Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
TREVOR
“Look, man, I’m telling you, she is down to—Hey, what the fuck? Get your hands off me! Oomf.” Bobby’s back hits the wall, and I take the phone from his hand, hanging up on whatever suck-up he was talking to. “Trevor? What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
I tighten my hand on the sleazy fuckhole’s shirt and shove him against the wall again.
“First of all, you should be well aware that I am good friends with this bar owner, that shop owner, and a few guys owe me some favors.” I gesture to all the buildings that look into the alleyway I’ve shoved him into.
“The wall you’re up against? I am the one who found Joe the loan to fix it up after insurance failed to do it for him.
Those guys?” I jerk my thumb to the business on the other side.
“Did you know that you offered them a blatant predatory loan they sniffed out and avoided, and they came to me to find them one that was affordable and wouldn’t put them or any of their assets in jeopardy?
” His eyes follow where I point, and I watch as realization starts to set in.
“You poached my—”
“Shh … I’m not done.” I wasn’t going to cash in any favors or look for any IOUs, but then Paige called.
Joe sent me over the footage from the past few hours, and I had a good idea about the women who were gossiping and what this fucker did to her.
The image of her small body going rigid in his dirty-ass hands.
I shove him against the wall harder, making him grunt.
He’s not a small man, but I’m bigger.
Bobby raises his hand to either side of him, palms facing me like he’s some innocent bastard, rather than the snake he is.
When he side-eyes the camera, pointing down this alleyway, his lips tilt just slightly on the edge.
I recognize his false impression of protection.
I move closer—close enough to smell the pretentious cologne wafting off of him.
“You should be aware that the job you’re risking everything for?
It’s already mine. That promotion you think you have a chance at from licking my father’s asshole? Mine.”
His grin falters for a breath before he scoffs. “It’ll be the work of minutes to take you out of the race, Trev.”
I pull my phone out and turn it to him. “Do you recognize this road? You might not. You were too busy breaking the law and fucking around on my sister to really take a look around.” He tries to snatch it out of my hand, but I hold up my finger.
“Oh, no, no, no. Hold on, buddy. I already sent you your own copy. Just watch. It’s almost up to my favorite part.
” We watch together—or more accurately, I watch his expression as my phone displays the moment he and Krista stumble out of the bar together on the Fourth of July.
They eat each other’s faces on the sidewalk before making their way to my old car, now happily owned by an old man a few towns over.
Turns out, Joe is buddies with the other bar guy and made great use of my time as I was waiting in the alleyway.
I got everything I could want and more. “It’s pretty damning, and embarrassing really.
A grown ass man fucking around on his boss’s daughter?
And in public?” I suck on my teeth in an obnoxious as fuck way before tapping on his chest.
“Jesus, Trevor. Back the hell up.” He swats at my hand, then shoves me away from him. I decide that’s enough for part two of my plan.
My knuckles don’t sting as much as I expected them to with the first hit, but the second one sure fucking stings. Bobby swings back at me, but I dodge to the left and shove him back against the wall, my forearm across his neck.
“You know this isn’t going to end well for you,” Bobby sneers.
“Are you aware that there’s a camera in the bathroom hallway? I was amazed by how violent my imagination can get when I see another man put his hands on my wife.”
“Not bad, Trev.”
“Shut up, Billy.”
His deep chuckle echoes down the alleyway, where he steps out of the doorway. He thought I was losing my mind when I told him my plan earlier, but he showed up anyway.
“What?” Bobby spits out a wad of blood. “You’re going to sic your big, stupid friend on me?” Bobby laughs this time. “You both are so stupid. Do you know what year we live in? There are probably at least five cameras—”
“Six.”
“You’ll be talking to my lawyer and meeting your new little baby through a glass window.”
“What the fuck did you just say?” I shove him harder against the wall, my mind reeling. How did he—
“Your woman is pregnant, and your current job is ruining your marriage. Unless the rumors are true, and Josh really is—” His voice cuts off with his oxygen, and Billy hovers behind me.
