Page 77 of Deliverance

My gaze moved to the driver in the rearview mirror. "Let's wait for Ric." The women nodded, and we were silent until the cab driver pulled up in front of a white, one-story house.

The moment I lifted my hand to knock on the front door, I hesitated. Did Ric's mom know we were coming? Did she know where we were coming from? Ric had said that his mother knew a lot, but to what extent?

After taking a deep breath, I knocked, and a few seconds later, it opened. A lady who looked a lot like Ric with black hair and olive skin stood before me. I looked at the women and Martin and then back at the lady at the door. "Um—"

She smiled. "Ric called and told me what had happened. Come in. Come in." She waved us in. "I'm Victoria, but you can call me Vicky." We all introduced ourselves. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

We declined and sat awkwardly in the living room. I didn't know how long Ric would be, but I wanted him there. I wanted to know what would happen next because not only was it almost dark out, but the not knowing was killing me. Were we all sleeping at his house for the night? Going to the police? Contacting our families?

"Please make yourselves at home. I know it's not a 5thAvenue penthouse—"

"We're happy to be out of there," Leanne stated.

"Yeah," Tifarah agreed. "My only concern is when do we get to call our family?"

Before Vicky could answer, the front door opened. It wasn't Ric who walked in, but an older man. He looked at each of us and then to Vicky. "These are friends of Ric's," she explained.

He cocked his head slightly. "Friends of Ric's?"

"From Saffron's." She smiled.

"From Saffron's?" he questioned. He looked at us again. He knew who Madam was?

"It's finally over," Vicky stated.

"Over?" he asked.

Before Vicky could elaborate, the door opened, and Ric walked in. I didn't know where he'd had to go to deal with the bodies, but he had to have sped home. I had the urge to rush to him, feel his arms around me, but I didn't move from where I sat on the couch.

"Get out," Ric gritted toward the older man.

"Excuse me?" the man questioned.

"Get out before I throw you out." Ric took a step toward the guy.

"Do we have a problem?"

"We will if you don't leave."

"Vicky—"

"Now!" Ric seethed. I'd never seen him angry like this before.

"Yous can't tell me what to do, kid."

Ric went toe to toe with the man. "I just came from the docks. Would you like to take a drive back?"

"Are yous threatening me?"

"It's been a long fucking day, and I don't want to deal with your shit on top of it."

"That has nothing to do with me."

"No," Ric shook his head slowly, "but I'm out."

The man stared at Ric for a few seconds. "How?"

Ric narrowed his eyes. "The only way out."