"Popcorn, Mountain Dew, and cake for the birthday girl."
Sitting up, I smile. "I could get used to this."
He winks at me and my insides melt. Drew chuckles and sits down, putting my legs in his lap. "Alright, Short Stack, start the movie."
I roll my eyes at him as I press the play button. "Isn't Short Stack impersonal now?"
He bursts into laughter, pulling me to him. Those gentle lips graze against my forehead. "You will always be my Short Stack, Maddie. And know this, you are mine."
His claim does weird things to me. My heart bursts into a million joyful pieces, and my pussy clenches. I don't know whether to cry from happiness, jump him, or shout with glee that Drew wants me.
The weekend wentby in a blur. My favorite part about it though, is that Maddie has moved in with me. Yeah, it gives me easy access to her, but the beautiful thing about it is that I can hold her any time I fucking want to. I’ve made a plan for turning in Donnie and the Chief. I know I will have to be careful because I will not allow Maddie to be hurt anymore. And if this plan backfires, this could get worse than it already is.
The first thing I do when I drop Maddie off at school is go hunting. I’m going to find the place where Donnie keeps his shit. I know he has that damn evidence somewhere. I pledged to Maddie I would take care of the situation, and I meant it. The only problem is that the two places I’ve checked so far are empty. I look at the map I drew of the places Donnie has frequented that he had no place being. I will have to thank him for talking when he was drunk. Never could keep his damn mouth shut.
“Fuck!” I growl into the silent car. Of course he would put the shit in a warehouse near the river that runs from Wonderland, TX to Gotham Valley. The dock area is neutral ground but everyone knows that Gotham Valley owns that area. And no one goes there by themselves unless they want to deal with the crazies.
I pull into the warehouse, knowing I’m in way over my head. I shouldn’t have come here without backup, but I have to get things done for Maddie. I’m about to get out of my car when my phone goes off and I answer it. Donnie doesn’t even say hello before he yells in my ear.
“Why the fuck is my sister’s shit gone, Drew?”
Fuck, I knew this was going to happen. I just wasn't sure how I’d feel when he called. All-consuming rage eats at me. Taking a deep breath, I expel it before I answer him.
“I told her she could move in with me.”
“Do what?” His voice is wobbly. I know he’s pissed because his tone is uneven and he’s mumbling to himself.
“She wants to live with me until she graduates.”
“Well, she can’t. Bring her shit back. Dad is over at the school picking her up.”
Dread and fear fill me.Damn. Damn. Damn.I can’t exactly go and take her from them in public. But Maddie cannot be by herself with them.
“I’m coming over …”
Donnie cuts me off with a huff. “What did she tell you, Drew?”
“Nothing. She simply wants to move out. She said it would be easier on me if we lived together since I’m the one that picks her up for school and after school. It makes sense to me.”
“Bullshit. Did she give you some sob story?”
He’s stretching. It’s something we do in the interrogation room to get people to open up. It’s not going to work on me.
“She’s eighteen now, Donnie. I don’t see the problem. You left her with me while y’all were away and nothing happened. She can live with me and be safe from the crime that’s going on our streets.”
There’s silence for a moment and then a humorless laugh leaves Donnie’s lips. “I told you, she’s a liar. That she can be trouble. And look what a few days alone with her has done. You need to get this through your head, she can’t be trusted or left alone for too long. Ever since Mom passed, she’s caused us nothing but trouble.”
I’m truly contemplating murdering my best friend. Well, ex-best friend now. I feel like every damn word out of his mouth is nothing but utter horse shit now.
“Bring her shit over so we can just put this behind us. Dad doesn’t blame you, he’ll take care of your time and trouble.”
Yeah, I bet he will. Bastard. “I’m not home. You want her stuff, you can get it if she says she wants to stay with y’all. But she has to be the one to tell me.”
I hang up on him. If I am not careful, I’ll blow my cool where Donnie is concerned. I want to bury them both for what they’ve done. As I walk toward the storage area, I say a little prayer to whoever is listening that the evidence is here.
There are no guards in this area. Fuck, that means no cameras as well. So much for having an eye on me. This is good in a way though. It means no witnesses to see who the hell is snooping around.
A sophisticated lock stands in my way of getting into the storeroom. I should wait for the police to investigate this. But I need to know if this is the evidence locker. My worry for Maddie is making it hard to focus on the lock. I should call someone to do a drive by and check on her. I know better. Anyone that shows up and the Chief opens the door, they will forget why they are there.
