Page 25 of Bayou Knights

“Plum.”

“I don’t know how to answer that,” I mumble.

Dixon scratches his beard and stares at me, I feel like I’m under the microscope.

“Everyone is dismissed. I’ll check with Ziggy,” Bones slaps my shoulder before walking out, leaving me and Dixon.

“How can you be so calm?” I ask him, for probably the millionth time, as I light up a cigarette. I don’t usually smoke but I need something. I really want to throat punch the motherfucker that took Plum, but I have to wait for that chance. And it will happen, I will find the asshole that took her and finish him.

“Inside, I’m a rage of fury, but I have Gage to think about,” he leans back in his chair, stroking his beard as if he’s deep in thought.

“Do you really think it’s over the money?”

“I think Sawyer is in bed with the wrong people. Lyra wants the money. I think someone else wants the land,” he says.

“Fuck.”

“What are you going to do once we get her back?” he asks. I blink at him not really understanding the question.

“What do you mean?”

“What are your intentions with her?”

“I don’t know how to answer that. It’s been a while since I ever really felt something for someone. I don’t know what it is about her, but I want to get to know her. But my position….”

He holds a hand up to stop me, “once this is over, there won’t be a problem. You won’t have to be looking over your shoulder.”

“She was taken on my watch. A man that works for my son at our diner was shot. One of my men was shot.”

He stares at me for a bit, and I feel like an asshole, a whiny asshole. I need to get a grip.

“Plum is one of a kind. She doesn’t see the dark where others do. We all need that in our lives. Don’t jerk her around,” he taps the table as he gets up, leaving me to my thoughts.

I don’t know what to do. He’s right though, I can’t jerk her around.

Have to find her first to work this out.

CHAPTERELEVEN

Plum

I feel someone shaking me forcefully and I wake up with a start, on the floor.

“You fainted,” the man says. He looks rough, his voice is gravelly, and he looks like he could use a shower.

“I what?” I whisper.

“He said you fainted,” my mother cackles from chair in the corner.

“Mom?”

“You are such a little bitch. Sweet talked your grandpa into giving you everything,” she sneers at me. What is going on? My mom hates me?

“I….I..” I stutter, not knowing what to say.

“I hated you the minute you were born. It’s why I showed more care to Lyra. She’s going to be a star someday. You? You’re pathetic,” she snaps at me. Is my dad here? Does he hate me too?

“Have at it,” my mom says, and I see the man grin a toothless grin and I know this isn’t going to be good for me.