Page 48 of Sapphire's Gem
Gramma’s face fell at the name, and hurt appeared. “That boy.”
“Honey, you did everything you could, and he still screwed you and everyone over. He hurt you,” Pops said.
“Wait, what? Someone hurt you?” I demanded, leaning forward.
“He was on drugs. Stole every cent Shirley had, and then when he couldn’t find any more money, he attacked her,” Pops explained.
Wylde bristled at my side.
“Tell me this prick is inside,” I hissed.
“Yes,” Cassidy said, swapping a glance with Wylde.
“What am I missing?”
“Tell you later,” Wylde replied with a glance at Gramma, who was looking sad.
Belladonna knocked on my mind before bursting in.‘Holy crap. Wylde beat the crap out of him, and Cassidy covered for him by giving him an alibi. It’s at the front of both oftheir minds, and neither one feels guilty. Even funnier is that Warrick also got a lick in at a different time, and they don’t know.’
I bit the inside of my cheek and glanced at the three men from under my lashes. All three of them appeared smug, and I managed to choke back my laugh.
‘Seems our esteemed detectives understand a shade of grey,’ I replied.
‘As does Captain Hatton, because in Cassidy’s mind is a memory of Hatton orderingCassidy to cover for Wylde. Although Cassidy had already made up his mind to alibi Wylde.’
“How interesting,” I muttered, and Wylde looked at me.
“What is?”
“Nothing. I was thinking aloud.” I smiled at Wylde warmly. Who didn’t like a guy who would beat the crap out of someone who harmed his gramma?
???
I got the call as breakfast was ending. Warrick, Wylde, and Cassidy went out of their way to be charming and entertained my sisters. It was highly amusing to see all three men bow to Gramma.
I answered my phone without even checking who it was.
“Sapphire. A drug dealer is dealing his crap right now on the corner of Market Street,” a woman said and hung up. I glanced over at Vengeance and tilted my head, and she got up.
“Excuse me, there’s something I need to check,” I said, getting up.
Wylde glanced at me, but I kept my face impassive and walked away. Someone had better not be dealing drugs on thecorner. For two miles around our businesses, which mainly centred around Market Square, no drugs or shit were allowed to be sold. If some asshole dealer was taking a chance, he would take the consequences, too. I strolled outside, well aware of Wylde’s sharp gaze watching my every move.
“What is it?” Vengeance asked as I walked towards the corner.
“That,” I hissed and jerked my head in the direction of what was clearly a dealer.
He had his back to us and didn’t see us coming until I had him in an armlock and shoved him face-first into a wall.
“Dealing on Royal Harlot turf?” I demanded.
“Gotta make a living,” he retorted.
“You got a death wish? It’s common knowledge that nobody deals around here,” Vengeance asked, examining her nails.
“Harlots don’t own the streets,” the dealer retorted, and I hauled him back and slammed him into the wall again. “Fuck!” he roared.
“Two-mile radius around our properties. You can have the rest of the town, but not here. Who’s in charge?” I demanded.
