Brody: The Bang Shift Read Online Free PDF Page A

discussing her getting a breast enlargement at one point. But the clothes—the clothes would’ve made a movie star jealous. Only the finest threads to cover her bruises.
    Had she liked all her designer duds? Hell yeah. She was a chick who’d grown up poor and was thrust into a horrible marriage. The clothes had been a perk. They’d been her the-glass-is-half-full moment to her marriage. When Marco would send her out for a new pair of Christian Louboutin shoes or a Louis Vuitton bag, she’d almost felt loved. It wasn’t until after speaking with the feds that she’d realized all her shopping expeditions had been orchestrated to get her out of the house or away from her husband so he could conduct his business, and after she’d learned how he’d made his money, she didn’t want to keep anything that was purchased with it.
    Cheap clothes off the rack? Yeah, she’d take those any day and revel in them if they meant her freedom.
    After she finished hanging up her clothes, Xan went into the living room where Scott was setting up his PlayStation. “In your bedroom,” she said, shaking her head.
    “Ah, c’mon, Mom. The TV’s bigger in here.”
    “You heard me.” She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, uncapping it as she walked back into the living room. “Have you finished unpacking your stuff?”
    “Yes ma’am.”
    “Uh-oh. You’re breaking out the ‘yes ma’am’. You must want something bad.” She chuckled, taking a swig.
    “Mommy,” he said too sweetly. “I could really use the latest edition of Battle Warfare .”
    “There are starving kids around the world and you want me to spend sixty bucks on a video game just because you could use it? I don’t think so.”
    “Ahh, Mom, what if I mow the lawn all summer? Will you buy it for me then?”
    “First of all, summer’s almost over. Second, you have to mow the lawn anyway.” She started to walk to the front door to assess the yard situation when he jumped in front of her.
    Scott looked a lot like his father. He had the same chiseled jaw, same brown hair. But he got his blue eyes and smile from her, and already at six feet, he was taller than Marco. There was just enough difference that he wasn’t a constant reminder of the horrible father he had, but the similarities were startling at times, especially after Scott had gotten as big as he did, and she had to remind herself Scott wasn’t like Marco.
    She was leery of men, but she wasn’t afraid of her son. Oh, he had his moments of teenaged moodiness, and like other young men who liked to test the limits of their parents, he pushed her when he could. But she did everything possible to counter the bad Collins genes in his system with love, support and understanding. Her boy really was a good kid.
    “What if we go in half?” he asked with a hopeful smile, and she tried her best not to smile in return. So he wanted to play a war game. It was much better than living it.
    “I’ll consider it.”
    “Thanks, Mom.” Grinning, he kissed her cheek before walking way.
    She shook her head and walked outside. The yard was small and the flowerbeds were in shabby shape. She could weed them later and maybe plant some flowers before fall set in. It wouldn’t take much to liven up the place.
    “Yoohoo?” a female voice called from behind her.
    Xan turned around as she stood back up, facing the approaching woman. She looked to be around her age with auburn hair pulled loosely in a ponytail and a voluptuous figure spilling out of her skimpy shorts and tight tank top. “Can I help you?”
    “Oh no, girl. I was just coming over to introduce myself and welcome you to the neighborhood,” she said as she walked up to Xan. She offered her hand to shake. “Hi, I’m Roxanne Willis, but you can call me Roxie.”
    Xan shook her hand briefly and smiled. “Xan Bradley. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    “Same here. You gettin’ settled?”
    “Trying to. We still have to run