Page 13 of Protecting His Woman
“You’re getting a kick out of this, aren’t you?”Neil asked.
“Annette had shit coming to her.All her life, she has gotten away with a lot.”
“You know there is a chance Vicki could be mine,” Neil said.
“You ever done the paternity test?”Damion asked.
“Fuck, no.She could be mine, and, like, ten teachers, and whoever she fucking fucked back in the day.”
“Those kids could be anybody’s.I know they’re not mine,” Damion said.“She is one bitch I never touched.She was poison.”
Neil laughed, but wasn’t entertained.
“You okay?”
“No, not really.”Neil rubbed a hand down his face.“I keep a tight fucking ship, and I don’t know how, but Jude managed to steal five girls.I don’t know who the fuck they are.None of them are talking and they’re in a bad way.I want them off my property.”
“You’re not getting Jude back,” Damion said.
“I know, and trust me, that little shit has cost me enough, and I know getting those girls back home will cost me.Just name the price, and deal with it,” Neil said.“I don’t give a fuck what it takes.I want nothing to do with it.”
Damion looked at him and had no choice but to go and see the girls.Stepping into the barn, Neil had kept them locked up in the cages.The girls were in bad condition.
“I’ve got them in withdrawal right now,” Neil said.“I’ve got the doctor on speed dial to come and deal with them, but they need to be home with their families.”
Damion pulled out his cell phone, went to each girl, took a picture, and then left.He had contacts outside of Old County.No one wanted anything to fucking do with the town, and it was up to him to deal with shit like this.This was part of the job he hated, as it always came with a fucking price.
After leaving Thames’s territory, he paid a visit to Jude, fed him, beat the shit out of him, then left, leaving him locked up.
Once he was done, he had no choice but to start making negotiations when it came to the girls.It was easier if they were wanted.It made it a lot harder to get the girls to a safe place if they were picked up off the streets.
This day was fucking shit.
****
Vicki had a horribleday at work.
It was rare for Old County to get tourists, but from time to time, they came through.Today was one of those days, and whenever they got tourists, there was not a lot they could do but wait it out and hope for the best.Vicki had been polite and tried to advise that they leave town.If tourists entered Old County and saw bad stuff, it would be impossible for them to leave.The newly married couple were looking for places to hike, and they also wanted a hotel room.
Old County didn’t have any hotels.Of course, this would start people asking what kind of town didn’t have hotels.
Some tourists came because they heard the rumors that once you were in Old County, you couldn’t leave.Some of them got to leave, others didn’t.
Vicki listened to Betsy’s day, telling how she had read some books and they were learning right and wrong.
It was amazing to hear Betsy finally loving school.Of course, she would complain about the lack of hair-playing classes, but Vicki tried to make it up to her.Dhalia, Smithy, and Pete were all up in their bedroom, studying.She would go up from time to time to see if they were lying to her.All three wanted a better life than the one Mom had.
Dhalia was a little like her, and spent all her spare time in a book.Vicki had been bullied for who her mother was, and she had a feeling they all got the same.There was nothing they could do about who had given birth to them.
Frank was nowhere to be seen, as usual.
Betsy was coloring and chatting animatedly.
Vicki continued to stir the tomato sauce, and she then moved to the fridge, grabbing some cheese.She had finally gotten to the store for groceries they were going to need for the week.
Frank asked for beer, and she hadn’t gotten any.There was no way she would waste money on beer.There was a time Frank contributed to the food bill, now he did nothing.She paid for everything, and that was fine.She just had to budget the money a lot better.With Christmas coming up, she had saved a little so she could give everyone some gifts.
It was going to be tight, but as long as nothing broke or needed fixing, she would be fine.She had gotten the knack of fixing stuff around the house.She only called an electrician or plumber when it was absolutely necessary.
