Page 71 of Ride or Die
“No problem,” Colt says.
“Yeah man, uh, we can’t have anyone knowing anything about us being involved in that shit, ya know what I mean?” He chuckles as he points back and forth between himself and Simone. The fact he’s trying to buy our silence is one thing, but this guy has got to be the biggest moron I’ve ever met. He literally just implicated himself in the crime that rocked our neighborhood last night, killing three people.
“Wait,” I speak up, and everyone's eyes turn to me.
“You were a part of this?” My focus is on Simone. “Last night. Please tell me that you had no part in what happened last night.” I look at her with accusatory eyes.
Simone grabs the elbow of her other arm, looking closed-off and uncomfortable. Her eyes dart away from me, and she chews her cheek, not saying a word. Her lack of response is clear.
Simone has officially gone to the dark side of The Shores.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
GIRL FIGHT
LAYLA
I pull Simone into the garage for privacy. Colton and Franky look on curiously as I prepare to verbally assault my sister.
“Simone, I’m your sister! Tell me what the fuck happened?” I whisper-shout. She huffs, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.
Franky steps into the garage. “She was with me. I asked her to do something for me and shit hit the fan. I had to protect my girl and my business. It escalated, and that's all you fucking need to know,” Franky says sternly, staring me down as he puts his arm between me and Simone.
Colton moves beside me, his hand holding the back of my arm, ready to pull me out of harm’s way. His jaw clenches and his eyes darken, challenging Franky.
“Franky, back away from her. We get it, okay? No harm here, she’s just concerned for her sister, is all.” Franky sizes up Colt's strong, intimidating form, and his intensity lightens as he steps back.
Colton shoots me a look, warning me to let up on this. The less we know the better.
But I turn my focus back onto Simone and grab her arm.
“What are you doing, Simone? How long have you been involved with Franky and all of this?”
She shrugs her arm out of my grasp. “A few weeks. He takes care of me.” She tries to hold her head high, feigning confidence, but I know my sister. I see it in her eyes. She’s hurting. Her whole demeanor has changed from a few weeks ago, which makes complete sense now that I see she's with him.
“Why Simone?”
She glares at me. “Because of you! You stole Colton from me!” she shrieks like a crazy woman, and I can't stop my eyes from rolling. Still with this shit?
“Not all of us can get scholarships to get us out of here. Not all of us can land one of the only sensible guys around! I’m stuck here for life. I need a man that can take care of me. I’m not cut out to work twelve hours a day at minimum wage, Layla! And now Franky is that for me. So, fuck off with your judgments!” she snaps.
And to think my parents call me the brat? She’s fucking dating the local drug-dealing pimp to pay her way instead of working hard for herself. I see Colton roll his eyes and drop his head back in annoyance before his eyes narrow at her.
“Seriously? She didn’t steal me when you never had me. You hoping I’d date you when I showed no interest is not her fault. It’s yours. Expecting a man to pay your way instead of working, also your fault. You don’t get to choose who I love, Simone, so don’t blame any of your choices on her. I’m sick of this shit. It’s pathetic. Get over it and be happy for your sister,” Colton says through gritted teeth, the vein in his neck pulsing.
She raises her eyebrows, and her eyes widen as she scoffs. “Love? Yeah right.”
She crosses her arms again, acting like she doesn’t care, but I can see the hurt in her eyes at the revelation. Here I am, with aman who’s in love with me and who takes care of me, and she’s on the arm of the local pimp.
Franky chuckles as he wraps his arm around her, pulling her close. She leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“I take care of her now. Hawthorne wouldn’t have been able to handle this little spitfire,” Franky adds proudly, kissing her cheek. I almost gag. The idea of them is sickening.
“Simone, you know I worked my ass off and sacrificed a lot for that degree. Don’t hate me because of that or for falling in love with Colton. I never stole him from you, and you know it. I don't want us to keep on this way.” She bites the inside of her cheek and looks away.
“I thought you were better thanthis,” I say quietly, my eyes darting back and forth between her and Franky. She knows exactly what the fuck I’m talking about. I know it's not nice, but to see her sink this low all because she refuses to work harder for herself? Colton’s right, that’s just pathetic.
