Page 51 of Avenging Azalea

Little bubbles came and went. I turned on the car to get the air going. It was cool tonight, or maybe it was just me. Lately, it felt like all the people I cared about were turning their back on me. No, that wasn’t true. It was, unsurprisingly, the men in my life. Finally, a text came through.

G: I don’t know what to believe.

Was he serious?

F: The fact that you think it at all upsets me. I would never hurt you, George. It makes me really sad that you believe such a vile thing about me. I’m sorry I lied to you. I didn’t want you to worry until I could find them. If you want their number, you can have it. 555-527-7766

Frustrated with George and this conversation, I tossed my phone into the cup holder and pulled out of the clinic’s parking lot.

My phone buzzed as I drove away, but the message would have to wait. I was too angry to read his response. He was only eleven, and I was trying really hard to remember that, but sometimes, he just pushed all my buttons. This was why I liked dogs. They were easier to handle.

A dark grey sedan caught my eye. Small Paws was in a ritzy part of town, and this car stood out. Not because it was fancy but because it was easily over twenty years old. The back corner said Chevelle. No one was around at this time of night. Did someone dump it? Driving past, I decided that if it wasn’t moved when I came in for my next shift, then I would call a tow truck.

My phone buzzed again. I was fully prepared to ignore it, but then I spotted Titus’s name.

T: Fawn, I need a huge favor. Please go home right after work and look after the girls. Savannah was shot. She’s in surgery, and I’m at the hospital with Nathaniel. He’s a mess. I can’t leave.

Oh my god.

I swerved over to the curb and called him. The phone rang twice before he picked up.

“Hey, you got my message,” Titus said.

“Yes, oh my god. What happened,” I asked, terrified for not only Savannah but Cutter and Nathaniel.

“Savannah was the target. It’s a long story, but I’ll know more once she’s out of surgery.”

“Do you want me to come to the hospital? I can bring coffee or something.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll keep you posted. It’s chaotic right now. Probably best you steer clear.”

“Okay, whatever you need. I’ve got the girls covered,” I said.

“Thank you, Fawn.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, hanging up the phone.

It was shocking how quickly your world could change. Anything might alter the course of your life: a heart attack, a drive-by, being sold to a mafia boss. I didn’t want to miss out on what life had to offer. I was only nineteen, but after what I’d been through…lucky to be alive was an understatement.

Flicking on my blinker, I pulled out into traffic and drove home to look after my favorite girls in the whole wide world. God help me if something happened to one of them. I might not survive.

Chapter

Sixteen

TITUS

Nathaniel had gone in to sit with Savannah now that she was out of surgery. Everyone else had left, but I couldn’t. What happened and how it happened played on repeat in my mind.

“Nathaniel, have you lost your fucking mind?” Ronan barked out now that the bullets had stopped.

If Nathaniel had wanted to hit us, we’d be dead. These were warning shots meant to get our attention, which was a hell of a way to do it.

“That’s a funny question, considering our father not only sold me out but would kill any of us if it suited him,” Nathaniel growled.

My father stood, eyes wary, but face twisted with an arrogance only he could pull off.

“What the hell are you talking about,” Father asked.