Vicious Carousel (Suncoast Society #25)(18)

“Why’s that?” Nolan asked.

“It was a real estate office. They’ve probably filled my position.”

“Wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

“I will.” Sadness settled over her. “I thought I’d met Dom Dashing. Instead, he was a Master Baiter.”

Kenny snickered. “That’s a good one. At least your sense of humor’s still intact.”

“About the only thing I have left that’s still truly mine,” she said. “And even then, he tried to beat that out of me, too.”





Ed called back a little later on Kenny’s phone. “I have good news and bad news.”

“Start with the bad,” Kenny said as he walked into the living room and sat on the end of the couch.

“He’s pleading not guilty, and the judge set his bail at one hundred thousand dollars.”

“Dammit. What’s the good news?”

“He didn’t make bail. He doesn’t have the money. And Tony got into that computer, which led us to doing a little looking around. We were able to access his online bank account. He’s only got about a thousand dollars in his account. So he’s going to be sitting right where he is for a while. He can’t afford bail. And before you ask, no, we can’t transfer the money out. She’s not on the account. That would be fully illegal, and get her in trouble if we did it.”

Kenny gave a very worried-looking Betsy a thumbs-up, triggering a sigh of relief from her. “That is good news, though,” Kenny said.

Nolan appeared from the kitchen. “What?”

“Didn’t make bail,” Kenny said.

Nolan pumped his fist and sat in one of the easy chairs to listen in.

“I’m going to file for the restraining order to be made permanent tomorrow,” Ed said. “Is there anything else we need to get for her out of the apartment?”

“Let me ask.” He turned to her. “Did we get everything you need last night?”

“Well, everything that’s technically mine. If he can’t get out of jail, I wouldn’t mind going in and getting stuff I’ll have to replace that he made me get rid of, like dishes and stuff.”

Kenny spoke to Ed. “What’s the legalities of clearing out the rest of the apartment?”

“She was a resident there. Her driver’s license lists that address. Legally, she can do what she wants with the contents. The police have released the scene. And I have a list of volunteers ready to go get everything else.”

“Do it, please.”

“Kel’s got an empty unit over at the complex. We’ll move it there for now. The Collins brothers said it’ll take less than an hour to do.”

“Do we need to bring her over?” Kenny asked.

“Not unless she wants to come. We’ll leave any men’s clothing behind. I’m sure the landlord will appreciate not having to empty the place.”

“Thanks. Keep us posted.” She motioned for the phone. “Hold on.” Kenny passed it to her.

“Ed?”

“Yeah, honey?”

“Please tell everyone how much I appreciate all of this. I’ll find a way to pay them back somehow.”

“You pay them back by healing your body and making a full recovery with your life.”





Tilly and her men arrived at a quarter till five. Nolan no sooner had the door open than she swooped in past him with a peck on the cheek, aiming straight for Betsy on the couch.

Landry smiled. “Long time, no see.” He carried Kenny and Nolan’s bag and set it just inside the door.

“Yeah, tell me about it.” He reached for the covered casserole dish Cris was carrying. “Ed said they’ve emptied the apartment except for Jack’s clothes.”

“Good,” Landry said with a satisfied nod. “That’ll be a nice surprise for him to return to, if he ever makes bail.”

As Nolan carried the dish into the kitchen, he spotted Tilly sitting on the couch next to Betsy, her arm around Betsy’s shoulders.

He suspected Tilly would practically glue herself to Betsy whenever possible. Her and Eliza both. Tilly would soon be starting work as Leigh’s assistant out in LA at their production company, and Eliza would have to stand in for their group’s de facto momma bear.

“So what’s the plan, man?” Tilly asked Kenny as he joined them in the living room.

Nolan returned from the kitchen. “I think that depends in part on whether or not Dennis comes with Mom for dinner.”

Tilly shrugged. “We going for full honesty, here? Or just ‘common friends,’ or what?”

Nolan looked to Kenny. This was his mom. He knew he had his own revelations he’d have to go through with his family, but he wouldn’t make this decision for his partner.

“Full honesty,” Kenny said. “At first I wasn’t going to talk about the BDSM stuff, but you know what? If I’m going to get it all out on the table, I’m going to feel a lot better.”

“Cool,” Tilly said. She glared at Landry, who looked like he was about to speak. “And yes, I will behave myself, Sir. Fussypants.”

Cris snickered. “One of these days, you’re going to say that to him and he’s going to haul off and spank you in the bad way.”