Chapter 4 #2
A happy as clams couple with no worries, empty nesters with plenty of money and time on their hands.
Time I had. Money? Not so much. I picked up speed, heading down the mostly gravel road until something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye and I was forced to slam on my brakes to avoid slamming into a flying object.
“What the fuck?” Dust swept from under the truck as I skidded to a stop. The object rolled past the front grill, stopping on the side of the road. I had to concentrate to determine its identity. “A turkey?”
Amused and annoyed, I glanced over at the door to the house, which was wide open. Boxes, bags of garbage, and a few pieces of furniture were strewn across the front lawn.
I’d had zero interaction with the renters of the house, mostly because I was rarely home.
Just then, the owner of the cabin stormed out, tossing a few pillows, feathers flying through the air.
He noticed my critical eye, throwing out his arms as if I’d know what he was going through.
Jasper and I weren’t friends, mostly because I considered him a slum lord, but I sensed his utter exasperation.
I turned down the radio, shaking my head as I did. “A turkey? Were you trying to kill me?”
He approached, cursing under his breath. “Come see the shit I was left to deal with.”
Since he didn’t wait for my reply, turning around and stomping back inside, I had no choice but to park and cut the engine. It didn’t take long after climbing out for me to realize his previous tenants had skipped out in the middle of the night.
All I had to do was walk inside to confirm my suspicions.
Jasper stood in the living room, glaring at graffiti on the wall, the neon colors likely able to glow under black light.
“Do you see this shit? They stiffed me and left. Didn’t even pack up all their crap either.
Now I gotta deal with it. They pulled the plug on the refrigerator.
That shit has been in there ten days at least without being kept cold. Smell that stench?”
“Wasn’t that a nice family living here?” I didn’t need to take a deep breath. The air was odiferous.
His glare was as if I’d lost my mind. “That was two renters ago, Steel. Where you been?”
I chuckled. “Working, and I’d help you out, Jasper, but I haven’t slept in three days.”
“No big deal. I have a cleaning crew coming in an hour. I just don’t know why I put myself through this shit.” He kicked a box and as soon as he did, unknown powder became airborne.
You bet I laughed. While I wouldn’t dare tell him, it served him right.
I’d only had one conversation with the guys who’d lived here but I’d heard all about the maintenance items the son of a bitch had refused to fix, including a malfunctioning toilet.
Maybe that had been a couple of renters before. Time flew when every day was the same.
I’d been the one to repair it. Come to think of it, I’d never sent Jasper a bill. Like the cheapskate would pay.
He scrubbed his face. “Fucking kids. At least I have a decent renter coming in.”
“Hopefully after you’ve taken the time to fix up a few things.”
I could swear to God the man had no idea how shitty the interior truly was. The rooms needed more than just paint and body work. “Hey, I sprang for some new furniture since the bastards destroyed the living room. Look at that shit. I loved that couch.”
Part of his problem was renting the cabin fully furnished. If you could call early Goodwill pieces decent furnishings.
“Well, good luck. I hope the tenants are more qualified.”
“Yeah, thank God for that. You shouldn’t have any trouble, but if you do, give me a call.”
“Sure thing, Jasper.” I bit back another laugh as I headed out. At least there was some decent acreage between this house and mine.
I headed to the cabin, grateful I knew my way around a power tool. That’s the only reason I’d been able to purchase my house and turn it into a home.
Yeah, a home I’d thought I’d be sharing with someone special for the rest of my life.
As soon as I walked in through the front door, I was struck by the silence. Maybe I hadn’t paid enough attention to the absence of sound before. Or maybe I always had music on to keep me company.
I tossed the duffle and immediately headed to the refrigerator, yanking it open and tossing in the few groceries before grabbing a beer. How could a few stupid pictures on the internet trash my mood so badly? They meant nothing. Not a damn thing.
Before I had a chance to take a single swallow, my phone pinged. If I was being called back to the command base, I wouldn’t be able to contain my anger.
I yanked my phone into my hand, grimacing immediately. My sister had texted me.
And why?
The goddamn pictures.
