Page 79 of King of Cruelty

Joggers, picnickers, kissing couples, and even the mother of the bubble-blowing girl snatched up her daughter and stampeded for the trail—swamping the money confetti flying through the park.

“Whoa— Watch it!” Selfie Bitch was knocked sideways, nearly stumbling over her feet and rolling down the hill into the pond. She righted herself and tried to fight free of the crowd. I lost her in the pack of joggers.

“Hey—!” Her shrieks echoed through the park, even louder than the jubilant cries for free money. “Let me through! Keep the damn money, and let me through!”

Her grasping hand appeared between two oiled-up bodybuilders. Head following, she clawed her way out—her face a mask of rage and thunder.

“Stupid, trashy bitch!” she screamed, dropping all pretense. She bolted for the stroller—ducking and dodging eager parkgoers. Yanking Laurel’s stroller away, she ripped off the blanket and—

Nothing.

There wasn’t a thing in Laurel’s stroller. Not my niece. Not her diaper bag. Not even a pacifier.

“Wha—? Where?” Selfie Bitch twisted around, scanning all the running, shifting faces for me and the baby. “Fuck!”

I crouched behind the bush, watching the stupid fool freak out. Laurel fussed against my shoulder, less than pleased at being rudely awoken from her nap.

“I’m sorry, baby girl, I’ve got you.” I soothed her, gently rocking her back and forth. “You’re okay now. You’re—”

“My baby,” Selfie Bitch shrieked. “Someone help, she took my baby!”

My eyes bugged.

“Some skinny, brunette crazy woman stole my baby! Help me! Please!”

“Okay,” I croaked, scrambling to my feet. “She’s not that much of a stupid fool. We’ve got to get out of here.”

I spun on my heels, and ran. No hesitation. No looking back. I held my niece close and ran as fast as I could, picking up speed when someone shouted and pointed at me out of the corner of my eye.

I bolted out of the south entrance, coming out on the street that led to River’s homeless shelter. I almost went that way, then stopped.

No, if they know about me and Laurel, then they know about River. Besides, homeless shelters aren’t known for being locked-down vaults. Being open and inviting to everyone is kind of the point!

“Oh, gods, oh, gods, oh gods.” I bounced from foot to foot, holding Laurel close. What was I supposed to do? If I couldn’t go back to the Fairfield, and I couldn’t go to my friends in River’s crew, where could I take Laurel so she’d be safe.

“You!”

Selfie Bitch booked it hot on my heels, bursting out of the entrance and heading straight for us. She scrabbled in her purse, tugging out something that glinted silver in the sunlight.

I spun around. Slipping the diaper bag off my shoulder, I smashed it across her face.

Her head snapped all the way around, spraying blood from her nose like a fountain. She screamed, collapsing on the ground and setting off a wave of giggles from Laurel. Her gun skittered into the dirt.

“Don’t fuck with me, bitch.” Balancing the baby, I hefted out the massive rock I had shoved into Laurel’s bag. “I’m the mean sister.”

I dropped the stone right on her head.

“Ahhhh—!” The rock bounced her skull off the concrete, splitting it open and showering the stone in blood.

She stopped moving.

I didn’t stick around to lord my victory over her. Only too aware of that green car and the fact it could come around the corner at any minute, I took off for the sidewalk and flagged down a cab.

A short, Asian woman with a kind smile peered at me through the rearview mirror. “Where to?”

“Uh... I uhh...” I tugged out my phone, pulling up Kenzie’s number. I had to try her again, and keep trying her until—

I lit on the last text I sent her.That’s not a bad idea. Even if the Brotherhood ripped apart my and Kenzie’s lives, they’d never in a million years think to look for us there.

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