Hurriedly, she sent the text before she chickened out.
Diablo:I plan on kissing u a lot more. U felt good in my arms.
Fallon:I liked it. I better go. Talk to you later.
Diablo:K. If shit happens, call me. I’ll come get u.
Fallon:Ok. Bye.
She beamed while she reread their texts over and over, feeling like a schoolgirl. A low rumble in her stomach reminded her that she was hungry, so she went downstairs to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she saw it was stocked full of platters of food: deviled eggs, canapés, sliced fruit, raw vegetables, and several quiches.That’s right. Shanna’s having her kissing ass luncheon tomorrow.She pulled out a couple of the trays, took out a mocha yogurt, and sat at the table.
As she ate, her phone rang, and dread filled her. She wasn’t ready to talk to her dad; he’d ruin the good feeling that was humming through her. Relief spread over her when she saw Sylvia’s number flashing instead of her dad’s.
“Hi, Sylvia. I was just thinking about you.”
“Hey, girl. Were you thinking good thoughts about me?” Fallon could hear the smile in Sylvia’s voice.
“Of course. Actually, I wanted to know if you were up to hanging out tomorrow. Shanna’s having some hoity-toity luncheon, and I want to be as far away from it as I can.” She didn’t share the fact that Shanna had ordered her not to be around because she thought she’d be an embarrassment.
“Sounds awful. I wish we could go shopping, but tomorrow won’t work. I have to do some personal stuff. What’re you doing now? I wanted to know if you’re up to coming over here for a bit, and then we can go get something to eat. You know I’m dying to hear about your time away from your dad.”
“How’d you hear about that?”
“Your dad was so pissed off that he was venting about it with us. He had no idea where you went and he was asking us if we did. I was pretty sure you were with that good-looking biker, but I didn’t say a word. Were you with him?”
Fallon giggled. “Yeah.”
“I knew it! You gotta tell me all about it. So, can you come over?”
“Yeah. I’ll just freshen up and be there in twenty minutes. Where do you want to go eat? I feel like a burger.”
“Big Daddy’s has the best burgers in town. We can go there, but first you gotta tell meeverything. Deal?”
“Deal. See you soon.”
Less than thirty minutes later, Fallon pulled in behind the warehouse and took out her keys, letting herself in through the back door. The main room where they held the fights was empty and eerily quiet. The ring seemed smaller without the combatants in it and all the spectators crowded around it. She shuffled across the concrete floor and went upstairs. Entering the family room, her muscles stiffened when she saw Emerald and Heidi sitting on the couch. She took a few steps back, hoping they didn’t notice her, but vultures always sense their prey.
Emerald looked over her shoulders and sneered. “Look who just came in. Your dad’s gonna beat your sorry ass, bitch.”
Heidi turned the volume on the television down and laughed. “Where you been hiding?”
“It’s none of your business,” Fallon said as she walked farther into the room.
Emerald stood up, an evil grin making her face look distorted. “You’ve forgotten your manners since you threw your little tantrum. Your dad said you’re an ungrateful, spoiled brat. You know my mom and stepdad tossed me out when I turned sixteen. I didn’t live in a fancy house and have a dad who paid for everything.”
“Maybe she was with a man,” Heidi said.
Emerald tilted her head back and laughed loudly. “A man? What man would touchthat?” She pointed at Fallon, her nose crinkled in contempt.
“Never know. Some men are real desperate and will put their cock in any pussy.” Heidi glared at Fallon.
“If anyone wanted her pussy, it’d only be for Charlie’s money.” Emerald fixed her stare on Fallon.
Fallon straightened her shoulders, looked at each of them, and said coolly, “Fuck you.”
The room went quiet, the only sound the ticking of the wall clock. Then Emerald’s face darkened and she leapt in front of Fallon, shoving her back so hard that she stumbled and fell backward. Emerald loomed above her. “Don’t you ever say that to me again, bitch.”
“What’s going on here?” Sylvia’s voice broke through the tension in the room.
