“I think we can work something out,” I said.
“I don’t pay you to think. You take your money and get out of here.” He shoved a thick envelope of cash at me. Thicker than I expected. Enough for both rents when I quickly checked. I ground my jaw, unable to move. Shame flashed over me.
Bee patted my back and whispered, “Make sure they’re not fake bills.”
I glared down at Benny Jr., feeling like the smallest man here, even though I towered over them all. Shame for needing the cash this badly and being unable to provide it any other way. Shame at not being able to defend Bee. Shame that once again, my tongue was tied, and I felt incapable of saying or doing the right thing.
It was as though Benny Jr. could read the thoughts flashing over my face.
“That’s what I thought, Big Guy. You get a command, and you follow it like a good boy.” His tone dripped with condescension as he pushed my buttons. I wasn’t sure why. I blinked down at him. Yes, his words hurt, but I was used to his disdain. I knew that he believed me to be a violent criminal with zero brain cells. I couldn’t control what he thought of me. I might not ever be seen any other way, and I had to be okay with that if I continued to want money.
I ground my jaw, but I didn’t react.
“Would you just shut up?” Bee said, exasperated. “You’re not half the man Owen is, and you never will be. And I’m not just talking physically. Nobody in this town would ever listen to you if you didn't have money.”
Benny Jr. went purple with barely suppressed rage.
“Shut that nobody up.” Benny Jr. looked at me. “I can tell you had your fun with her, but you’re done now.”
I shook my head, anger and frustration at being called out. Just like when Azi and Mateo showed up and immediately assumed that we’d had sex. They all made it seem dirty and cheap. It took away the deep connection we’d shared and made it tawdry. It was one thing to make me a kicking post, but it wasn’t fair to Bee. She wouldn’t be treated like that.
That had been a mistake. I clenched my fist. I could break him so easily that the heat of it hit me by surprise. I never wanted to hurt anybody.
“Watch your mouth,” I growled.
“Or what?” Benny said, his embarrassment making him reckless.
I stepped closer.
Distantly, I heard the cop warning me off and the other guys murmur warnings as I stepped up to Benny Jr., making myself large and imposing. I glared down my nose at him, shoulders tensed.
“Not worth it.” Bee’s voice cut through the haze of anger controlling me. She rubbed my back soothingly. “You aren’t the person they think you are. Their opinion doesn’t matter.” Bee was whispering, and the edges of my vision returned to normal. It was everything I’d just told myself. I let her pull me back as I locked my eyes on hers. I thought of our connection last night, the secrets shared.
“Just as I thought,” Benny said with a huff, like a bully out of a poorly written teen drama. It was one of life’s greatest injustices that the content of a person’s character never determined their financial security. “You’re all talk, Big Guy,” Benny spat.
The change in Bee’s eyes happened so fast. The soft reassurance burned away to nostril-flared rage in a flash.
“I’m not.” Bee swung her fist before she even finished her sentence. There wouldn’t have been time to stop her, even if I wanted to.
Benny Jr. collapsed forward with a loud grunt. I knew how sharp those bony little fists of hers could be, and he’d just been nailed in the gut.
The cop sighed and mumbled something about paperwork. “All right. Come on, Perkins. You shouldn’t have done that.”
“No regrets,” she yelled, shaking out her fist.
None of us seemed particularly worried about Benny Jr.’s writhing form on the ground.
I turned to her. “He’s right. You shouldn’t have done that,” I said, unable to hide my amusement.
She shrugged. “What can you do?”
I leaned forward to drop a kiss on her forehead as handcuffs latched her from behind.
“This is giving me an idea for the future,” she said as she wiggled her eyebrows.
Despite her attempt to be brave and lighten the mood, my heart sank. Benny Jr. must have wanted to escalate the situation so he could be validated for getting Bee in trouble, and I fell right into his trap.
“I’ll come get you as soon as I can,” I promised.
