Taz looks around at the others. The wide-eyed kiddie freaks are working shit out. Not caring about their confusion, I gesture for Bebe to join me.
"Here's the deal," I say to Taz, "you'll back the fuck off. I'm walking out of here with Bebe and her kid. If you give me any shit, I'll make sure your mom gets banged up like you did to my brother's fiancée's best friend. We understand each other?"
The douche isn't sure what to do, but I don't wait for him to decide. I wrap an arm around Bebe's shoulders and guide her out of the house and to my waiting car. Opening the door to the SUV, I never look back at the eyes on me. I'm not afraid of dying. If they kill me, I'm dead and I don't need to worry. If they don't kill me, well that's fine too.
As I pull the SUV out of the driveway, Bebe whispers to a spaced-out Lula.
"What's wrong with her?" I ask.
"They gave her beer."
Bebe wants to cry. Her lower lips trembles until she bites it hard enough to draw blood. Seeing her heartbroken, I want to fuck up some people and give Bebe revenge. I don't think she wants payback. Looking tired, she probably just wants to rest.
"Did they hurt you more than the black eye?"
"No."
I just nod, too pissed to do anything else. Arriving at Darby's house, I get a weird feeling in my gut.
"You took care of the kid," I say to Bebe. "Those people are scum, but you kept her safe."
Bebe looks at her drunk kid then at me. "Thank you for coming."
"I take care of my friends."
A forced smile is all I get until Bebe reaches out and places her hand on mine. That's when I realize I'm shaking with rage. Hating Taz and his followers, I plan to kill them all, but it won't be soon enough.
Bebe watches me in the dark until Darby hurries outside and helps her from the SUV. I let them speak while I dial Lucky and Taco.
"I got them home safe," I say when Lucky picks up. "How's the old lady?"
"She ain't that old, and she aims her kicks for the balls, man."
"Are you injured? Should I call an ambulance?" I say, nearly laughing.
Lucky grunts. "Funny shit. Are we letting Mom go?"
"Sure, but her boy ain't long for this world. You might want to tell her to take lots of pictures while he's still breathing."
"Fair enough."
Once Lucky hangs up, I look at where Bebe walks towards the porch with Darby. I panic at the thought of her going inside the house. There's no logic behind me feeling this way. I just want her back in the SUV. Since I usually get what I want, I hurry after the women.
"Pack up," I tell Bebe.
The women look at me like I'm crazy.
"Want me to hold the kid while you get your crap?" I ask, ignoring their expressions.
"What are you babbling about?" Darby grumbles, looking underdressed in only jeans and a gray sweatshirt.
"You've got too many people in this house, and Bebe ain't safe here. She can stay at my place."
"I'm not letting these girls go to your dump."
"My house ain't a dump. It's got plenty of space. A hell of a lot more than here with all your charity cases."
"So I'd be the only charity case at your place then," Bebe whispers while adjusting Lula in her arms.
"I told you I take care of friends. I mean, you're my brother's fiancée's best friend."
Sighing, Darby yanks me off the porch. "Let me talk to you."
"Go pack," I say to Bebe. "Just enough for tonight. We'll get your other crap tomorrow."
Darby yanks me harder until we're standing next to the SUV. I shove my hands into my pockets and wait for the speech.
"What are you doing?" she demands, fighting with the wind blowing her black hair.
"Her man is pimping her out from behind bars. What do you think will happen when he gets out?"
"He isn't her man anymore.
"Wolfman doesn't care. He was willing to sell that little kid to pay debts. He's a fucker, and Bebe's not safe here."
"I can handle my own."
Frowning down at Darby, I ignore her pissy expression. "She's wearing a pretty black eye, so maybe you can't."
"You can't watch her every moment either."
"I don't have to. I just move her into my place and tell people she's my pussy. If they hurt her, they're fucking with me. I'd say that's scarier than you and your shotgun."
Darby's expression shifts into a sad mommy look. "She'll never be your pussy for real, Pax."
"What makes you think I'm interested in her pussy? She has a kid, so her pussy is probably ruined. No offense to your pussy that also survived a kid passing through it."
Narrowing her eyes, Darby wags her finger at me. "I'm onto you. Now that Ford has himself a woman, you want to copy him. It's what you've done all your life. I bet if he starts going bald, you'll get a comb over, just so you can match."
"You're funny," I say, smiling. "Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you say something funny to cheer up Bebe while you're helping her pack up?"
Darby digs in her heels, puts her hands firmly on her curvy hips, and gives me a frown from hell.
"No."
Even though thinking isn't my strong suit, I decide to try logic on her. "You're being selfish by keeping her and the kid here when you don't have the space. I know you like playing martyr, but that ain't cool."