I'm granted the pleasure of setting Taz's corpse on fire. Afterwards, Ford and I watch the house burn from Graciela's porch before the fire department puts it out. We laugh when the stoners next door to Taz's place flee when the cops arrive. Despite the entertainment, I'm enraged that I wasn't the one looking in Taz's eyes while his life faded away. I also had big hopes about killing the guy who forced Lula to drink beer and gave Bebe a black eye.
Ford knows why I'm grumpy. Of course, I don't want to talk about my feelings, and he doesn't want to hear them either. After walking from Graciela's house to our Harleys, we ride for an hour around Little Memphis. As the night grows cold, I struggle to let go of my need for vengeance.
10
Bebe
Seductive Duckies
At nearly ten, the men return while I cuddle in bed with Lula. I hear Shay and her brothers leave quickly with Ford. Thinking of Pax alone in the house, I'm bothered by the image. I also worry he might be hurt from raiding Taz's house. The questions finally drive me out of bed, and I tiptoe from the room.
Pax is in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. His arms crossed tightly, he's watching Folgers intently. I know he's pissed. I consider sneaking back into the bedroom but don't have the heart to ditch the sexiest pissed brat I've ever seen.
"Did everything go okay?" I ask, feeling dumb to word his raid on a pimp's house as if he'd been to a business meeting.
"I didn't get to kill Taz."
His mumbly tone sounds like Lula's when I tell her she needs to stop playing.
"Did he go into hiding?" I ask, stepping closer.
Pax notices my proximity, and his demeanor shifts. He's less focused on Folgers and more on my lips.
"He's dead, but I didn't get to kill him."
"Did Ford steal your thunder?"
"He wouldn't do that. Not with his dream of keeping both balls."
"So who killed Taz?"
"I don't know."
Pax steps closer, leaving a foot between us. I feel as if he's pressed against me, and his intense gaze tears away my confidence.
"Did he suffer?"
Pax's gaze leaves my lips, and our eyes meet. I see a hint of humor in his blue eyes.
"Yes. Whoever killed him cut off his dick and balls."
I shouldn't smile, but I do. Pax shares my grin.
"Good," I whisper. "He made my baby cry."
"Whoever killed him made him cry too. I just wish it was me."
"Would you have cut off his dick?" I tease, shuffling closer. "I'd think you'd want gloves and a whole lot of Purell if you'd touch a guy like Taz."
Grinning, Pax tugs at the seam of my nightgown top. "I've touched worse, but I always stay clean. If you catch my hint."
"Aren't you going to send me your test results with flowers like Ford did with Shay?"
"Ford's a turd."
Pax studies my face like he's taking in every feature. Not really dissecting what he sees but memorizing me. I feel small and weak while he's big and intimidating.
I don't know what he sees on my face, but his expression hardens. "Why were you crying earlier? Do you want to go back to Darby's?"
"No, and you know it's not that. I like it here. Do you want me to leave?" I ask, fearing he'll steal this new life from Lula.
"I'm not a child. I asked you to come here."
"You didn't ask."
Pax leans forward, erasing more space between us. "No, I didn't."
"Ford is back now, so maybe you've changed your mind."
"No, he isn't back. He's down the street with his woman. I'm never gonna change my mind, Bebe. I'm too stubborn."
A minute passes as Pax somehow shrinks the space between us even more until I can feel the heat radiating off him.
"Lula loves her room," I say.
"Why isn't she sleeping in there then?"
"It's new, and the top bunk is scary at night. She took a nap in the room earlier."
"I don't care if she likes it or not. No skin off my ass either way."
"You're lying."
Pax grins. "Yeah, I am. You gonna make something of it."
"I'm sorry you didn't get to kill Taz."
"I'm real put out about that."
"I'm sorry," I whisper.
"How sorry?"
Lowering my gaze, I focus on Folgers. The dog walks past us and sniffs the front door. Pax tenses when he thinks Folgers senses danger. I watch him while he watches the dog. Folgers decides nothing is wrong and walks to the couch and stretches out.
"Little Memphis has never been a safe place, but things are ugly these days," Pax mutters. "You should always be careful about locking the doors and making sure you're not followed when you run errands."
"Okay."
Pax finally focuses on me again, and I realize his tension has turned into a hunger. The intensity in his eyes makes me wonder if he'll force me if I say no.
"Does Lula sleep deep?" he asks in a low, needy voice.
The question crawls over my skin like hot kisses, leaving my body craving his touch.
"No, she wakes up easy," I lie.
His gaze still holding mine, Pax nods. He understands I'm rejecting his offer. I wait to see if my choice matters. Pax tugs at the seam of my nightshirt and sighs.
"I like this," he murmurs. "Duckies."
"Perri bought it for my last birthday."
Pax's fingers graze the bare flesh at my waistband. A hot urge stirring in me, I nearly cover my breasts to hide my hard nipples. No way do I want him knowing how much my body betrays me.
"When is your birthday?" he asks, his index finger still teasing my stomach.
"I don't know," I whisper.