Wild Tendy (IceCats 2)

“You’re the best, Veev.”

I kiss her once more. “Gotta be the best for the best.”

She grins at me as I open the door of the shop. She walks in before me, hitting the code for the alarm before I lock it back up. She resets the alarm as I pick up some trash I missed earlier. I turn from the trash can to find Callie looking at me in horror from behind the counter.

I raise my eyebrows. “What?”

I walk toward her to see the cash drawer open and the safe in the same state. My heart falls into my stomach as I rush to check the obvious, and I pray it isn’t true. But it is. All my money is gone.

I close my eyes to keep the tears in. The alarm hadn’t gone off, so the person who came in knew the code. “Callie, please tell me you didn’t give Dad the code again.”

She doesn’t answer me at first. Not until I open my eyes do I see the tears streaming down her face. “He said he needed it so he wouldn’t wake us up when he came home at night.”

“Callie, he doesn’t live here!”

Her tears fall faster. “But Aviva, we can’t expect him to stay in shelters. We’re his family!”

“Yes, we can. Because if we don’t, he fucking steals from us!”

She snaps her mouth shut and lets her head fall.

I slam the drawer shut and kick the door to the safe closed, a big mistake as pain radiates up my leg. “Fuck!”

She jumps at my outburst as I crouch down, shaking my head. I cover my face to keep in my tears. I was going to go to the bank tomorrow to deposit everything. He took it all. A week’s worth of profit. Fuck me.

“So, I guess I won’t be competing.”

It takes everything inside of me not to scream at her, but it isn’t her fault. My dad could talk an Eskimo into buying ice. He’s a huge manipulator, and she’s young. I stand up, wrap my arms around her, and kiss her forehead. “I’ll figure it out. But do not give him the code again. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” she says, and I wipe her tears. “How are you gonna figure it out?”

“Don’t worry about that. I got this.”

Which is a complete lie, but I can’t let her know that.

Chapter Three

Aviva

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I squeeze my eyes shut.

“I am aware I let the account lapse. That’s why I’m calling, to pay the bill and then to get a new code assigned. I also need to put in cameras.”

The lady on the other line is probably sick of my shit. This isn’t the first time I’ve missed a payment, and it probably won’t be the last. Not when I have a poor excuse for a father stealing from Callie and me.

“Yes. Absolutely. My card number is—”

I quickly rattle off the number of one of my many credit cards. Once I have an appointment, I hang up, letting out a long huff. I waited until Callie went to school to deal with all this. I didn’t handle it well last night and was a bit of an asshole when I realized a week’s worth of profit was gone. I needed time to calm down. To get a game plan. I can’t let Callie see that. Things haven’t been easy for us, so when I can take the burden, I will.

The shop doesn’t open for another hour, so I dial the number I’ve been dreading dialing since I found my money missing. My father’s raspy voice fills the line, and I know he spent most of the money on alcohol the night before.

“Hey there, sugar.”

I cringe at his nickname for me. I know I should be more forgiving. He lost the love of his life, but I lost my best friend. I’m not out drinking and doing drugs. I’m raising my sister and running the shop in her honor. “Why, Dad?”

“What?” he asks. He almost sounds genuine, but I know it’s all a fucking ruse.

“How can you steal from me?” I ask, emotion clogging my throat. “I have bills to pay for the shop. I gotta pay for Callie’s gymnastics and Mom’s medical bills. How dare you? I needed that money.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You were robbed? Call the police.”

“And if I do, you’ll go to jail. Shit, I probably should call,” I jeer. Problem is, I have no camera proof, and he had the code. His name is also on the lease for the building, but that will change today. Even if I have to sleep with the landlord to make it happen, I will. Lord knows I need to get off, and he isn’t that ugly. “I’m not naïve, Dad. You asked Callie for the code, and now, all my money is gone. You’re so fucking greedy. You took it all. Couldn’t even leave me a little.”