“I didn’t.” My teeth were clenched tight.
“You’re on thin ice, girl. You have no idea how much it took to keep the peace after you started shit with Rooster and Cueball. They were gonna come after you but Razor stopped them. Cost me though.”
“They attacked me. What was I supposed to do?”
“Watch your mouth.” His face contorted with rage and his bald head splotched.
My chest heaved. Occum was supposed to protect me. Yet, he had come all the way down here just to tell me to mind my business. I knew the second I said it, it was a mistake. I'd been getting too bold. Forgetting myself. Ford never filtered me; he let me speak plainly. I needed to stop that. Most men didn't like that.
“Lord, girl, you’ve lost your goddamn mind.” He shook his head. “If I knew this whole thing was gonna change you I would have never allowed it.”
“You don’t control me.” I straightened my spine and glared.
I didn’t have a chance to brace myself. The hand shot out and slapped me before I could prepare. I gasped from the shock and pain.
“I warned you. But you can’t keep your mouth shut, can you?”
I couldn’t speak. The shame burned my cheeks. I knew everybody inside had seen that.
“You’re lucky I don’t do more, but you make me too much money.”
I scowled.
He added just to hurt me, “But don’t push me. You aren’t that valuable.”
My eyes stung with tears. From the slap. From the words. My body shook from the control it took to keep my composure.
“Is that all you wanted?” I asked with a shaking voice.
He crossed his arms over his chest. I didn’t recognize this man. This was not the father figure who took me in when I was scared and running for my life. This man was a creature from hell. The hatred and ugliness changed his face into something scary.
“Just make sure you don’t get too caught up in all this.” He gestured to me and then the bookshop. “You remember who your family is.”
“I won’t forget.” I wanted to press my hand to my burning cheek but refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing it hurt.
“We protect you, Suzie. We care about you. Razor is pissed you hurt his men. He’s asking for revenge. He wants things.” He lifted a hand to my cheek but I flinched, so he ran his hand through my hair instead. It was in a loose braid over my shoulder so it got tangled and snagged.
The world around me hummed. I couldn’t hear anything but his words. I knew there would be repercussions for hurting the Wraiths who had attacked me but Occum was supposed to protect me. That was what I danced for. For protection.
“Is there a problem here?” I didn’t hear the bell of the door ring, but there stood Gretchen and the girls in the doorway behind her. Gretchen had her bat. Lucas shot concerned glances from where he helped a customer.
My pulse jumped. If there was anything Occum hated more than women, it was women who tried to stand up for themselves.
“Everything’s fine.” I smiled a watery smile and implored with my eyes. “Go inside. I’ll be right back.”
“I don’t think so,” Roxy said, her eyes never leaving Occum. “I think you should leave.”
He chuckled and popped his knuckles in his leather fingerless gloves. “Oh yeah? You gonna make me?” He laughed with a shake of his head. “I recognize you, Gretchen LaRoe. I know who you are. Cast-offs from a fucking pussy who couldn’t hang with the Wraiths. You think you can fuck your way out of this?” Occum looked at me and there was something in his eyes I couldn’t identify. “You gonna get your sluts club and little professor to beat me up?”
“Leave,” I said.
He lifted his hand and I flinched. He smiled.
“I don’t have time to deal with this shit with the Wraiths. I don’t know how long it’ll take for you to pay off this debt now. But you don’t go near the Wraiths. You don’t talk to them. If I find out you talked to them again, there won’t be any more warnings.”
I shuddered.
“You need us, Short Fuse. You’re dead without us. Your daddy too.”
