She remained stiff as a board, unable to relax into him knowing she was about to topple his world.
“What’s going on?”
“I think—” Shell cleared her throat. “I mean, I saw—” Closing her eyes, Shell shook her head. She couldn’t bear to look at him. “Just a minute.”
“Want me to say it, Shell?” Izzy asked, her voice unusually compassionate.
Copper’s arms tightened around her waist. “She can get it out,” he said. “Give her a minute.”
Oh, his faith in her. That undeserved faith that made her love him even more than she thought possible.
Part of her was tempted to spit the words out with her eyes closed, but despite her past secrets and fears, she wasn’t a coward. So, she opened her eyes, gave Copper her gaze, and said, “Yesterday, when you saw me talking to Rusty at the park? I spotted him handing over a very large stack of money to a man I didn’t recognize. On the shorter side, baggy clothes, hoodie covering his face. They were smoking. Meth, I think. And after Rusty handed him the money, he gave Rusty a big package of drugs. Rusty spotted me and pretty much confirmed my thinking that he stole from the club and was selling drugs when he came over and threatened me. That was right before you arrived.” The words rushed out in one long breath as though a quick Band-Aid rip would make some kind of difference.
Behind her, Copper stiffened and just stared at her.
Heart pounding, she remained silent waiting for his response. Izzy didn’t speak but nodded along with her words, her face grim.
“You sure you didn’t misun—"
The office door flew open. “Got a question for you, bro,” Rusty said as he barged straight in the office.
Shell hopped off Copper’s lap and stared like a deer caught in high beams. She’d been wrong when she thought her heart was racing a few seconds ago. Now, it beat so fast she grew lightheaded.
Rusty laughed. He was disheveled, eyes darting all around, sweat dotted across his brow. “Looks like I broke up a little pow-wow, huh? Or maybe a threesome? Care to bump it up to a quad?”
“Cut the shit, Rusty,” Izzy said. The woman spoke her mind at all times and didn’t know how to back down from a challenge.
“What’s the matter, Izzy? You pissed at me for showing that pussy you’re fucking that he ain’t shit around here?”
“Rusty,” Copper said, warning in his tone.
“Sorry, Cop. I know Jig is the club’s treasurer and all, but really? How can you trust a man like him? A man who can’t even keep his own wife alive?”
“Jesus, Rusty, can it,” Copper said on a growl.
Izzy seethed. “Copper knows what you’ve done,” she said, with an evil smile.
Shell’s eyes widened. She wanted to warn Izzy to shut it, but her tongue felt too big for her mouth.
Rusty looked at Copper. “What the fuck is this bitch talking about?” The man couldn’t stay still, fidgeting like his drawers were full of fire ants.
Izzy stood as well. “Shell. Told. Him.” She poked a finger into Rusty’s chest. What was she thinking? Was she crazy? “You. Stealing from the club. Selling drugs. She saw it all.”
Rusty threw back his head and let out a loud, slightly crazed laugh. “You two bitches fucking kidding me? You don’t believe this shit, do you, Copper? Anyone else happen to see me?” He never gave his brother a chance to answer before he focused on Shell. “Really, doll? That’s how you’re gonna do me? After all we’ve had together?”
Panic clawed at Shell’s throat stealing her ability to respond. She risked a peek at Copper whose forehead was wrinkled with confusion.
“What’s the problem?” Rusty continued. “You having so much fun playing house with big brother you’re afraid of what’s going to happen when he finds out the truth?”
Oh my God. Now? He was going to say it now?
Shell’s started shaking, and for the life of her she couldn’t quell it. “N-no. Rusty, d-don’t. P-please,” she said, finally finding her voice, pathetic though it was. The weakness in her trembling tone was mortifying, but couldn’t be helped.
Copper’s head ping-ponged between the two of them. “One of you two better tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“Oh, you know, Copper. Shell’s just worried you’ll find out you’re Beth’s uncle.”
Shell gasped, her legs quaking so hard, there’d be bruises where her knees knocked together.
“Rusty,” Izzy barked. “That’s enough.”
As though in a trance, Copper stood, backing as far away from her as he could manage in the small office. “Her uncle? That’s not possible.”
Rusty smirked. “Sure is. Amount of fucking Shell and I did back then? Shit, I couldn’t even guess the number of times I had your girl. We fucked for years. Bitch never told me I got a daughter out of the deal, though. Just let me rot away in prison for five years without a word. Cold-hearted, that one.”