“I did? That’s news to me. I heard it was an accident. Hit and run. Person was probably drunk or high. We have a problem with that around here, you know.”
I clench my jaw and turn back toward the bar. Looking at him makes it nearly impossible not to kill him. “You heard it was an accident because you pulled strings to have it listed as one. I know you’re paying the cops. And the problem with drugs around here is because of you, asshole.”
“Me, personally?”
“Your club makes and distributes Venom Dust in snake pits in the desert. Tell me, how do you not blow shit up? It’s pretty fucking dry out there. Must be risky.”
“Just gotta take precautions. Like hiring people I don’t give a shit about to make it. If they die, who gives a fuck?” he says. He leans in like we’re conspiring with each other and adds, “Heard you got a new lady friend.”
Straightening, I whip my legs around to face him on the bar stool. “Go near her, and I will kill you. I don’t care where we are or who’s around. You will never touch her.”
“Touchy. This is your mother’s doing. Don’t you realize that being too devoted to one woman makes you weak? Gives you a weakness to be exploited. Just look at Johnny.”
“Thought you said it was an accident.”
He shrugs. “And you said I rigged it. I’m not here to get into an argument with you.”
Wylie saunters in and frowns when he sees Butch talking to me.
Yeah, motherfucker, I didn’t ask for Daddy to come spend time with me, either. You can take him back now.
He says nothing as he walks past, looking over his shoulder in confusion before turning his attention to Lainey. “Hey, baby. Funny running into you here.”
“Fuck off, Wylie.”
“See? You’re a man. I think . You’re supposed to spread that seed around, Zep. Even to your enemies. Show them who’s boss,” Butch says. “Look at my son. Guarantee he’ll fuck your sister by the Fourth of July. Maybe even knock her up like I did your mom.”
“Guess he’ll be in the desert with you then,” I snap. “Lainey will never sleep with Wylie.”
“Never said it’d be voluntary.”
I jump off the bar stool, but Nancy beats me to it. “Ballards, get your asses out of here!”
“I didn’t do anything!” Wylie calls, his hands in the air.
“Your father did enough of that. Any threats of violence against any of my girls means I’m about thirty seconds away from breaking my own rule to beat your asses myself.”
This just makes Butch smile, and all I can imagine right now is bashing his face onto the bar top. Making him bleed and knocking out those implants he spent a fortune on.
Such a stereotype to have a drug dealer need implants, huh?
“Don’t do it, Zep,” Nancy warns. “I got this.”
“Shouldn’t he have to come, too?” Wylie asks as he walks up to us. “He’s got Ballard DNA in him whether he wants to accept it or not.”
“I’m not a Ballard, and I never will be,” I growl. “You may want to be just like Daddy, but I don’t. In fact, I’ll cut him groin to sternum given the right opportunity. Gut him like the fuckingpig he is.”
Butch’s hands shake in the air. “So scared,son.”
“Don’t call him that,” Lainey calls. “You may have given some of your DNA to him, but you aren’t a father. To anyone, but especially him. He had a father.Myfather.”
“See what I’m talking about?” Butch says. “Weak. That’s all Johnny Sloan was known for. Being a weak fucking bitch.That’swhy I don’t claim you. You don’t have the balls required to be my offspring.”
Snorting, I nod my head. “Yeah, sure.”
“I’m serious. I would’ve raised a real man. And you know what a real man wouldn’t need?”
“A conscience?” I offer.
