Algernon wore a custom-tailored, pin-striped navy-blue suit, and he and his son had both slicked their hair back with generous amounts of gel.
Gross.
She couldn’t believe she’d dated Marvin, once upon a time. Apparently Marvin had a thing for chicks with big boobs, which she did indeed possess. And she’d been flattered that a rich, good-looking guy like him had showed an interest in her.
Algernon grinned at her, baring sharp little teeth as he rudely shoved in front of the Dimwoody family, stepping up onto the porch in front of them. Great. The Dimwoodys were among their few regular paying customers.
“Just surveying my new property.”
The Dimwoodys backed off, staring warily. Everyone was intimidated by Algernon and his men.
She felt her temper rise. “One month. We have the paperwork.”
He ignored her. “I’m going to go inspect the kitchen, so it better be clean. And go get started on some steaks. Medium rare.”
“No,” Savannah said loudly. “Not until you pay your bill for the last half dozen times you ate for free.”
Algernon’s face went red with fury. Customers were walking out onto the porch now, to see what was happening. In a tiny, gossipy town like Foxhaven, this was better entertainment than TV.
“What did you just say to me?” he screeched. Sylvester let out a low, menacing growl.
“You heard me. This is a restaurant, not a soup kitchen.” Well, that wasn’t strictly true, given how her mother insisted on feeding half the town, but a bully who rubbed his wealth in everybody’s faces and was charging them twenty-five percent interest on their loan didn’t get the benefit of her mother’s generosity.
Herbert hurried over, wheezing, holding his axe.
“You okay there, Savannah?” he asked, his voice hoarse and wavery.
Oh God. If he even tried to fight, he’d likely keel over and die from a heart attack before anyone threw the first punch. She tried to wave him off. “Fine, Herbert, nothing to worry about here.”
“You best move along, old man, unless you want me to shove that axe right up your ass. And it won’t be the handle end,” Sylvester snapped.
“There’s no reason to use that kind of language in front of a lady,” Herbert said indignantly.
Sylvester lunged towards him and snarled, letting his fangs descend, and Herbert dropped the axe and turned and ran, his shoulders hunching in humiliation. Marvin shrieked after him, “You better run!” and he and Sylvester high-fived and guffawed.
“Get off her property! You’re trespassing!” Anthony’s shrill voice sounded behind her. He hurried down the steps to stand next to her.
“Oh look, it’s the son of that slutbag from the trailer park.” Marvin’s voice turned nasty and gloating. “That bitch has gone down on everything but theTitanic.”
Anthony’s face went red, and his gaze dropped to the ground. It hurt because it was true. His mother worked the rest stops along the shifter highway. She did tricks for drugs. There was no need to rub the kid’s face in it, though.
“Watch yourself,” Savannah warned.
“She’s had more nuts in her mouth than a squirrel.” Marvin howled with laughter and slapped his knees.
Savannah felt rage sizzling through her. Anthony balled up his fists, and she could see tears burning in his eyes.
“She’s taken more loads than a washing mach— awwwk!” Savannah lunged forward and grabbed Marvin’s throat with her hand.
Sylvester raised his hand to slap her, and she lashed out and kicked him in the crotch without letting go of Marvin’s throat. He let out a yelp of pain, doubled over and vomited on the ground.
“Let go of my son!” Algernon screamed, his voice gone high, but he didn’t make a move to help him. Because he knew that if he tried, she’d knock him ass over teakettle.
She gave a hard squeeze, then released Marvin, who staggered back, face flushed with humiliation. All the customers from the restaurant were standing on the front porch now, watching.
“You…you man-beast! You’re not even a girl!” Marvin screamed at her.
She grimaced in distaste.Ugh. She had actually dated that. Gross, gross, gross.
