Page 183 of Devil’s Disciples

“Feels worth,” he said. “It’s hurth like hell.”

It sure does.

71

Kimberly

A night’s sleep did nothing to ease the pain. On my second pot of coffee and wondering how in the world I would make it through the day, I sat at the kitchen table and ran through my thoughts, hoping I’d made a mental mistake in asking Cash to leave.

Despite my burning desire to fix things, I couldn’t change the fact that Cash was a violent man. That violence exposed him to risks. Those risks meant me potentially losing him permanently, and that wasn’t a risk willing to take.

Ridding myself of him now would be far easier than having him taken from me without warning. I’d gone through it once with my parents, and I couldn’t handle it again.

Jennifer’s pounding at the door reminded me that it was no longer four am. Not necessarily wanting to hear her advice, but wanting someone to speak to, I walked to the door and unlocked it.

I pulled the door open. “I should give you a key.”

She nudged her way past me. “Not a good idea. I’d be over here eating Cheetos on the couch while you and Dolla Bill are fucking.”

“I don’t think either of us will have to worry about that,” I said.

Saying it drove another stake into my already aching heart. I turned toward the table and shuffled to my seat.

Halfway through fixing her cup of coffee, she spun around as if she had a revelation. “Are you wearing the same shit you left in?”

I sat down. “Last night?”

“Those are the same clothes, aren’t they?” She sipped her coffee. “The new outfit?”

“They are.”

She sat down across from me and scrunched her nose. “What’s wrong with you?”

I took a sip of my coffee and realized it was tepid. After pushing it aside, I answered her. “I slept on the couch.”

“Why?”

“I couldn’t make it to bed, I was sad.”

“I’d be sad, too.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry that guy said that stuff.”

“What guy?”

“I don’t know what their names are. The one who said that crap. The guy Dolla Bill busted up.”

Initially, I was shocked that she knew what happened. Then, I realized Tito probably told her everything.

“You know about it?” I asked.

“Well, the ambulance drove by my house,” she said. “Twice.”

“I forgot about that.”

“About what?”

“The ambulance.”

“Surprised Dolla Bill didn’t kill him,” she said.