Page 61 of Jagged Line Paradise

“Clients meet me here. It’s for safety. So Mack can be here in case anything goes wrong.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. He just wants to make sure he gets paid.”

“He’s not such a bad guy. You used to work for him, remember?”

“I was doing construction work, not taking it up the ass. Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Anger rises swiftly from my chest and claws its way out from my throat with a gruff command, “Go put yourfuckingclothes on.”

Avalon’s eyes grow wide and she side-steps away from me. She watches me carefully as she backs up toward the staircase, but I can’t read the emotion in her expression. It should be fear. She should be fucking afraid of me. She should go get Mack, tell him to kick me out and keep her safe, keep the clients on her to-do list for tonight because I know she’s probably safer with them than she could ever be with me. But I’m in too deep to leave her in this position. I’m in too deep to let her get fucked by any other man.

She finally turns and heads upstairs, and I walk back into the living room. Mack returns soon after.

“Everything’s cleared. I just need your payment,” he says it so goddamn casually that it only adds fire to my rage.

“How much does she get? What’s her cut when she works for you?”

His eyes narrow at me. “I mean, that’s not really your business, but it’s fifty-fifty.”

I take a step toward him. “So, let me make sure I’m getting this. She does one hundred percent of the work and gets half the pay?”

“Fuck you. I do all the work bringing her clients. If it weren’t for me, she’d be turning tricks for that piece of shit ex-husband of hers, fucking junkies over in Paradise Park. My clients are respectable.”

“Herclients.” I take another step closer. “She’s the one who fucks them. They’reherclients. Let’s face it, Mack. If she stopped working for you, those clients would still want to fuck her, am I right?”

“I have plenty of other girls willing to take over her clients if she leaves.”

“How many?”

“How many?I’m not fucking telling you how many. What’s with the questions anyway?”

“I want to know how big this operation of yours is.”

He chuckles, scratching beneath his ball cap once again. “It’s not an operation, it’s a side-hustle.”

“Who are your clients?”

“What the fuck is this? I’m not giving you information about my business.”

“Everything okay?” Lonnie asks, coming down the stairs in her usual denim shorts and flowing white tank top, her fabric hobo bag slung across her body.

I hold out my hand toward her. “Come on, we’re leaving.”

Mack steps toward me. “You’re not going anywhere. My girls fuck here for their safety.”

I give him a tight grin. “No. She and I are leaving.” I reach out and snatch Avalon’s wrist in my grip as she approaches my side. I drag her with me toward the door.

Mack jumps in front of my path, putting hands on my chest and pushing me back. I drop Lonnie’s wrist and hold out my palm to her to keep her back.

“First, I want my money. Second, she’s not leaving.”

I keep my eyes locked on his as I reach into my back pocket and pull out my wallet. I grab all the cash I’ve got and shove it at his chest. As I fold the wallet and put it away, I hold out my hand for Avalon. I feel her hesitation, but then she finally puts her hand in mine and I squeeze her palm to keep a firm grip.

“This isn’t enough,” Mack says.

“Consider that your cut, Mack. I’ll give the rest of the payment directly to Avalon. Now kindly, step out of the way.”

Mack looks at me, then at her. “I think we’re done, Avalon. I’m sorry. I don’t need to deal with shithead jealous ex-boyfriends.”

My eyebrows lift. “Wow. I’m a shithead now because I don’t want the girl I care about fucking strangers for cash. She doesn’t need you or your money, Mack. She’s got me.”

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