Page 93 of Little Sunshine

“What?” Cole gritted through clenched teeth. It was obvious the conversation was stomping through some areas of his past that were better left buried. I glanced over at him, but he gave me a subtle chin lift as he continued glaring at Veronica. “What happened to the money from Mila?”

“And from Harry?” I added.

“He kicked me out! I’m homeless and sleeping on my girlfriend Jeannette’s couch, for fuck’s sake. When Mila and Abraham didn’t show, I figured I should use the money to get back on my feet.”

“Do you have any of it left?”

But I knew the answer even before she said it. “No.”

I was far from an expert, but I’d grown up with four older sisters. I knew enough. Her hair was recently done since no roots showed. The clothes she wore were new and quality—unlike the threadbare shit her daughter used to wear.

Used to.

Formerly.

Not any-fucking-more.

She’d treated herself to a spa day and shopping spree rather than pay back her own daughter. Or settle up with a man who’d threatened her.

Running my palm down my face, I mentally went through my options. “You got a number for Abraham?”

She shook her head. I was about to ask for a last name since it’d help Cole find the info quicker, but she said, “I know where he is, though. But I don’t have money to give him. And I don’t want him to know where I’m staying now. He’s dangerous.”

Clearly not as dangerous as me if you’re continuing to fuck around.

“I don’t give a shit,” I told her bluntly. “Not if he’s behind Mila’s attack.”

“Well since you seem to be blinded by Mila’s uptight, better-than-everyone?—”

“What’d I say about watching your damn mouth?”

She forced an acid smile. “Since you seem to like Mila, you should give a shit. I never told Abraham about her. If you go confront him, and he doesn’t have anything to do with this, you’ll be putting her on his radar.”

Yeah, I’d already considered that.

“Not if I settle up your debt.”

Relief, excitement, and a different, nauseating kind of excitement lit her face. She tried to hide it, but too many gears were turning in her calculating eyes. “It’s a lot.”

I didn’t say anything to that since my money wasn’t her business and paying off her debt wasn’t about her. None of this was. It was about Mila, and that I did share.

“This is a one-time thing. You step in shit again, you clean your own mess. Don’t smear it at Mila’s feet. You try to borrow money from her, you upset her, you even look at her sideways, I will put every resource I have into destroying your life. You got me?”

She didn’t try to deny the help. Didn’t pause to think it over. Didn’t even hesitate for a second before nodding rapidly.

Meanwhile, it’s a battle just to get her daughter to let me make her a damn sandwich.

Veronica gave us the address where Abraham might be, and Cole plugged it into his phone.

With another warning, we returned to the car. I watched as she sauntered back to the bar, not even a shred of guilt or worry on her face.

“Need me to drive?” I offered.

“Nah, I got it.”

I looked at him as he pulled away from the curb, trying to gauge whether the interaction had fucked him up or just pissed him off. His expression was blank as he navigated through the side streets.

Before I could speak, he did.

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