Page 28 of Small Town Beast 2: Saverin's Duet

“Your daddy still owes us four bands,” said the pitbull woman, showing all four of her teeth. “Plus interest. Now who’s this ‘Tanya’ ?”

“I’ll buy the debt,” interrupted Saverin.

The knee-breaker’s chin disappeared into her neck. “Hold your charity, Bailey. This ain’t your matter.”

“You can’t beat a nickel out of this girl, I can tell you. I’ll give you sixty percent, tonight.”

Heavy jaws chewed it over.

“We want an apology,” said the woman, glaring at Gwen.

“I’m sorry,” said Gwen quickly. “I’m sorry that my daddy is a born liar and a cheat. Nobody’s more sorry than me about that, I can tell you.”

Dinah nodded, then turned Saverin and drawled, “Talk is cheap.”

Saverin took six hundred dollars from his wallet and put it in the woman’s meaty fist. At her outraged expression he snarled, “Do I look like an ATM? You’ll get the rest later.”

“We’ll stop by your hill, then.” The woman crammed the money into her bra and swaggered, “Don’t think ‘cause we’re low down rednecks you can hoodwink us. We got some friendsin high places, don’t we, boys? You better stick to your word, Bailey.”

When the knee-breakers left Gwen sagged in relief. “Thank you, Mister Bailey! I was afraid I’d have to tell them about those lottery tickets just to get them to leave!”

Tanya nearly broke the door off its hinges. “Gwen, are you crazy? You can’t tellanybodyabout those tickets until we get the money!” she shrieked.

“I know that,” said Gwen, with a quick look at her boyfriend Rory, who had been quiet as a mouse for the whole event. Saverin glared at the coward, who shrank back guiltily behind Gwen.

“Think, Gwen,” Tanya said, losing patience. “Imagine what will happen when you go running your mouth about a billion dollars all over the trailer park.”

“Four hundred million, after taxes,” yawned Rory.

“It’d be like covering yourself in steak and jumping in a lion pit,” Tanya fumed. “Gwen? You hearing me? Let’s agree to say nothing until we at least get the check in hand.”

“Okay,” muttered Gwen. “Jeez.”

Tanya might in fact be safer in a lion pit than staying here with these two knuckleheads. Saverin took Tanya by the arm and nodded to the hapless pair. “Thanks for everything, Gwen, Rory. But we’re just gonna head on back now.”

“What? But Gwen’s gonna make breakfast. Pancakes,” Rory cried in real dismay. “You can’t miss that!’

“I don’t eat sugar,” said Saverin.

“We should cash in our tickets at the same time,” said Gwen, squinting at Tanya. “Don’t you think?”

“I’ll take both of you down to the lottery office tomorrow,” said Saverin, reading the silent implication. “Eight in the morning, sharp. Are we clear? Don’t talk to anybody until then. Matter of fact, don’t even talk to each other.”

Rory frowned. “Stay here? Now wait a minute, Mister Bailey. Me and Gwen had plans today already.”

Gwendolyn turned to him. “We did?”

“Remember the Clamson’s tailgate party? They were gonna roast a whole hog and everything, Gwen.”

“Oh! I forgot about that.”

“Wepromisedwe’d go,” Rory added.

“Golly, how can I keep it a secret if we go, Rory?” Gwen fretted. “You know Mrs. Clamson already. She could get honey from a tin of worms, that woman. One drink and I’d be spilling the beans!”

“But we promised,” Rory said.

“You’d pick a tailgate party over half a billion dollars?” Tanya said before Saverin could unleash his temper on the runty little jackass.

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