Page 70 of Small Town Beast 2: Saverin's Duet

“You can take her home,” nodded Absalom. “I appreciate your coming, Bailey, and I hope there won’t be any hard feelings.”

“I have business with Hiram,” Saverin snarled.

“Hiram will be dealt with. You have my word.”

But Saverin dug his heels in. “He took something off my girl and I’ll be wanting it back.”

“Ah,” said Absalom. “She mentioned something about a wallet.” He checked his watch and then turned to Lorrie with an unreadable expression. Absalom wasn’t one to show his hand, but Lorrie’s suspicion that he had something planned for Hiram and his posse deepened as he said calmly,

“Lorraine, I want you to go with Saverin to the West Wing. The room with the green door. I’m sure Saverin knows the way. You can stay there with Tanya for a minute, right?”

“Are you sure, Abi?”

“I’ll be a few hours down here, and when Tanya wakes up she’ll want company. Y’all two seemed to get along. Fair?”

“Alright.” Absalom kissed her on the top of her head and pressed a key into her hands before gesturing to his right-hand man, Shadrac. “Bailey’s taking his girl to have a rest, and some food. They’re staying in the West Wing. Make sure nobody bothers them,” he instructed.

“It’s nearly eight o’ clock,” said Shadrac.

“Yeah,” said Absalom, meeting his Second’s eye. “I’m aware of that. Bailey? You know the way through this house better than we do. I’ll leave you to it.”

Saverin gave Absalom a deeply suspicious look, but considering that Absalom had offered him a chance to go home, he accepted the offer with a grunt of thanks.

“What about the old woman?” Crash pointed out, irked. “I am not taking her back to my house. My daughter is there and I’ve baby-sat this psychotic bat all goddamned day. Saverin, she’s your problem.”

“I want to go home,” Tanya’s mother protested, throwing herself at Absalom’s mercy. “These dirty devils kidnapped me!”

Absalom raised an eyebrow.

“Tanya’s got a score to settle with her,” said Saverin. At her name, Tanya murmured and shifted in his arms.

“I can’t go off giving off bedrooms to your mother-in-law, Bailey. My men worked hard tonight and they need good sleep. Can’t she stay upstairs with your girl?”

“Absolutely not.”

“The old gardener’s house, maybe. It’s got a bed in there,” Absalom suggested.

“It’s also got mice,” said Shadrac.

Absalom looked at Saverin.

“Good,” said Saverin.

Lorrie always beenin awe of Saverin Bailey, and as they walked through the dark halls of the house she struggled for conversation. Luckily he spoke first. “So you and Absalom?”

“Yes. We’re getting married.”

“What does his wife think of that?”

“She asked him for an annulment. He only married her to get support from the Snatch Hills.”

“I hope he treats you right.”

Lorrie laughed, rubbing the diamond ring with the tip of her left thumb. “I said the same thing to your girl.”

“Tanya has been through a lot. No thanks to Absalom.”

“I’m very sorry. Abi can be really relentless when he wants something.”

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