Make It Right by Shannon Flagg Page A

Danny told him to do.” Amelia took a breath. “I don't want to argue with you, Missy. I've had a really long day and I just want my bed.”
    “Your bed? Don't you mean Danny's bed? Or are the rumors true and you're staying in Detroit?” Missy had her arms crossed over her chest, a clearly defensive stance.
    Amelia wasn't slow. She knew that Missy would like nothing more than a fight, verbal or physical. She wasn't going to give it to her. “We're figuring it out.”
    “Are you now? Way I see it, if you wanted to stay, you wouldn't be sitting over here like your shit doesn't stink, looking down on the rest of us. Too good to drink. Too good to dance.”
    “Are you kidding me? I just cremated my family and you expect that I'm going to be drinking and dancing like it's a regular old Friday night. Are you high?”
    “Are you? Heard Jackie slipped you a little something back at Mahone's. You back to old habits?”
    “I'm not a junkie. I was never a junkie. That was all you projecting your shit on me, and we both know it.” Amelia's head snapped to the side. She hadn't expected Missy to slap her. It stung and she felt a dull throb starting in her jaw.
    Before she could retaliate, there were hands around her waist. She was dragged back, out the door and into the cold. “Put me the fuck down. Now. What the hell are you doing?”
    “Keeping you off of Royal's shit list. Missy's got pretty much a free reign of terror here when it comes to the pass-around women and the old ladies. Anyone who lays a hand on her answers to her old man. Come on, let me take you back to Danny's place.” Rock released his grip from around her waist. “Don't make me drag you.”
    “I'd like to see you try.” Amelia replied but she realized that he would drag her if necessary, because he'd promised Danny that he'd look out for her. Rock really wanted to earn his patch and it was coming up on a year that he'd been wearing the prospect patch, from what Danny had told her. They'd vote on his patch once the year was up, or before, if he did something to show his worth, so Amelia knew that Rock would likely be extra vigilant about doing what Danny had asked.
    “Come on, I had my brother drop my truck off here. Figured I'd need to drive because you were drunk, but you didn't really drink.”
    “No. I didn't. Hey, have you heard anything from anyone?”
    “No. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Cell reception can be a little spotty in certain places. You want to find somewhere to eat? I noticed you didn't really eat, either. Can't say I blame you. Makes me feel sick just to think about them being gone. I used to have one hell of a crush on Fiona when we were younger.”
    “You're like five years younger than her.” Amelia realized that he was trying to distract her from the radio silence they were experiencing, and she decided to play along.
    “My father always told me to aim high. She never even looked at me twice as more than a pain in her ass.” He let out a laugh. “She was always nice, though, even when I see her... saw her recently. Every time we did the lawn, she'd bring us out something to drink. Make us lunch or let us sit inside and cool down awhile when it was hot.”
    “Why were you doing Fiona's lawn?”
    “Because Danny said to. He didn't want her doing it. Said she had enough to worry about raising a kid on her own. We'd help her in the garden, too, grunt work mostly. I can't believe that she didn't tell you.”
    It didn't surprise Amelia too much. Fiona had known that she didn't want to hear anything to do with Danny. “I'm sure it just never came up.”
    “Yeah, that's probably it.” Rock took a keyring out of his pocket, used the fob to unlock a black pickup truck. It was an older model but very well kept. “It's a little high. You need a boost?”
    “I think that I've got it.” Amelia walked around to the passenger side. The truck was higher than most but she managed to get in without incident, though she was sure