Page 20 of Killer Moonshine

“The same. A thousand a month. It paid my rent, utilities, and the rest went in the bank. If I couldn’t catch my food, I didn’t eat.”

“That ends now,” said Trak.

“See, you’re still damn bossy. Why? I didn’t do anything to you. Why don’t you like me? Why are you bossy?” she said, staring at him. He grinned and nodded.

“I am bossy. Just ask my wife and children. And I do like you, and I’m going to keep you alive for many reasons, but one is that we want Hugo,” said Trak.

“Well, good luck with that. He’s hard to find unless he wants you for something. I don’t even know if he lives in the area or not.”

“What’s his ultimate goal?” asked Ian. “I mean, why push the stills?”

“Truthfully?” she asked. The men all nodded. “I don’t think it’s about the stills at all, although he does talk about mass producing moonshine. Every person who owns a bar for him or a still for him, he has something of theirs. Something he can hold over their heads.”

“Like?” asked Nine.

“Like me.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The men stared at the little girl who was eating as if her life depended on it. Lydia felt well enough to get out of bed, get dressed, and take a seat at the big conference table. She was enjoying some food as well.

“Mama, who is this child?” asked Gaspar, staring at Irene.

“I can talk,” said the pre-teen. Gaspar raised an eyebrow at her, and she looked down, blushing. “Sorry. I can speak, sir.”

“Okay. Who are you?”

“My name is Yarrow Sumrall.”

“Sumrall?” frowned Antoine. “You related to Yaz?”

“He’s my daddy,” she said, nodding.

“Why are you here, Yarrow?”

“My daddy dropped me off with the church ladies and told them to find Miss Irene and give me to her for safekeeping.” The men all frowned, staring at the girl, then at Irene.

“Why would he do that, honey? What do you need safekeeping from?” asked Ghost.

“That man she was talking about,” she said, pointing to Lydia. “Mr. Hugo. Daddy told me that he was saying real dirty things about me. Daddy has been trying to make a go of that little bar for a few years now. Ever since Mama left us and went to live with Mr. Hugo. She got used to the moonshine and died from it, I think.

“Sometimes, I clean the tables and stay with him ‘cause I don’t like staying at home alone. The bar wasn’t doing so good, and then Mr. Hugo came in.

“A while back, we got cameras at the bar, and I love to dance to the music. I guess, I guess he saw me and thought I was trying to do something else. Something grown-up. I didn’t mean to dance that way. I was just having fun.”

“Where is your daddy now?” asked Antoine.

“I-I’m not sure. He said that he needed me to be safe. If he couldn’t come up with more money for Mr. Hugo, Mr. Hugo said he was going to take me as payment. I ain’t got no money.” Irene smiled.

“You don’t have any money, child.”

“That’s what I said.” She took another bite, and Lydia smirked at the little girl. “Daddy said Mr. Hugo told him if he didn’t have all the money for the still, he was gonna take the bar, our house, and me.”

“I see,” nodded Ghost. He knelt beside the young girl. “Listen to me, Yarrow.”

“You can just call me Yar,” she smiled.

“Okay, Yar. Listen to me. That man isn’t going to touch you, but we need to know where your father went so we can help him.”

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