Chapter 15
Levi
“Thank you, young man.”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Spalding,” I said as I closed the car’s trunk. I was prepared for the tip she tried to give me since it was something she did every week when I carried her groceries out to her car for her. Closing my hand over hers, I said, “Remember how I told you that you don’t have to pay me to help you with your groceries?”
The sweet old woman looked at me in confusion and then smiled and nodded. “Yes, that’s right dear,” she said, though from the tone of her voice, I knew she was completely confused. But just like every week, her husband came to the rescue.
“Come on, Mildred, we’ll save that for the kids,” he said as he came around the car and took his wife’s elbow.
“The kids?” she asked.
“Remember the jar they have set up at the ice cream shop for the kids at the Children’s Hospital?” he asked.
Mrs. Spalding nodded. “Oh yes, that’s right.”
Her husband sent me a knowing smile as he guided his wife around to the passenger seat. The couple was at least in their late eighties. But while Mrs. Spalding struggled with her memory moreand more, Mr. Spalding was as spry as ever. I loved watching them together because Mr. Spalding was always so attentive to his wife’s needs while she shopped. Once he had his wife settled, Mr. Spalding walked back around the old Town Car and shook my hand. “See you next week, son,” he said and then he patted my shoulder.
I nodded and watched them drive off, then grabbed the grocery cart Mrs. Spalding always insisted on taking out to the parking lot, even though she never had more than two bags in the cart. I returned the cart to the side of the building where they were stored so people could easily grab one on their way in, but when I turned around, I ran straight into T.
“Around back, now,” T said as he motioned to the side of the store.
“I’m working-” I began as I tried to move past him, but stopped short when he pulled out a gun and pressed it against my belly.
“Move, Princess,” he said.
Fear lurched through me as I did what he said and walked with him past the employee entrance to behind the store. The back of the store was quiet since all the deliveries were done for the day. T shoved me up against the wall and held the gun on me. “Been waiting a while to get you alone, Princess,” he said snidely. “Seems you found yourself a new boyfriend. Gun did say you preferred dark meat.”
Maybe if he hadn’t said that last part, I could have played my role and just kept my mouth shut. But between my father and the fucking tattoo, I’d had enough. “Fuck you,” I said. “He’s more man than you or Gun will ever be.”
My retort earned me a punch to the face and the barrel of the gun pressed against my temple.
“Listen here, you little faggot,” T snapped. “We’re going to get down to business and then I’m going to show you what a real man feels like.”
“Do what you want to me!” I said, not caring anymore. “I’m not helping you.”
The next blow left me rattled and I felt warm blood dripping down my cheek.
“The stakes have changed, Princess,” T warned. “I heard something very interesting about that sweet little old lady in there,” he said. I knew he was talking about Betty. “Turns out she’s one rich bitch,” he added. “Got me to wondering why I’m not thinking a little bigger.”
Anxiety tore through me. “What do you mean?”
“You and me are going to pay her a little visit at home one night. I’ve seen her place…it’s locked up tighter than a virgin on her wedding night. But I’m thinking she’ll gladly open up for her trusted little Employee of the Month.”
I began shaking my head, but T grabbed my chin and slammed me back against the wall.
“Before you try growing a set of balls and saying no, think about good ole Hank.”
I froze at that.
T got right up in my face. “Don’t worry, the old man’s still breathing, but he’s gonna be walking funny for the rest of his life. ‘Course, you even think of saying no to me again, his life is going to be a whole lot shorter.”
It wasn’t possible. Hank had Jasper watching out for him.
But I could see from the satisfaction in T’s eyes that he was telling the truth. Terror crawled through my belly. What had they done to Hank?
“You still thinking of saying no to me, Princess?”
