Chapter Three #2
“Because in pushin’ Taleah away the way I did, I lost my sister at the same time.
I destroyed the two of them with one move and it’s been a weight I carry every fuckin’ day since then,” I answer him while hitting a few keys on the keyboard in front of me and pulling out my phone to call the police supervisor so I can report the two fuckwads who showed up at her house today.
“Master, ya gotta fix that shit with your sister. I get where you’re comin’ from, but you’re never gonna be happy without your sister in your life.
Just like I know you’ll never truly be happy without Taleah in your life.
I know that’s the girl in the picture you carry on you at all times.
The same one you had with you on every single deployment and kept close to your heart, only pulling it out when you thought no one was payin’ attention to you,” Count says as he picks up a notebook and takes a look at the notes I’ve been taking on TJ.
“Man, this fucker sounds like a vile monster usin’ your girl. ”
“He is usin’ her. Taleah has money. A lot of it from an inheritance and the rest from what she’s made since graduatin’ college and openin’ her bookstore.
TJ has been stealin’ from her, cheatin’ with countless women, and usin’ all of her money for them.
She broke up with him and kicked him out, but you saw how that shit ended tonight.
The cops are his friends and didn’t do shit about the situation,” I state, finally looking away from the computer monitors in front of me.
“What are you gonna do about it?” he questions me, his voice louder than before as he sets the notebook back down again in front of him.
“Not much I can do about it, Count. Taleah has her own life and wouldn’t take kindly to knowin’ I’m this close to her.
That’s how bad I shattered her. My sister hasn’t talked to me in seven years and I don’t see that shit changin’ anytime soon.
I know she’s got two kids and is married to a good man.
One who loves her and is faithful. Part of me knows she will always love Bhodi, but she’s chosen to move on with her life.
Elara is pregnant again. I’ve never seen more than pictures of my niece and nephew.
They’re adorable as hell. Elara is stubborn and won’t just let me call her up and say hi.
That’s not who my sister is. Taleah is even worse.
When she gets hurt, she’ll shut you out completely without a second thought.
You don’t get another chance with her,” I tell my friend as I put the notebook on top of the files I’ve put together.
“Then how did this stupid fuck, TJ, get another chance with her?” Count asks me, a smirk on his face because he thinks he has the situation all figured out when he doesn’t know how horrible I was to her.
“You don’t understand, Count. When I pushed her away, I mean it when I say I shattered her.
I was at a party and she showed up with my sister.
I knew they were gonna be there that night and purposely showed up to end things for good.
She saw another girl all over me. One of her biggest tormentors if I’m bein’ honest. I stood up with her in my arms and made it look like we were goin’ upstairs together.
That I was gonna fuck the shit out of that girl when I had no intention of doin’ that.
Taleah ran out in tears with my sister followin’ her.
That was the last time I saw Taleah until a few days ago and the last time I talked to my sister,” I finally admit to Count as I turn to look at him.
Count remains silent for a few minutes. He simply looks at me without judgement while I wait for him to respond.
“When you fuck up, you do it big, don’t ya?” he finally asks me, his voice more serious than I’ve ever heard it before.
“I told you I wanted to push them both away,” I state and stand from my chair. Stretching out my body, I listen as it pops and cracks louder than normal because I’ve been in the same position for hours.
“I’d say you accomplished your mission. I’m here no matter what you need or want to do.
I’ll help any way I can, Master. Now, go take a damn shower and get some sleep.
There’s not much else you can do tonight.
I’ll ride through town and see if I can find your girl, make sure she’s safe,” he says as we leave my room behind and I make my way upstairs while ignoring everyone around me.
Unlocking my door, I step inside and close it while locking it so no one can get inside.
I value my privacy and no one is allowed in my room without permission.
Especially the Feral Girls. Fucking vipers.
Stripping out of my clothes, I toss them in the laundry basket before heading for my bathroom.
I don’t bother waiting for the water to heat up once I turn it on and step under the cold spray.
It sends a much-needed jolt through my body before slowly becoming warmer.
I wash my hair before letting the hot water beat down on my sore muscles and loosening the tension from days sitting in basically one position while I stared at pictures of Taleah and learned more about her life.
Details I don’t deserve to know any longer.
By the time I’m done washing and rinsing my body, the exhaustion I’ve been pushing away for days is back in full force.
I grab a towel and dry off before walking into my room naked.
I climb into bed and fall asleep before I can cover up completely.