Page 130 of Lost Lyrebird

“Seventeen, actually,” I say, but Destiny and Kandy ignore me.

“Ah bullshit, Des.Age means nothin’.A girl that bleeds, can breed.And it’s not like she’s a virgin.”

Destiny turns her back on Kandy, but that doesn’t keep Kandy from saying what’s on her mind.“She’s branded now.There ain’t no way out no more.You fillin’ her head with thoughts of runnin’ is only gonna get her killed, ‘ight?What she needs is to be told it ain’t nothin’.That she’ll get used to it just like we have.”Kandy’s chocolate eyes swing to lock with mine.“It’s all about the green, baby girl.Suck ’em, fuck ’em, but get the dough up front.That’s your world now.You do that—your life is gonna be cherries.You don’t… well… it’s gonna be nothin’ but pain.”Her gaze hardens and moves to Destiny’s.“That’s what the girl needs to hear.”

For the next thirty minutes or so, the tension between Destiny and Kandy slowly dissolves.All too soon, they’re back to gossiping about the other girls and telling trick stories that have even a smile forming on my face.

Before I hear the car coming, both women go quiet.Like a switch has been flipped, Kandy and Destiny straighten, suck in, and become all smiles.They saunter towards the approaching car and peacock, flaunting their best attributes.Under their breath, they categorize the curb crawler before the vehicle comes to a stop.

From what Kandy can remember, he likes to deliver a little pain, slaps on the ass, pinching, a little choking, but nothing that crosses the border into brutal.

For all her blustering, Kandy moves directly in front of me, swinging her hips from side to side when the John tries to look around her.Filling up the space in his open window, she cuts me out of his view completely.It could be purely selfish, so she ensures she clears her quota for the night, but for some reason, I don’t think that’s her only motivation for steering his attention away from me.

Quick words are exchanged, and before getting into the car, she turns and winks at me.

Coming back to stand beside me, Destiny sighs, “Here’s to hopin’ the next one is a harmless suit with a fat wallet.”

While we wait, Destiny talks about her little boy.She’s worried because he won’t stop coughing, and Pedro, the father and one of Veno’s right-hand men, won’t let her take him to see a doctor.

As the minutes tick by, I become calmed by her soothing voice and the distant hum of traffic on the freeway.When the next person approaches us, it isn’t by car.Popping off the wall, Destiny looks down the street.“Oh, look who it is.”

I lean forward and cock my head to the side to see a man running in our direction.Not in an aggressive way.But a little more than a leisurely jog.

“We call him Sex-On-Legs, honey.”

It’s not until he runs under the glow of the nearest street light that I get a good look.Tall, broad, dark from head to toe, and rippling with muscles.Precisely what the nickname proclaims him to be.And there’s something about the way he holds himself that has my stomach cartwheeling.Maybe it’s the fact that he’s in total control of his body.Everything muscle, every limb, and he races through the hot night like nothing out here in the darkest and seediest part of town could touch him.

“Flaunt what you got, baby girl.If anyone can finally tempt him into a night of fun, it’s you.”

At the sight of him, I seem to be unable to move.I’m too struck by his masculine beauty and the intensity covering his features.

Then his head turns.His fierce eyes lock with mine.His steps falter as my chest seizes.

Mother of God… he’s even more gorgeous than I thought.

Hair black as oil.Jaw cut sharply like it’s made from stone.And the muscles on this guy…

His eyes drift down my body, taking in all the ways I’ve tried to make myself look older.It takes a few seconds for him to look his fill, and when he’s finished, his brows draw together in disapproval.He shakes his head and resumes his run.Just jogs right the hell by.

Leaving me behind like I’m nothing.

Maybe I am to a guy like him.

Destiny calls after him.“Oh, sexy, where you goin’?We’d give you two for the price of one.”

Yeah, no.Maybe Destiny could handle a man like that.But I’m not so sure.

He looks like the kind of man who could make me question everything about myself and wish I’d made better choices.Thoughts that a girl like me can’t afford to dwell on.

This is my life now, no matter how much I wish otherwise.

CHAPTER 37

Grief is a lake we visit and wade into.Don’t stay too long or you may get pulled under.

The dead can’t talk back, but they sure as hell are good listeners.I truly believe that.I’ve seen enough evidence of it in my life to the point it’s indisputable.

Since my father’s passing, he’s been here somehow, watching over me.Helping when he can.Guiding me in some way.But I’m no longer able to feel his lingering presence.Whether that’s from the shit coursing through my veins drowning him out, or it’s his way of showing his disapproval—I don’t know.