Pushing the Envelope: A Prequel from "The Barter System" World Read Online Free PDF Page B

your shit together, and not try to drink yourself to death.  Your family, your business, and your life are circling the bowl, Archer.” 
    In his closet, she yanked a heavy duffle bag from the top shelf and packed him enough clothes for a couple of weeks.  She dragged it to the bedroom door. 
    Back in front of him, she asked carefully, “Will you be the man I love and respect and take the help being offered to you?” 
    He rubbed his hands over his face and stared at her for a long time.  Finally, he nodded tiredly. 
    “Excellent.  Let’s get to work.”
    He followed her to the kitchen and the other two women could barely contain their panic.  Even Marta looked ready to run away. 
    “Archer is going to rehab.  I know a good one.  They’ll get him in and it isn’t all preachy and shit.  Hug him goodbye and he’ll see you in a couple weeks when they allow visitors.” 
    
    Driving back from the Palm Beach clinic just after dark, she made a phone call to New York. 
    He picked up on the first ring.  “Hello, lover.”
    “Don’t call me that, Hollow.  You know it’s creepy.” 
    His laughter filled the line.  “Agreed.  When are you coming up?”  She could hear him typing rapidly. 
    “Two days.  Thank you for finding the place for Archer.  It was as perfect as you said it would be.” 
    “I’m curious.  Why did you wait so long to take him?”
    “Riya and my mom, they’re gentle souls.  The situation had to get to a certain point for them, where I knew they wouldn’t be part of the problem.  I don’t have the best bedside manner…”
    “Stop it!  You?”
    “I’ll ignore that.  Before today, they’d have had a serious issue with my…methods.” 
    “Diabolical bitch.”
    “Damn right.  Anything interesting on the horizon?” 
    “Many things that we will discuss after you’re naked, sweaty, and satiated in my bed.”
    “I do adore a man with a plan.  I’ll see you day after tomorrow.  Keep an eye on Archer’s progress, will you?”
    “Already on it.  See you soon, Red.”
    Pulling into the driveway, Tawny turned off the engine and sat in the dark for several minutes in meditation.  It was necessary to maintain her presence in two very different worlds as two very different women. 
    Reaching beneath the seat, she withdrew a loaded gun, clicked the safety in place, and put it in the bottom of her bag.  Then she got out, locked the car, and walked toward the brightly lit entrance of Riya’s home. 
    She was thinking one word: brownies .

Chapter Seven
     
    November 2008
    “Bitch, how much education do you need ?” 
    “It makes sense to keep going for my PhD.  A master’s isn’t enough for my field.”
    For almost a minute, she stared at Riya and wondered how many years of her life she planned to give to the conundrum of how her father dealt with his grief.
    As if Tawny had mentally coordinated it, Archer’s latest beach bunny wandered into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water, and gave them a vacant smile. 
    “Y’all wanna go swimmin’?  It’s so pretty here.  I just love the water at night.  Don’t y’all love the water?”
    Riya blinked.  “Um, not right now.  Maybe tomorrow.”
    “Okay, honey!  You’re just the cutest little thing ever !”
    What made the statement outrageous was the fact that she was less than two years older than Archer’s daughter.
    Tawny took a moment to center, to calm the little voice inside her that wanted to give the poor dumb thing a life lesson or a swift kick in the ass.
    When…Sue?  Sam?  Stacy?  Whatever.  When she was gone, Riya rubbed her temples hard. 
    “This one is quite a piece of work.  Not sure I can effectively communicate.”
    “Keep glitter in your pocket.  You get stuck, throw some.  She’ll be so fascinated, she won’t remember what she asked you anyway.”
    A runaway chuckle broke before she could rein it in.  “That’s horrible.  True but horrible.”  She went back to