Page 33 of Savage in the Streets

The elevator doorslides open to Mabel holding a brown paper bag full of what smells like Chinese food, and I know immediately that I’m not going to like this visit.

“W-what’s going on?” I sputter out. “It’s lunch. Shouldn’t you be at the shop?”

Her face is full of sympathy, and I already know what she’s about to say.

“I came to tell you in person that when I got to Savage Beauty, it was chained and locked.”

My chest tightens. I expected this, though I didn’t anticipate it happening so soon.

I nod and make myself as cool as a cucumber. “At least I get some decent Chinese out of it.”

We make our way into the kitchen and set the food out on the island.

“You still mad at Ash?” she asks with an arched brow.

“Do I still loathe him with every fiber of my being? Yes.”

“I know you find him insufferable, but he did take on your case.”

“For my brother.”

“Have you tried calling him to see what’s up?”

“My brother tells more lies than truths. Talking to him will only make matters worse.”

“I hear ya.”

“I wish he had never found out about my arrest, but word travels fast in our circle.”

“At least you got a spiffy lawyer out of it.”

Little does she know, sometimes I’d rather be rotting in jail.

I still can’t believe how stupid I was, thinking that a man like Ashton Ward could have feelings for a miscreant like me.

But that kiss…God, how could it not be real?

“How’s Beau?” I ask between bites of orange chicken.

“He’s the sweetest little thing. He likes a little girl in his class, so he gave her his favorite Pokemon card.”

“That’s cute.”

Something’s off about Mabel, and it’s not just that she’s the bearer of bad news. She seems to be genuinely anxious. In the weeks that I’ve known her, she’s never been like this around me.

“Something’s on your mind,” I say, deciding a direct approach would be best.”

“Am I that easy to read?”

“Like a book. Now spit it out.”

“I need to give you a makeover.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “A makeover?”

“Ash asked me to. You see, when you go into the courtroom on Monday, you need to appear…how do I say this…motherly.”

“Motherly?”