Josie: I didn’t know my brother was a pin-up hunk.
Me: Very funny.
Josie: I’m serious. You should consider a job modeling.
Me: I’d tell you to go pound sand but our mother wouldn’t be happy with me.
Josie: Oh, Mom has been on the phone for hours with her friends. They all think you’re hot. Even my best friends are asking about you. Of course I told them that was gross.
Me: You would. Now go away. Let this man get some rest.
Josie: I told them you were a little boy at heart.
I adored my sister, but she could be the bane of my existence. While I laughed and finally took a long pull on my beer, I was still furious that someone had dragged the past up all over again. I didn’t need any additional reminders of how much my personal life sucked.
The phone was left in the kitchen before I headed into the living room, standing in the middle and staring at the massive A-framed set of windows that had a spectacular view of the mountains. I’d painstakingly taken my time to refurbish the woodwork in the room, paying attention to every detail.
Shit. I took another swallow then another, realizing I’d consumed half the bottle. I had a feeling the booze wasn’t going to alter my mood.
Usually only one thing did. I took the bottle with me and headed into another room, staring at one of two items in there, one being a table where I kept my gloves and tape.
I’d stripped away everything else, tossing the couch and lamp, the bookshelves and every picture onto the front lawn just like Jasper had done.
My reason had been similar but far more painful.
Huffing, I stared at the punching bag, finishing my beer as I did.
After placing the bottle on the table, I yanked off my shirt. The gloves weren’t needed. Not today and with the mood I was in.
Maybe bruising my knuckles would help with the pain.
I approached with the same frown I usually did, which was clearly reflected in the panes of glass and the shimmer of afternoon sun. I lifted my fists, taking a few moments as I thought about how beneficial the bag had been to me keeping my sanity.
Or keeping me out of prison. I understood more than most why Viper had ended up behind bars after beating a man to death for murdering his sister.
Only the victim this time was me and I’d been a fool, not a dead body.
Whap!
I hit the bag and threw a few air jabs while getting my body used to the motion of dancing back and forth on the balls of my feet.
My muscles were tense. I wish I could say from the grueling work over the last few days, but that had nothing to do with it.
I was in the best physical shape of my life.
It was my brain that was constantly flicking on and off.
Just a fucking fool to believe Tanya had been in love with me.
Whap! Whap!
She’d been a user just like everyone had warned me about.
Whap! Whap! Whap!
If only I’d listened.
Whap!
Exasperated, I pressed my hands against my hips and paced the floor. I’d never considered myself a fool before. Then she’d waltzed into my life with her sweet smile and a laugh that always made me smile. And there’d been her killer body.
She’d pledged her love for me after the second month. That should have been the real red flag flying high. No one could fall in love that quickly. No one.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
The last hit was brutal, so much so the bag swung erratically, almost smashing into my head. Maybe that was the truth about what I needed to get my mind permanently off her betrayal.
But how the hell could I do that? Burning down the house that I’d made into a home for the two of us? Or just locking this room off permanently?
Fuck.
I smashed my fists against the hard bag in a solid volley, tossing one punch after another until my fingers on both hands burned from pain.
And I just didn’t care.
Call it penance for being stupid enough to fall in love with her.
Hissing, I backed away, dropping my head. Another series of images crashed into my mind.
Coming back from a fire, trying to surprise her. Flowers in my hands, desire in my heart. Even seeing the different truck outside hadn’t clued me in. Nope. I’d decided to make a fool of myself and walk inside to see who was visiting her.
No one had been inside. Or so I’d thought. Then I’d heard noise.
Swinging around, I smashed my fist into the bag, anguish jetting up past my elbow. There’d been no warning, nothing that had seemed out of the ordinary.
Until I’d walked in and seen a buddy of mine fucking my girl.
On my couch.
In my house.
Yeah, the story of my life. I’d come in second with my woman, just like I had at the rodeo event. Which was why I’d sworn off women and never, ever wanted to be reminded of the ridiculous event again.
Fuck the notoriety.
Fuck the event.
Fuck the internet.