothing to implement them.

“Jesus, Ronnie, what are you up to? Where are you getting all this money? Who paid for all this?” He gestured at her clothes and body.

“It’s none of your business, my boy, so you better mind yours.” She leered at Sutton, who waited for him by the door. “She sure is a pretty one. I’d hate to see something happen to her.”

Wyatt stepped closer to his mother, boiling with fury. He balled his hands into fists at his sides to keep from lashing out at her. “Are you threatening her?”

That ugly cackle burst from her too plump lips. “Now why would I do that? It’s not like you took anything from me, so why would I take anything from you?” Her tone dripped sarcasm, and Wyatt’s blood burned in his veins.

“You touch her and?”

“Don’t worry.Iwon’t touch her. As long as you stay out of my business.” Her message was clear?she wouldn’t dirty her hands with the unpleasant stuff. Her “friend” would take care of it for her. The fire in his veins boiled as red-hot rage took over.

He took another step closer, using his size to intimidate her. “If you or any of your ‘friends’ come near her, Bethany, or anyone else I care about, I promise you, you won’t be free long enough to enjoy that ridiculous new body of yours.”

She leered up at him. “Careful, son. You’re showing your girl your true colors.” Her gaze moved past him to Sutton, and he’d never felt the urge to stab someone in the eyes more than he did at this moment.

“She knows perfectly well what I’m capable of. The question is, Mother, do you?”

Her gaze shot back to him, satisfaction filling him at the flicker of fear in her eyes. He plucked the Glock from her hand and stepped back. “I changed my mind. I’m keeping this. You can find another way to protect yourself.”

He turned as she hissed. “That’s theft. Give it back. You can’t just come in here and steal my possessions.”

“Report me,” he threw over his shoulder. “But I’m thinking this gun is unregistered, so there is no way that’s going to happen. Have a nice life,” he called with a wave as he placed a hand on the small of Sutton’s back and went out the door.

Halfway down the sidewalk to his waiting car, the door slammed shut with a rattle of the windows. He waited until they were both seated inside the car before huffing out a long-held breath.

“You okay?” Sutton asked.

“Yeah, I will be as soon as we’re away from this place.” With that, he started the truck and pulled away from his childhood home without a backward glance. Hopefully for the last time.

“What do you think she meant by all that? What is she planning?”

“I don’t think I want to know. If Ronnie’s involved, it can’t be anything good.”

Chapter 24

Afterschool,Bethanywashappy to see her stuff from her mother’s house but felt bad for the little white lie she’d told Sutton. While she did want some of it, missing her crap wasn’t what really bothered her.

And now Lia was pleading for her help. Convinced someone was locked in the basement, she didn’t know what to do about it, and she was too afraid of getting caught by the foster parents to sneak down to check. So the snap messages she sent mostly involved her begging Bethany to come to the house to help.

Lia:There’s another party tonight. Easy to sneak you in.

That was probably true, but what they were thinking of doing was crazy. They didn’t even know for sure whether something bad was going on. But the snaps kept coming. And they got worse.

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