Page 17

Story: Ferocity

Scarlett's stomach churned. Bile bit at the back of her throat and she had to swallow several times to keep from vomiting. The room swam before her eyes. Her sister betrayed everything they'd taken pride in. She couldn't be there. She couldn't continue to stand-by and watch this...this circus.

Already, the bid had grown to over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars and was still going strong. She turned away and started for the door. She wouldn't sit idly by anymore. Determination replaced the rage. Dave placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her progression. She spun on him, ready to give him a piece of her mind until she saw the same emotions in his soulful blue eyes.

“Don't you think it would be advantageous for us to stay and see who wins each of the auctions.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Snap a few pictures.”

She deflated. He was right. In order to nail her sister, she had to have evidence of what transpired there. “Fine. I need another drink though.”

“Come on,” Kenny took her hand. “Let's get you one of those pumpkin latte things you like. It's going to be a long night.”

“You shouldn't be trying to sweet-talk me,” she said, as they walked back up to the bar.

“If I was sweet-talking you,” Kenny answered, leaning in. “I'd say, I can't wait to get you out of that dress and make you scream all night.”

“You're such a perv.” Yet his words made her tingle from head to toe.

“Only for you.” When the bartender approached, he gave the guy their order then tucked her into his side. “We'll figure this out. The more information we have the better chance we have to take her down.”

“She's my sister, though,” Scarlett said, defending Maisie. “Shouldn't I have some kind of reservation about this?”

“Should you?” Kenny took her hand in his. “Think about it this way. With what we know about your sister, do you think, if your roles were reversed, she'd be nice about it, or make sure you suffer?”

The answer was simple. Maisie would always make Scarlett suffer. “What about Samantha?”

“What do you mean?”

“What will happen to her?” Since Scarlett never said who her father was, she'd have no one besides Scarlett. How did she explain to her niece why she put her mother away?

“She'll live with you, I suppose. Shouldn't she? Sounds like to me, her mother doesn't have any use for her, except for her being a token to show off when appropriate. Kind of like your parents did with Maisie.”

“No.” Scarlett shook her head. “Maisie was more outgoing. She showed herself off. Samantha reminds me of myself at her age. Then this happened.” She motioned to the scar. So, no. They're not the same. Maisie is a conniving woman, hell-bent to get what she wants.”

“Here you are,” the bartender said. He turned to walk away then stepped back to them. “Aren't you, Scarlett?”

Fear gripped her. If Maisie found out she was there, their plan would be foiled. “Uh...”

Kenny eased himself in front of her. “You don't want to do this, friend.”

The guy lifted his hands. “I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just surprised to see you is all. You're not one to come out to these things.”

“No,” she replied. “I'm not. I did this time.”

“Well, we're glad you did.” He smiled before walking away to help another patron.

She let out a breath. “That was close.”

Kenny chuckled. “Yes, it was.”

****

Dave held her hand as they drove home. The adrenaline rush was wearing off and she was spent. However, they got the information they needed to take down Maisie. The seven cubs were auctioned off for a total of two million dollars, surprisingly, the amount of the loan Maisie had taken out against the sanctuary. The likelihood of her paying it back though was slim and none and that bothered Scarlett more.

As they pulled up to the staff quarters, Edward and Kenny got out leaving her with Dave. She peered up at him through her lashes as he continued driving toward the main building housing her apartment and her office. Nervous energy filled her belly. He hadn't said a word on the drive home—none of them had for that matter.

Scarlett tucked her bottom lip between her teeth as he pulled up to the building and put his car in park. What did she say? Of course, he'd made bold statements about making her his, but what did that mean in the grand scheme of things?

“Would you like me to walk you up?”

“S-sure,” she said. “I'd like that.”