Ricky gave it another minute in hopes that the room would stop spinning. Then he staggered to his feet.
“Whoa. Hell.” He hadn’t gotten this wasted in a long time.
It was her fault. That crazy bitch was asking questions. Two of his hos had come to him tonight. They’d been scared to death that the newdoctor was trying to get in Ricky’s shit by using them. He’d bellowed and pushed the hos around a little, just to keep them scared and knowing who was boss. Then he’d threatened to let Satan loose on ’em if they went to that clinic again when CJ was there.
Wouldn’t be no more of that business.
Tomorrow he was going to show CJ Patterson what she got for screwing with his hos. He’d start with her rental car. He owed it to her, anyway. She and her sister had screwed up his Camaro that time. He never had gotten his payback for that.
Then maybe he’d burn her damn house down with her in it.
She wouldn’t give him no more trouble then.
Dumb bitch.
He dragged on his jeans, stumbled around getting them up. Satan was outside raising all kinds of hell. Ricky hadn’t fed the dog in two days except that one piece of meat. Maybe he’d eat his fill of whoever was messing around outside. He grabbed the Glock from under his pillow and shoved it into his waistband.
People knew better than to come around his place.
If it was that bitch Patterson, he hoped Satan ripped out her holier-than-thou heart. Serve her right, coming back here acting like she was better. She’d cut her teeth in this hellhole just like him.
He didn’t have no real beef with CJ. But she’d gone too far now. Asking questions, getting in his business.
He wasn’t about to let her get him killed.
Tyrone would only stand for so much bullshit, then he would make them both sorry.
Hardheaded bitch. He’d warned her.
He padded barefoot down the hall and into the kitchen. Drawing back the shitty curtain his aunt had had for a hundred years, he squinted to see what the hell Satan was after. The dog was jumping and barking at something in that big old pecan tree.
What the hell was hanging from that branch?
Looked like . . .
A floorboard creaked behind him.
Ricky whirled around. Reached for his weapon.
He felt two tiny pings on his chest.
What the hell?
An electrical charge ripped through him. His muscles jerked, twitched.
He hit the floor.
He wanted to scream ... couldn’t.
Wanted to fight back ... couldn’t.
Electricity roared through his body.
Every part of him twitched and jerked.
He bit his tongue, tasted the blood.
Lights exploded behind his eyes.
