Page 52 of Shadow

“Really?” Shadow said, cocking the gun. “And what’s that?”

“Maybe Faith and I should leave you two alone,” I said, grabbing Faith’s hand.

“Please,” the man said. “I meant no disrespect.”

“Angel, please take my sister into the kitchen.”

“Zeke, no,” Faith said, moving around the stranger to step in front of him. “Put the gun down.”

“Faith,” Shadow growled. “Move.”

The man sighed. “It’s okay, little dove. Go with your brother’s woman.”

Faith looked from the man to her brother before nodding. Reaching for her once more, we left the two men alone.

Chapter Twelve

Shadow

I was sleeping for the first time in months when my phone buzzed, waking me up. Reaching for it, I opened my eyes to see my brother calling me. Sighing, I rolled onto my back and connected the call.

“I was sleeping, asshole.”

“Good afternoon to you too, brother,” Balthazar chuckled. “How are my sisters?”

“Our sisters are fine. Annoying as fuck, but fine.”

Balthazar laughed. “Let me guess. Charity and Hope are fighting again?”

“Nailed it on the first try. Which reminds me, we need to talk about Joy.”

Balthazar sighed. “That’s why I was calling. Shirley called, and she had a lot to say about you.”

“Fuck that bitch,” I groaned, sitting up, rubbing my face. “Did you know Malachi got Faith pregnant? Then, after she gave birth, our father and that bitch got rid of the kid.”

“What!” Balthazar roared. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Yeah, guess that cunt didn’t mention that shit. Look, I just found out myself the other day. Short story, the kid survived. They gave him to another family. Faith and Hope never got the help they needed. Shirley swept it all under the rug. Faith is a mess.”

“That fucking cunt!”

“Yeah. My sentiments exactly. I want Joy removed from her care. God only knows what that bitch is teaching her. Either you and Ari take her or send her here to Texas. I want Shirley cut the fuck off. No more money.”

“I’ll take care of it. I won’t have to ask Ari, brother. She loves Joy, but I’m thinking until things settle here, maybe she would be better off with you in Texas. Even thinking about sending Ari and the girls your way.”

“Things that bad?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“Well, here’s some incentive to pick up the pace. Malachi wasn’t the only one raping Faith. Motherfucker brought Chaos with him. Either you kill that motherfucker, or I will, and I don’t give a flying fuck if I go insane doing it. I want that bastard dead.”

Balthazar said nothing.

For a second, I thought the line went dead until I heard him breathing heavily. I knew my brother was seething. Just thinking about that pissant fucker Chaos looking at my sister was enough for me to want to bathe in his blood. I wasn’t messing around when I said I wanted that fucker dead. Either Balthazar got rid of him or I would.

That motherfucker was a dead man walking.

“Consider him exterminated. I’ll get Joy the fuck away from Shirley if I have to go get her myself. I give you my word, brother.”

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