Gaby raised a brow. “Whit? Mud? You’re kidding me, right? What kind of lame-ass gangster names are those?”
Whit raised a hand, halting Mud’s automatic reaction. Whit seemed to have a modicum more control than his buddy. But not much. He was plenty pissed, and it showed.
Of course, thanks to her, blood dripped from his nose down his chin. He didn’t wipe it away. “Is there a reason you struck me?”
“Yeah.”
He waited, and when she said no more, his face tightened. “Care to share it?”
She shrugged. “You interrupted my phone call. That’s rude.”
His eyes damn near glowed. Hazel eyes that, when iced with fury, took on a hue of gold. Freaky. She could understand why the kids feared him. Not that she gave a shit what his eyes looked like. In her lifetime, she’d seen a whole lot worse than him.
She’d slaughtered worse, too.
All around Whit, his aura churned with menace and mental disease. He looked tough, but weakness showed through the haze of abuse. This guy was one who liked to put up a hard-ass front, but he needed someone else to lead him.
Through his teeth, Whit said, “You stepped in front of me.”
“Yeah, I know. I didn’t like where you were headed.” Behind Gaby, the kids stirred. Odd that after her last display in front of them and the bloodbath she’d left behind, none of them seemed to fear her. In fact, she felt surrounded by their support and their confidence.
Goofy kids. They were young, so they’d learn.
Spittle flew from Whit’s mouth when he roared, “Where the fuck did you think I was going?”
“Too close to where the kids play.” Narrowing her eyes, Gaby wiped off her arm. “I’d suggest you not spit on me again. I don’t like it.”
“It’s a public street, woman. More to the point, this is prime real estate.”
“For selling drugs?”
His chest puffed out. “I’ll go wherever I fucking well please.”
“Not if I say different.” Damn, she wanted to flatten him. Hoping he’d make a move, that he’d dare to test her, Gaby stepped away from the kids—and closer to Whit. “I won’t have you and the other thugs fighting over this block. Your pissing contests almost always end up in gunfire, so from now on I don’t want to see your ugly mug anywhere around here.”
Mud twitched with angry energy. “Let me dust her, Whit.” He made to reach inside his jacket.
Gaby gave him her steely-eyed attention. “Pull a gun around all these kids,” she told him, “and I swear to God, I’ll cram it down your throat.”
Whit held up a hand, stilling Mud’s automatic reaction. “And if I have business here?”
“Don’t.” Gaby moved in so close she could feel the heat of his tall, trim body. Ensuring that the kids wouldn’t hear, she whispered, “Do your business elsewhere, Whit. I’m giving you fair warning. Because if I see you here again, I’ll break your bones.”
He studied her head to toes, and came to a silent conclusion. “You’re the bitch who pulled a blade on my brother.”
“Bogg tell you that?” She would love to hear the story. It always sounded more graphic when someone else related it.
“Bogg isn’t saying shit.”
That surprised her. “No?”
“He got an infection and went into a coma. He might fucking well die.”
Huh. She hadn’t really counted on that, but . . . “Oh well.”
Whit’s neck went rigid. His eerie eyes gleamed. “You’ll pay for what you did.”
“Yeah. Someday, no doubt I will.” Gaby looked at his compressed mouth, then back to his eyes. “But we both know it won’t be today, and never by your hand. So be smart, Whit. Stay the hell away from here. Let the kids play in peace.”
Expectation pulsed in the air between them. One second, two, three. As prepared as she’d ever be, Gaby waited.
Whit stepped back. “Come on, Mud.”
Mud balked. “You fucking kidding me?”
Already on his way back to where he’d come from, Whit snapped, “Move your ass!”
Mud couldn’t resist shooting Gaby one last look of caution. He pointed at her as he walked backward, warning her of his intent.
Gaby held out her arms, inviting anything he wanted to bring. But, damn it, it wasn’t enough. Rage cramped her muscles, left her guts hollow and empty with the need to physically attack.
She turned back to Dacia. “Get your sister. It’s time for us to go.”
“Go where?”
“Someplace safe. Someplace you’ll love.” Gaby gave the girl a nudge and then retrieved her phone. “I promise.”
“All right.” Dacia ran over to where Malinal played on the old discarded sofa, and dragged the younger girl back by the hand.
Gaby noticed how alike the two sisters looked, just as she noticed how Dacia had set herself up as protector, nurturer, and provider. “Do you need to gather any belongings?”
Dacia hung her head. “We have little of value, a change of clothes, and Mali’s doll . . . ”
Damn. “We’ll get everything. Don’t worry.” Keeping the phone to her ear, Gaby put a hand on Dacia’s shoulder, offered Malinal a smile, and finally Bliss answered.
“Hello?”
Gaby wasted no time. “I’ve got a great surprise for you, Bliss. Are you at the apartment?”
“Gaby? Yes, I’m here, but what—”
“I’ll be over in twenty minutes. If you can, have a nice hot meal ready.” She looked at the girls, and added, “Enough for three more.”
And she hung up before her friend could ask any questions.
Through the sparkling glass in the front window of his shop, Fabian took in the dramatic tableau with great merriment. This altered everything in a monumental way. Already he’d adjusted his objective for the special girl, Gaby.
Heady excitement kept him glued to the spot as he continued to watch her. For such a kick-ass, butch bitch, she feigned great maternal instincts, hustling the little girls away from the area and from any intended harm.
Whit had to be furious, and with good reason. Gaby had backed him down with nothing more than her reputation, loads of attitude, and one punch.
An amazing girl. A girl unlike any other.
Knowing Whit’s seething temper, he’d be happy to assist Fabian in what needed to be done.
But not yet.
For now, Fabian just wanted to keep the heady discoveries all to himself.
He savored the telling realizations.
Gaby had a weakness, a wonderful, delectable, easily corrupted weakness. The dirty little urchins she sought to guard were already on his radar. He would have that youngest girl. Oh yes, he would. But he’d also have Gaby and that would prove even more luscious.
Pulling himself away from the window, Fabian left the main room and sequestered himself in his office to wallow more privately in his glee.
He recognized the little savage now. Yes he did. It hadn’t struck him until Gaby looked at the child with her steely barriers down. Her softness exposed new dimensions to her personality, and Fabian saw what he hadn’t seen before. The resemblance, the similarity in facial traits.
Gaby looked just like her mother.
Unable to contain himself, Fabian put his hands over his mouth and squealed like a schoolboy. It was too perfect, too delicious for words.
Putting his head back, he hugged himself to contain his mirth.
The only true nemesis he’d ever encountered, the only person who even came close to matching his intelligence, cunning, and courage, was an exact replica of the whore he’d used and left twenty some years ago. The timing coincided with Gaby’s age.
And given those eyes of hers, light blue and piercing, well, it was plain to him.
He was her father.
It made sense. Gaby was like him in so many ways; among inferior society, they had preeminent significance. They each stood out, in every way.
There would be some conflicts. Two great minds were bound to clash on occasion. But he could work that out with her. He was Gaby’s senior near about thirty years. He had more experience.
She was wise enough to bow to him, to heed his excellence.