The Cage
Bella grabbed at the grate with her fingers, mad as hell. What kind of a jerk wouldn’t let a little girl have her mommy? “What kind of jerk would deprive a little girl of her mother?”
The dim light thrown from the dash outlined a grim-looking profile. He spoke over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. “Jerk like me, I guess. But don’t worry, darlin’. Once I go back and find that fugitive and collect my twenty G’s your baby’ll get her mama back.”
“Twenty G’s, my ass.”
“You heard me right, darlin’. There’s a reward from the family of your Danny’s drug deal victim for his capture. Not conviction. Just capture. Twenty grand. And that’s on top of my commission.”
Bella slammed back against the seat. Maybe if she stared hard enough, she might bore a hole through his neck from here. Bringing all her mental intensity to bear, she focused on one spot on the back of his neck. Then…her lips pressed together, stifling a gasp. Her armpits grew clammy in the pea coat. A full body sweat soaked her spandex, and her jeans. The gravel voice…no. She leaned forward just a bit, wishing for her glasses. She used them for reading textbooks and notes at school. But nobody ever asked her to read at the clubhouse. If she squinted real hard … yep, there it was. She could barely see the lines in the dark cab but the telltale blotch just below his hairline was unmistakable. The ink should snake up into his … scalp … yes. Beneath the short blondish stubble revealed the dark fingers he had once proudly showed off to her by parting his waist-length hair. She followed the dark lines to make sure they made a … yep. She smiled to herself. This was just too sweet. She could get him to bring her Kayla but first she was gonna have a little fun.
