Page 23 of Hart of Vengeance
A violent scream was stuck in my throat. Instead, I clenched my teeth. “Cut the bullshit,” I whisper-yelled. “You’re not pinning your actions on me. I’ve done nothing but try to help you since Mom and Dad died. You chose the path you’re on.” I stabbed a finger at her. “You chose to fall in love with a criminal.”
She popped forward. “And you think Denim is a saint? Newsflash, sis. He’s as bad as Duke. Oh, wait. He’s in jail for murder. Much worse than Duke.”
I wasn’t about to waste my time rehashing an argument we’d had many times before. “I’m not here to talk about Denim or me. What did you want from Duke? Have you talked to him?”
“You’re still in love with Denim. He’ll get out of prison one day. Then what will you do?”
Run as far away as I can.“Coming here was a mistake. I thought prison would change you. But you’re still a bitch.”
She sneered as she leaned in. Her green eyes were pinpricks. “You don’t know what it’s like in here. You know something? Leave! Push me away.”
Don’t engage. Get up and walk out.
I pressed my hands on top of the table, motioning to stand.
“Wait,” she said, losing the narcissistic attitude. “Duke isn’t accepting my calls. He owes me money. I need it.”
“What could you possibly need money for in prison?” If I weren’t mistaken, the state gave each inmate a monthly stipend for toiletries and such. “Drugs?” She’d dabbled in coke. “Gambling?” My sister was good at cards. After Dad had taught her how to play poker, she was hooked. She’d played in high school, taking people’s money left and right.
She checked on the guard at the door. “I just need it.” Then she sized me up, looking at me as if she were really seeing me for the first time. “Since when do you wear expensive clothes?”
I glanced down at my pink silk blouse and gray slacks. “I got a job.”
She perked up. “So you have money now?”
I shook my head. “I just started. And don’t think for a second I’m loaning you any of my hard-earned cash.” I was all for helping her, but not so she could sniff it or gamble it away.
“Then don’t bother showing up again.”
I closed my eyes briefly, pushing down the need to lash out. “Mom and Dad would be so disappointed and heartbroken to see you like this.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Stop throwing Mom and Dad in my face. You’ve done that repeatedly since the fire.”
“You know next month is the anniversary of their deaths.”
“Your point is?”
For a stunned second, I held my breath. “Shape up, Savannah. And let’s be real. I can’t do anything for you while you’re in this place.”
“You could’ve gone to Duke for me. He would’ve helped me.”
Don’t scream. Take a breath. She’s your sister. She’s hurting.
I puffed out air. “Pfft. If he doesn’t want to talk to you, then he’s not about to help you. How much do you need?” I wasn’t loaning her any money, but I was curious.
Curiosity killed the cat.
“Two grand.”
I rubbed my temples as a dull throb started. “Gambling?”
She visibly swallowed as her skin turned ashen. “Protection.”
I knew nothing about prison, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around her answer or the questions I had. But I was certain she wouldn’t come clean with me.
She leaned over the table, and strands of her oily brown hair fell forward. “I’m serious, Jade.” Fear replaced the derision in her tone. “The only way I will make it out of this shithole alive is to pay for protection. You’ve got to ask Duke for money or find some. At this point, I don’t care how.”
“Does someone want you dead?”
