“Ninny? You’ve been hanging out with your grandda too much, I think. But no, Rayne, I think you telling me that was something you needed to do. And believe it or not, I needed to hear it. Not for Tina, but knowing that my son was a great deal stronger than I was when it came to his mother. Thank you for that. Now, let’s go and have some lunch and have a little bit of fun.”
They did have fun. The meal was loud, and laughter rang out throughout the place. When the others, the other cousins, joined them, it was even louder, with more laughter going around. When Wats took her hand under the table, Rayne felt wonderful, like she was a part of something grand, and she was going to enjoy it as much as she could. Wats liked her, she thought, and she liked him as well. This was turning out to be a much better day than she’d thought it would be when she’d gotten up today.
Chapter 2
Tina wanted to talk to someone about her being able to get home. There was absolutely no reason for her to be locked up like this. Didn’t they understand that they were keeping her from doing her civic duties? Now that she was going to be in charge of things, she needed to make it known that she was nothing like Eita was, bless her heart. But Tina was going to be hard on the people in this subhuman town. The officer that brought her a tray for her lunch wouldn’t speak to her anymore, but that didn’t stop Tina from making her demands known to the woman.
“Did you call my husband and tell him I want him down here? Don’t just stand there, answer me, damn it. I have to speak to him about this rumor I heard about that bastard son of Holly’s moving into my home.” The woman didn’t speak to her, but she did give her that knowing smile. “You’re an idiot. I hope someone figures that out before you get someone killed. It wouldn’t be too bad if you were killed, but I’m thinking with the way my luck has been going, I’ll be hurt as well. Get me a phone, and I’ll make the call myself. I’ve been in this place for far too long, and I want my things.”
“If you have any complaints, you need to put them in writing and turn them into the mayor. I don’t think it will do you much good, however, since the mayor we have is lazier than you are. However, in a few weeks, about twelve days, I think, we’re having another vote, and there will be a new mayor in town.” The woman laughed. “Though I doubt very much that will do you any good either since Clayton Wilkerson is going to be a shoo-in for the position.”
“There is no way he’s going to be running for anything. Christ, his wife has only been gone for a few weeks, and he’s out running around like he doesn’t have a clue? I tell you, if not for their wives, there is no telling what sort of shit they’d be getting up to. I’ll have to have a conversation with him as well. I want to set him straight on that and a few other things I have on my mind. Why are you still standing here? Don’t you listen? Get me a phone. Now, damn it.” Putting out her hand, she tapped her foot. That was all it would take for most of the town to do what she wanted before. There was no reason for her to think it wasn’t going to work on this dumbass. But she still stood there like she’d not spoken a single word to her. “I’m sick to death of the way I’m being treated in here. I want you to go find me someone that will answer my questions and do what I tell them to do. This is fucking stupid. And you’re going to get it when I finally get out of this nasty place.”
“Are you threatening me?” Tina knew better than to answer that question. A few days ago, one of the people down the hall from her had said she was threatening the officer and had gotten charged with something like threatening a person with a law degree or some other shit. “I’m not going to bring you a phone. You’re not going to get out of here until you move to a larger prison. Which can’t be soon enough for those of us that have to be around you and the others. There isn’t going to be any talking to your husband or any of the other men anymore, as they told us not to put calls through from you women. It’s not a rumor that Mars and his lovely wife are moving into the mansion—it’s a fact. They’re going to have a baby as well. And I’m enjoying this more than I should, but there isn’t anything you can do about it either. So, if there is nothing else I can do for you—not that I want to—but if there is nothing else, I’m going to go back to work.”
“Listen here, you fucking bitch. Do you have any idea how much power I
