The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Diana was in the bathroom when someone pounded on the door. Faye was passed out, snoring and drooling at the kitchen table, her hand wrapped around a glass, the empty bottle lying on its side on the floor. Her tangled, red hair stuck to the side of her face. The door shook, and Diana was positive it would have splintered open from the pounding if she hadn’t hurried to slip the lock and pull it open. Faye didn’t stir from the noise, but lay sprawled across their rickety kitchen table when Andy Friessen burst through the door, shouting, “What did you do to my father?”

He didn’t even spare a passing glance at Diana as he bore down on Faye. He shook her and then kicked her chair until she jumped up, swaying and holding her head.

“What the hell…” She blinked a couple of times, shrinking back as Andy loomed over her.

Louisa called for her from upstairs in that high-pitched voice. Of course she was frightened; so was Diana. She raced up the stairs as Andy shouted at Mama. Something shattered downstairs just as Diana reached Louisa.

When Diana crept back down, carrying Louisa, Andy was looming over Faye, “My dad comes home every night, and we searched for him all night and found him this morning, all messed up at one of his other houses. You cheap slut, what did you do to him?” he roared at Faye, who was cowering against the wall in the kitchen. Dark circles of black were coated under her eyes from her cheap mascara.

“I wasn’t with him. Whatever happened it wasn’t me. He never showed up where he was supposed to last night. I came home early and was here all night; you know Todd’s got a stable of women he beds regularly, it’s not just me.”

“You’re a liar. Everyone knows you were with him, everyone knows you use that other house for stashing your dope, selling it. My father ignored it for a long time, but whatever you did, you went too far. The drugs you’re running and doing, you’re a dangerous woman and you’re keeping him from my mama, you’re destroying my family. You entice every decent guy in this county w*****g around… the spawn of the devil, you and your bastards.”

Diana gasped. She’d never heard such hatred from Andy. He heard her, though, because he leveled his hard, dark eyes on her, flashing with disdain.

“What time did Faye get home?”

Diana darted a quick look at Faye, whose face now appeared as white as a ghost, staring at Diana in a way that had her taking another step back. “Around midnight, I guess, give or take.”

Faye stumbled over and smacked Diana across the side of her head, just missing Louisa, whose scrawny arms were wrapped around her neck. “You lie, girl. Don’t you listen to her, son. She’s always lying. She’s kind of slow.”

Louisa screeched and buried her head against Diana’s shoulder. Her legs were wrapped around her waist. Diana felt tears stream down her face, shamed and humiliated in front of Andy and too stunned to comfort Louisa.

Andy glared in disgust at Faye. “Yeah, well that’s what Claremonts do, lie. I want you gone by nightfall. My dad owns this land and everything on it. I don’t want your illegal crap here anymore. The drugs, the booze, the partying, the w*****g—I’m done. You’ve tainted this county and my family for too long.”

“You can’t do that! I’ve paid my rent, and there are laws to protect us,” Faye said.

“Good luck with renter laws, they’re always on the side of the landlord. And in case you’ve forgotten ,we own just about everything around this town. And one call to the sheriff about the drugs, and I’ll make sure you’re locked up for a long time. Now I’ve just condemned this house.” Andy turned to leave. “Get off my property.”

“Wait!” Faye raced after Andy and grabbed his arm. He shook her off, and she fell to the floor.

Andy swept his gaze past Diana. And she could read everything in his expression. Gone was the million-dollar smile, the teasing winks, and the kindness he’d always bestowed on her. Why, even last week when she’d bumped into him in town, she’d swallowed the lump, and asked him for help, telling him her concerns for Louisa and what the counselor said for help for an FAS child. He’d said with interest, that he’d make some calls and told her not to worry. And she truly believed he’d make everything okay. But as he stared at them now, it was as if he didn’t remember her plea or have any interest in helping Louisa.

“Be out by nightfall, or I’ll torch this shithole around you.” He stormed out the door, gunned the engine in his truck, his tires spewing gravel and dirt, and he was gone.

Faye whimpered on the floor. Louisa screamed, and Diana was numbed by what Andy had said. They had to leave. Where would they go? And he wasn’t going to help her. She reached up and rubbed Louisa’s back. “Everything’s okay, Louisa. Shhh... don’t cry.” But it wasn’t okay, and it wouldn’t be ever again.