Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“I fucking hate Annette,” Delphine said.
“You said the house was well kept and the kids fed.”
“Yeah, because it is Vicki’s responsibility. She is the one that stays home, she has the room in the attic. Even the attic was fucking clean. I checked the whole place out. Vicki has everything mailed to her. All the bills, the rent, you name it, she pays for it. The girl keeps nothing for herself. Every cent she has goes to that house and those kids. She does the yard work, takes them to school. She even attempts to do repairs on her own car.” Delphine took a seat. “The girl is a saint, and I know she got some grief for being Annette’s daughter. Even I thought she would end up like her mother. Fucking slut that she is.”
“You’re not holding back.”
“Betsy is a cutie-pie. Frank’s an asshole. We already know what path he is taking. Then you have Dhalia, Smithy, and Pete,” Delphine said, counting them off on her fingers. “With Betsy, Frank, and Vicki, that is Annette’s six kids. I mean, fuck me, there is probably even going to be a seventh one after her latest bender.” Delphine shook her head. “Betsy is the youngest.” She shrugged. “What did she have to say to you?”
“It was a date, Delphine. I’m not going to start spilling dating secrets.”
“I tell you, that woman needs a break.” Delphine smiled. “You know, I don’t recall you ever being into a woman.”
Damion just looked at her, not interested in making small talk.
“I should warn you, if you’re going to dive into her, I’d wear a rubber. Something tells me Vicki would be just as fertile as her mother.”
“You can leave.”
Delphine laughed and got to her feet. “If you ever need me to babysit again, or slap the mother around, or ... I don’t know, to encourage Vicki to marry you, just let me know.”
“I doubt you would help my cause.”
She pressed a hand against her chest. “You hurt me.”
This made him raise his eyebrow, and she laughed.
“Anyway, Vicki needs a break, poor girl. I think she felt like she had kids from a young age.” Delphine whistled. “You know where I’ll be if you need me.”
She always went back to the florist to help her parents. Even after all this time, the florist was a lucrative business and one of the best in Old County.
Damion had been the perfect gentleman last night. They enjoyed a nice meal. Vicki hadn’t known what to order for herself, so he had ordered her the spaghetti carbonara. Betsy had told him many months ago it was her sister’s favorite. That girl didn’t miss a thing. He thought she was so adorable, and his feelings hadn’t changed.
Working his way through his emails, he checked the latest facts and figures to see everything was up-to-date. All rents were paid, the local taxes were paid. No one was behind. This was part of the work. Next, he checked through the petitions that were sent his way, along with a few requests for business expansions. He would have to deal with them separately, and as he was working through stuff, Tank came into his office.
“Shouldn’t you be working?” Damion asked.
Tank was a large man, heavily inked, and at one time had been into the family life. He’d gotten out, become a chef, and didn’t step foot into that world anymore. He was a civilian, and any secrets he knew would die with him.
“This came in the mail,” Tank said. “It is addressed to Vicki.”
This got his attention. “Vicki has mail directed to the diner?”
“No, this is why I opened it. You need to look inside.”
Damion got to his feet as Tank put the box on his desk. All the important paperwork was out of the way, and he opened the box. There, inside, was a hand. It didn’t take a scientist to know it was a feminine hand, and from the ink on the wrist, it was her mother’s hand. Blood soaked the ice, and inside was a single note.
“You’re needed,” Damion said, reading the note. “Does Vicki know about this?”
“No, I brought it straight to you.”
“Good. Keep it that way.” Damion opened his front desk and pulled out the envelope. “Here is your request for the expansion. Work can start in a week.” He held out the forms and Tank took them.
“I didn’t bring this to you, for this reason,” Tank said.
“I know.”
“I like Vicki. She is a good girl, and she doesn’t need to get wrapped up in this mess.”
“I know, and trust me, she won’t.”
The Thames’s had just broken a fucking rule. Civilians were not supposed to be messed with. Annette went to them first. She was having a good time with them. Now, they were going to have to deal with him.