Although, with the current state of the house, I was more likely to have to have the ceiling collapse. And I didn’t want to think about what vermin were living in the crevices of the ceiling.
I forced myself to take a breath, and push away the fear scratching at my insides. I didn’t have time to check out the vents,but I needed to take back control of this situation.
“Stop,” I called over the sound of the front and back door being kicked in with heavy boots. The kicking didn’t stop.
“God damn it,” I snarled, forcing the fear to manifest as anger.“I’m going to open the front door so stop kicking it!”
The cracking sound of plywood being forced apart dulled then stopped completely. I pulled out another gun, so Ihad onein each hand.
Using my elbow, I knocked the deadbolt out of place, andmovedback. The door banged open. A blindingly bright flashlight seared into my vision, but I kept my gunspointed atRay and the beefy man to his right.Foursets ofgunslifted toward my head.
“Now that’s no way to welcome someone.” Ray’s voice sounded darker than usual. His fingers kept twisting as he stepped into the house.
“Well, breaking into my house isn’t exactly what I’d call polite,” I responded, backing up as they stepped into the doorway. I hoped they slipped in piss.
“Your house?”he asked, with a lifted eyebrow.Raysurveyed the state of the house for a moment.
“At the moment it is, so I’dappreciate it if you wouldtake off your shoes. You’re tracking in mud,” I said.
Ray’s hollowed nose wrinkled as he stared at a discarded needle on the ground.
“You’re not exactly in a position to be making demands,” he said.
The remaining four men entered through the front door. Unfortunately, it appeared none of the neighbors used anine millimeterto narrow their ranks down for me whenthemenpassed along the side of the building to reach the front door.
Nine hulkingmen formed a half circle around me.All but Ray were aiming a gun at my head. I kept my expression neutral, and my gun trained on Ray andhis lackey to the right.
“This feels a bit like overkill,”I said.
Ray’s lips tightened into a firm line before he spoke, “How much money did you bring?”
He stepped forward, and his men along with them. I stood my ground, glaring back at him.
“See for yourself. Count the money and leave.”
Ray nodded at one of his men who approached me. I put one gun away and handed him the cash. Ray aimed his flashlight at the cash and began to count the money in theshadows. Each time he’d reach another hundred, I knew I was getting closer and closer to the inevitable beating. If he’d brought this many men, it wouldn’t matter if I’d brought twice as much cash.
Ray shook his head.“Not enough.”
I patted the duffel bag. “I have an outfit worth another 2 grand. Add it to my total."
“Used clothing? Are you expecting me to go online, and try to resell your clothes?”
Rayjerked his chinat my duffel, and the thug nearest me shifted out of formation. I switched my target from Ray to the asshole going after my Chanelduffel.
“I’ll toss you the dress and shoes,” I said.
“Selene, give him the bag.”
Ireallywanted to tell him to fuck off. The contents of that bag were all that I had left in this world, but it wasn’t worth raising their ire when their attacks began.
With a sigh, I handed the thug the bag. When Ray had it in his hands, he began pulling out each and every item out of the duffel. He examinedthreedecades out of fashion outfits that I’d stolen from houses I’d stayed in, those damned dress and shoes that I was going to be buried in, lacy underwear (he smirked at that), holey granny panties, my first aid kit, various sized knives, a lock picking set, a collection of guns and bullets, and a mishmash of cosmetics. Everything else I’dpawned off, or couldn’t access. For my only remaining possessions it was kind of pathetic.
When he finished, he set the bag down beside him.
“Selene, youreallyshouldn’thave fallen behind on your payments,” Ray said.
The formation pushed forward. I stepped back, moving deeper into the house. It had been stupid forgoing payment last time. But this time I’d brought cash. It was apparentthere was no amount I could have given him tonight that would have prevented this. I’d still try though.
