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“That ain’t got shit to do with nothin’! Maybe I wanted it to be a surprise!”
“How’d the conversation go when you called her to come get you outta jail, Dusty?”
For the first time, Dustin looked unsure of himself. He had to know I was here, and that I’d already told my side of the story. I wondered what he was going to say. If he knew his brother at all, he would know better than to lie outright.
“About as well as you might expect. I was pissed. You can say she didn’t all you want, but I know she turned me in. Probably ‘cause she knew that kid ain’t mine and was tryin’ to hide it.”
“You ain’t makin’ a lick a sense, Dusty.” Rage took a step toward him, and Dustin shied back. Apparently, Brick had made his point. “If you came here because you wanted to see your kid, how can you say the baby probably wasn’t yours?”
“I’m just sayin’.”
“So? What’d you say to her when you talked to her last?”
He shrugged. “Said I knew she was the one to turn me in. I was angry as shit, though I’d had time to cool down. I mean, if your woman lied on you to get you to lose your job and got you thrown in jail, wouldn’t you be mad?”
“I suppose it would depend on the circumstances,” Rage said. “But if I’d done the crime, I’d expect to do the time. I might try my best to get out of it, but I’d never blame my mistakes or failures on someone else. Especially not my woman who’d just given birth!” The more he spoke, the angrier Rage became.
“Bro! Don’t look at me! It was that bitch who caused all the problems! Did she get to you?” He sneered. “I knew you wanted her. You probably fucked her already. Long before she came here, and I know she’s here.” He pointed his finger at Rage. “You fuckin’ my woman?”
“Rage…” Sting gave him a warning shake of his head when Rage took a step toward Dustin and growled. “Back off.”
“Would you let him talk about Iris like that?”
“You know I wouldn’t. You also know what happens in the next few hours, so let’s get the information we need so we get it right.”
“What’er you talkin’ about?” Dustin whined, looking from Sting to Rage and back.
Rage pointed a finger at him. “You’re done askin’ questions, boy. It’s time to answer some so we can get you outta here.”
“Not until I talk to Pepper.” He stuck his chin up. I recognized the stubborn mien all too well. He’d withhold whatever information Sting and Rage wanted until he got what he wanted.
Rage glanced at Sting, who nodded. He walked over to me and reached out a hand. “You trust me?”
I nodded, suddenly more nervous than I’d ever been in my life. “Do you believe him?”
“Not a fuckin’ word, baby. Come with me.”
I took his offered hand, and he laced our fingers together as he took me the few steps to the table where the officers of Iron Tzars sat. I tried to avoid looking at Dustin. The last thing I wanted was to see his anger and hatred of me. And I knew he hated me, though I had no idea why.
“Well?” Rage addressed Dustin but stood slightly in front of me as if not wanting the other man to see me too clearly. “Here she is. What do you have to say.”
Dustin looked from me to Rage and back before sneering at me. “I always figured you’d end up his whore. He always had an eye for any woman I brought home. Though I’d have thought you were a bit young for him.” He scoffed.
“That can’t be what you came to tell her,” Rage growled. “Say your piece so we can get on with this. I want it settled tonight.”
“You cost me everything, Pepper.” Dustin’s fury was obvious. He’d been holding himself together, but he was losing it. “You’ll come home with me, and we’ll talk about how you’re gonna repay me, or I’ll make sure they know exactly where to find you.”
“Who, exactly?” Sting asked.
“I thought you already knew.” Dustin laughed. He was sweating, getting more and more sluggish, his words starting to slur. He actually swayed in his chair once, nearly falling off.
“He’s on something.” Roman muttered. “Hitting him pretty hard, whatever it is.”
“Must have snorted something before he got here.”
I looked over my shoulder at Shooter, who’d spoken. He was staring intently at Dustin. “Maybe in the bathroom before we brought him in here?”
“Likely.” Stitches approached Dustin, a small device in his hand. I had no clue what he was doing, but the next thing I knew, Stitches did something close to Dustin’s face, and Dustin lost his ever-loving mind.
“I’ll fuckin’ kill all you motherfuckers!” He threw a punch at Stitches, who easily dodged it. Then three other men I didn’t know held Dustin down while Brick and Roman tied his arms and legs to the chair. Brick stood behind him, holding the chair so it didn’t crash to the floor.
