Page 58 of Dirty

“Make a list of who was there, and who you’re absolutely fucking positive was outside when the last of the fellas came out,” Crip said. “I’ll take care of the rest.”

The thought of someone taking the money was difficult for me to accept.

Going to prison for murdering the four men, however, was incomprehensible.

SIXTEEN

Lex

“You did what? I screeched.

She raised her hands in defense and began to explain. “Lex, you’re young and impressionable. You need someone to look after you that has your best interest at heart. That person isn’t--”

“It obviously isn’t you,” I barked. “I can’t believe you went and talked to him.”

For once in my life I was attracted to someone who didn’t seem like a controlling prick, and she was determined to sabotage the relationship before it got started. I felt like my legs had been knocked out from underneath me.

“Settle down,” she said. “Just hear me out.”

I glared at her, still in disbelief that she had done what she had done. “Young? Impressionable? I’m not thirteen, don’t treat me like I am. You didn’t say anything shitty, did you?”

“I just told him to leave you alone.”

“Leave me alone? That’s your call to make? You’re deciding who I can and can’t see now?”

“So, you’re seeing him?” She tossed her purse on the floor and crossed her arms. “Have you two--”

“Anything that we’ve done, are doing, or plan to do is none of your business, mother.”

“I’m sure he’s good for someone, but that someone isn’t you,” she said, lowering her tone. “You need to be able to see that.”

I couldn’t believe it. Eight o’clock in the morning and my day was going to shit. She had no right to talk to Adam. My guess was that she did it because she was jealous.

I cocked my hip and shot her a look. “What? Did you go talk to him because you’re jealous? Because you want him to want you?”

Her eyes shot wide. “Are you kidding me?”

“No. I’m not. I’m serious.”

“He’s a tattooed meathead that--”

“He wasn’t a tattooed meathead when he was here a few weeks ago. You were going on and on about him. He’s so nice. He’s so handsome. You’re a hypocrite. You’re going to apologize to him.”

“No, I won’t.”

“I’ll leave. I swear. If you get between us, I’ll leave.”

“You don’t have anywhere to go,” she coughed.

“Try me,” I said. “I mean it. Apologize to him, and don’t put your nose in my relationship business again.”

“Lex. Seriously,” she pleaded. “This is textbook stuff. You’re attaching yourself to him because he saved you from those--”

“Jesus, mother. Really? Do you have that little faith in me?” I flopped down on the couch and buried my face in my hands. After a few deep breaths, I continued. “I haven’t attached myself to him. I find him attractive because he’s nice, and he treats me like he cares about me. It has nothing to do with him saving me.”

“He doesn’t care about you,” she said.

“And you know this how? You don’t even know him. You were neighbors. You weren’t even friends. And you hadn’t seen him for ten years when you went and asked him to find me. Think about it, mother. You asked him to find me, and he did. Why? Because he’s nice. Would some asshole do what he did? I don’t think so.”