Page 69 of Small Town Beast 2: Saverin's Duet

Tanya put out her hand to grab onto something, but her fingers closed on empty air. The room was spinning a little.What the hell?

“I beg your pardon,” said the dark-haired giant as he stopped before the two astonished ladies. “Do you know where Saverin is? I assume one of you must be his girlfriend Tanya.”

Lorrie gave Tanya anooo, girllook. The man was extremely handsome, broad-shouldered, with twinkling brown eyes. Unfortunately it was hard for Tanya to appreciate this fine specimen, given that her mother was standing right behind him.

“Hey,” said Saverin, materializing in a vapor. A vein twitched in his jaw as he hauled the strange man aside. “Why isshehere, Crash?” Tanya heard Saverin ask through his teeth.

“Hello, Mama,” said Tanya, staring and staring at her mother. A horrifying thought occurred to her. She pointed at the huge dark-haired man. “Is this yourboyfriend?”

“Tanya, whatever those men say about me isn’t true,” her mama proclaimed, her voice overly loud and panicked. “It’s all a lie! I had nothing to do with Amari!”

“Jesus Christ,” swore Saverin.

“Who is Amari?” asked Sweet Lorraine.

“Excuse me?” said Tanya, now confused as hell. “What’s Amari got to do with you being here, Mama?”

“Where is the kid, Crash?” Saverin growled at the dark-haired man. “I thought you picked him up.”

“He’s at my place with my daughter and the babysitter. I came to drop this sweet old lady off, since my dungeon is closed for renovations at the moment,” Crash said.

“What’s happening, Saverin?” Tanya didn’t understand the look on Saverin’s face, or what his friend “Crash” was sarcastically saying. Something had happened, something to do with Amari, and Mama.

Saverin took her hand. He looked agitated. “Darlin’, I meant to tell you— things today got so fucked up. Just breathe, okay? I’m going to explain it.”

“What the hell is going on?”

“Fine!” shrieked Tanya’s mother, and now the entire room was attending. “Yes, I took him. You were better off without him anyway, Tanya. You ran away from home and got pregnant for some lowlife— you were just a teenager. And that little brat ruined you for Pastor Marcus. He wanted to marry you— offered me fifteen grand! But then you run off and make a baby with Colton and embarrass me! How was I supposed to live off Social Security? I don’t have any retirement—”

“I don’t understand,” said Tanya, trying to make sense of her mother’s babble. “Mama, what the hell are you telling me right now?”

“She kidnapped your son and sold him,” said Saverin brutally. “That’s what she’s saying.”

“That’s crazy, Saverin. What on earth would make you say that?”

“Now you’ve done it,” Saverin said to Crash. “Jesus, Walker.”

“I won’t be blamed for your mistakes,” said Mrs. Weaver, speaking to Tanya without meeting her daughter’s eyes. “I was just trying to help you. Men of value don’t want single mothers. And look— you got yourself a rich white man, so I think you should really be thanking me.”

“Where is my son?”

“Safe,” said Saverin, putting his arm across Tanya’s chest to stop her from leaping on her mother. “They found him this morning in East Rowanville. He’s safe, Tanya. He’s— oh, honey, don’t cry.”

“I’m the real victim here,” said Tanya’s mother. “I was rudely kidnapped and assaulted by these two! I was dragged from my own home, beaten up, threatened — ”

“Everything good over here?” Absalom appeared, seeming to address the question to his girlfriend.

“Tanya and her mother are just working something out,” said Lorrie diplomatically. “Right, Tanya?”

Amari is alive!

Tanya swallowed hard. The world began to spin, and spin, and black fog was leaking through the corners of her vision. She staggered sideways into Saverin before everything went black.

THIRTEEN

LORRIE

Saverin caught his girl up easily in his arms. “Is there somewhere she can take a lie-down?” He growled to Absalom. “She hasn’t had anything to eat or drink all day.”

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