Page 60 of Cash

“Just hold the fuck still,” the motherfucking asshole dick grunted as more cool liquid poured over the open cuts on my back.

Every muscle in my body contorted. My forehead thrashed against the mattress as I screamed my pain.

The smell of rubbing alcohol coupled with excruciating agony had my stomach revolting.

I swallowed down the bile.

Prayed I didn’t lose consciousness.

“I’m going to kill you,” I whispered my threat.

“I’d love to see you try.”

The motherfucking asshole dick dumped more alcohol on my back.

I closed my eyes and planned.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

After a quick check of the office I found the girls gathered around one of the desks. Each had a coloring book in front of her, and a pile of markers.

I hoped to God those weren’t the adult coloring books that Kira gave Zane. I’d murder a teammate if Cara was studiously coloring in the word Twatface.

Eric watched my approach.

“Mom thought they’d like to color,” he told me.

Ivy.

Thank fuck.

Cara’s head came up and she smiled, waving me over. “Do you want to see what I’m coloring?”

“Of course.”

I stopped next to her and looked down at the coloring book. In the foreground a king and queen sat on thrones holding hands. In the background she’d colored the castle pink. The stars, hearts, and clouds in the sky were inked in purple. I glanced back at the cartoon queen; her hair was brown. The king’s was yellow. Both of their crowns were red. Both sets of eyes blue—the queen’s shaded darker.

When I glanced back at Cara her somewhere-between-Stella’s blue eyes and mine were looking up at me.

“It’s beautiful, sweetheart.”

“It’s for you. You’re the King. That makes Lolo the Queen.”

She had no idea how right she was. Or maybe she did.

And I was keeping that for-fucking-ever.

Without thinking I bent down and kissed her head. “Thank you. I love it. Are you okay to stay out here and color?”

Cara glanced at Gia and nodded. “I’m okay. Gia and Frankie are my new friends. When Lolo gets back do you think she’ll let us have playdates?”

“Yes.”

Lolo wouldn’t be given a choice.

She threw her tiny arms up and shouted, “Awesome!”

“I’ll be in the conference room if you need anything.”