Lowlife Quotes

“Is he a scumbag in training?” Richard glanced at the gunman. “At least have the decency to hold the gun properly, you fool. If you don’t know how, pass it to someone who does. I’m not going to suffer being shot at by anything less than a full- fledged lowlife. (Richard)”
― Ilona Andrews, Steel's Edge

“His abrasive, over-the-top style had earned him a loyal fan base, despite—or perhaps because of—the many scandals that dogged him throughout his career. He was a tax cheat, a philanderer, a bigot, a bully . . . pretty much everything you might expect from a guy named Dumptruck.”
― Cliff Jones Jr., Dreck

“I've got you, Agnes," Taylor said, not fazed in the slightest.
"You had me, Taylor," Agnes said. "Now you've got Brenda, you poor, doomed sap. And Joey 'The Gent' and Shane after your ass. You better go now. Your flunky is out in his van, and his feet are turning to ice while you wait. At any minute now, he's going to tear up that report and go somewhere far away until the wedding is over."
"Nah, he-"
"And Shane's coming home any minute."
Taylor looked over his shoulder.”
― Jennifer Crusie, Agnes and the Hitman

“I could almost take it if you were just a spoiled idiot who can’t drive worth a crap and damn near broke my sister’s leg off. Who lost half our money. And pissed away even more. I’ve been wanting you gone since that prohi told me you tipped him off about Daddy’s still,” she went on. “And to think we welcomed you into our family after you got him killed.”
“Now, hold on.” Jed backed slowly toward the opening of the loft. “You all didn’t ‘welcome’ me into this fucked-up family. Your daddy didn’t want me anywhere near it. And as I recall, there was a gun to my head at the wedding. Or at least pointed at some vital organ—”
“That’s been the real problem,” Shine interrupted. “The wedding. You married my sister. Who loved you, for some reason. Thought a leopard could change his spots, I guess. Instead, you cheated on her. But even with all your sins, shortcomings and sheer stupidity, I could’ve let bygones be bygones.”
She pulled the pistol from the pocket of her overalls.
“Whoa! Let’s not get crazy,” Jed stammered, smirk suddenly replaced with fear.
“But now you’ve gone and laid hands on her.” Shine shook her head slowly, as though regretful of what she was going to say next. Even though she wasn’t— not by a long shot. “She’s better off without you. We all are.”
― Michelle Collins Anderson, The Moonshine Women

“What… am I supposed to say?” Jed whined. “I never been much for writing.”
“Well, you can start with ‘Dear Elsie’ and continue with how sorry you are,” Shine said stonily. “Sorry for not being the man and husband you needed to be. And for letting down Hi. Sorry for hurting her. For hurting the entire family. And for breaking her heart in pieces.”
“Hold on, you’re going too fast,” Jed said, hands shaking as he tried to still the paper and write. “I can’t keep up.”
“Ha!” said Shine. “You never could. Wrap it up with the fact that she will be better off without you; the whole world will be.”
― Michelle Collins Anderson, The Moonshine Women

“Well, that’s about the size of it. You haven’t been good to me. Or Hi. And the world would be a better place without you. At least, our corner of it.”
“Elsie, come on. We can figure this out.” Jed recovered his swagger, despite the piss-stained pants. That confidence that he could charm his way out of the situation, even one as sad and dire as this one.
“Get out,” she said. “And don’t ever show your face around here again. Or in Kinney. Or anywhere there’s a person who knows you. You’re dead to me. And if you show up again, I can guarantee you’ll be dead to everyone else, too. Graveyard dead.
“I won’t save you from the Strong sisters a second time.”
She looked at the note in her hand, folded it. “Your parents will be sad to read this. But they love Hi. Don’t worry. We’ll be more than all right without you.”
Jed’s face registered first shock, incredulity. And then: anger. He looked furiously from sister to sister, hoping for a chink in the mortar, a break in the wall of their solidarity.
None was forthcoming.
He shook his head. “You Strongs think you’ve got it all figured out, and better’n everyone else. Even God Almighty. I’m glad to be rid of the lot of you.”
He started toward the loft door but then paused, glancing towards Shine’s pistol, which still lay on the floor.
“Don’t even think about it,” Rebecca said. “And leave your nag where she is or I’ll shoot her out from under you. Dead men don’t have need of horses. You’re lucky to walk out of here on your own two feet.
“And no necktie.”
― Michelle Collins Anderson, The Moonshine Women