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“He looks healthy I know he’s eating”

He shrugged “He waits until dear oldthe men busy while he lifts their wallets She takes a cut of course and I've been dropping food off on their front steps when only he’s home for the past three years He thinks the church has been leaving it”

“I-I didn’t know” She backed up now He stalked forward

“Tellfor your cut as well? Might come in handy”

She slapped him, hard “I hate you”

His tongue darted out to lick up the blood on his lip “You didn’t answerto take care of a sixteen year old boy when you can’t even take care of yourself?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I talked to Grandive me some hours here”

“Scrubbing toilets? Yes, that’s perfect for soree and a full time job”

“Candy offered to help me, too”

“How?”

“She’s going to see if she can gettables”

Ephraim didn’t dare h soly cale of your tips does she want if you get the job?”

“Twenty-five percent,” she muttered

“Wow, you have a greatwith a dick and then she leaves you to raise her two kids Now she’s willing to have you strip so she can s closed, she’d probably sell the grandkids on the black ets”

When he expected another slap she scoffed, “I don’t think we have to worry about that when it comes to you”

He suddenly turned his back on her “Go away, little girl I’ames and I’m done with you”

She didn’t move as Ephraim viciously yanked on a black tee shirt and jeans He sat on a chair, pulling on socks and shoes “What are you still doing here? I told you to leave”

“Where are you going?”

“You don’t get to ask that question any there feeling like her world just ended

Chapter 16

“I told you already that I’ll pay you tomorrow It’s just been hectic at work They screwed up on the checks, but I’ll have it by too, proain from the hallway

Everyone in the dining room pretended they couldn’t hear Mrs Buck for the rent