Page 79 of Off-Limits

My mother and her haven’t spoken in years, and the disdain wafts off her in waves as she screws her face up. Swallowing the saliva collecting in my throat, the plug suddenly feels heavier.

“Mum, did you hear a word I just said?”

Aunty Kerry stays quiet, assessing me, and when the garage door opens, and I hear Damon yell at the workers to come in and get to work, I feel myself pale. I think I’m going to be sick.

“Dottie! You bitch. I’ve been texting you.” Arrie says, effectively breaking me from my mini meltdown.

“You have?”

“Have you checked your phone?”

I look down at my bag where my phone is and shake my head.

“I haven’t.”

“Oh… you’ve been busy,” she coos, her eyebrows moving up and down.

OH MY GOD!

“I - I…”

“What the fuck are you doing here, Kerry-Anne? You are not welcome.” Damon’s voice booms behind me.

“Arrie was just telling me you’re giving her the workshop,” she says smugly, her brown brow rising in challenge.

I risk a glance at Damon and find him smirking. This cannot be good.

“Oh, you didn’t tell our daughter then?”

“Tell me what?” Arrie demands.

“That your mother is trying to take the workshop from me. It’s the only way she will sign the papers. Oh, and that’s not all she wants.”

Arrie turns her green angry eyes on her mother, and I attempt to dart through the door and out of sight, but just as I’m about to, Damon does something very fucking dangerous.

He turns the fucking plug on.

“Shit!”

“What?” Arrie says, turning to look at me.

“I - I forgot my paintbrushes in my car,” I lie, feeling both my holes clenching.

Kerry-Anne looks at me oddly, her head canted to the side, and I wonder if she can see through the lie, but then Arrie speaks up.

“Go and do your thing, cousin, I have some parents to wrangle.”

“Dorothy has things to do here today, Arrie,” Damon argues, sounding frustrated.

“Calm down, Dad. I’ll do the reception shit today. Dottie deserves a day off, and her dad isn’t well, so give her a break. Plus, I need to smack some sense into the both of you. Go, Wench, while you have the chance.”

A dart a quick look at Damon to see he is not impressed, but I am not arguing with Arrie right now, and if I don’t get out of here soon, I think I might lose control. Waving at them, I dash out the front door, the vibration dying the further I get away from the workshop.

When I reach my car, I release a staggered breath. Holyfuck that was intense. I insert the keys into the ignition at the same time my phone goes off.

My head snaps up and there stands Damon at the window, watching me. With shaky hands I unlock my phone, swallowing when I see his name on the screen.

My pretty little Blossom… seeing as today didn’t go as planned, I am changing what is expected of you. You are to keep the plug in all day and meet me at Rafter’s Falls this evening, at The Sebel by seven. Don’t be late, and wear something purple. This time you won’t flee, and I will organise a substitute for the office duties tomorrow. Your ass is mine. Always yours, Tin Man xox