I hit the wall next to his head, splitting my knuckles with the impact.
Even in his bravado, he flinches and claws at my arm.
“You listen closely, Bob. I’ll tell you one time.
You’re done in this town. You’re leaving.
We know every single camera is pointed in this direction, and there is only one that is currently on.
All I needed was the semblance of you reaching for me, and we are set.
Nobody is leaving this alleyway with the upper hand. ”
I remove my forearm, and he gasps, coughing and leaning against his knees. Joe has done an admirable job redirecting traffic from the entrance to this alleyway.
“You don’t even have a mark on you.” He stands back up and straightens out his suit, dusting his hands on his pants like that will fix his face.
“Mind your business, Bob. Don’t worry your pretty little head. Now, listen closely. You’re putting in for a transfer—effective immediately.”
“Why would I—”
“Krista is not good at covering her tracks, and I have a camera in my office.”
“That’s—”
“Perfectly legal.” I take in his expression.
“You did not cover your tracks when you took all of those risks and shortcuts to get your numbers up. You can either move on with an opportunity to start over fresh somewhere else, or I can dismantle your life slowly, piece by piece, starting with your career.” He sputters, but doesn’t say anything.
“Good boy.” His nostrils flare, and his mouth remains shut.
“While you’ve been fucking around behind my sister’s back, all over town, the county, and even in the company offices.
” I shudder at the memory of that encounter. “I’ve been gathering evidence.”
“Stop acting like you’re some sort of saint, Trevor. You were panting after those short skirts just as badly as I was. The difference is, I actually acted on it.”
Frustration flows through me at his words. “Why does everyone think I wanted her?”
“Well, you did say she was beautiful—”
“And you’re a good-looking guy, Billy. Does that mean I want to suck your cock now?
” I shake my head. I hate myself for using that stupid word.
I’m never using that word on anyone that’s not my family or a vehicle again.
“I am not a hormonal school boy. I can notice a woman’s beauty and not need to stick my dick in her.
” I turn back to Bobby and lock eyes with him. “We are not the same.”
Billy grunts from behind me, but I ignore the prude.
I crowd him against the wall. “I’ll know your choice when I come in tomorrow.
If I don’t hear ’Bobby Transferred,’ I’ll know to start my campaign to ruin your life as an unpaid part-time job.
The joy from your ruination is payment enough.
” I step back and remember an important detail as he attempts to slink away.
“Oh, yeah.” I throw him back up against the wall, placing my forearm against his throat again.
“Fucking touch my wife again? I’ll begin my campaign to carve you into tiny pieces, starting with making you into a eunuch.
” I release my hold and finally step back.
“You’re not a total idiot, Bobby. You must be aware that you’re on thin ice here.
You aren’t getting that promotion, you cheated on the boss’s daughter, and you sidestepped our bank’s general protocols for your own benefits for years.
I have everything documented. Color-coded. Filed.”
Bobby meets my eyes, and he straightens himself up, resettling his coat meticulously on his shoulders. “I transfer, and we’re done.”
“You transfer, then what I have planned won’t bother you.” Done my ass.
I lean back against the other side of the narrow alleyway and look him over. “You’re a smart guy. Good-looking. You’ll land on your feet.” I hand him his phone, and he checks the screen. He smirks, then settles it into his pocket.
“Fine. Deal.” He reaches out as if to shake on his. I dodge him.
“Ew. Fuck off.”
He snorts and walks away without looking back. A little too cocky for my liking.
Once he’s out of sight, I turn to my friend. “Alright, your turn.”
“Are you sure this is the best option? It seems a little over the top to me.”
“If he comes forward, we have enough video evidence to make his argument invalid as long as we have evidence that he hit me too.”
“You’re sure.”
“Yes, I already told you. It makes the—” All the air leaves my lungs when his fist lands in my gut. “Ngh—Fuck! Goddamn, that hurts.”
Billy shakes out his hand with a savage grin. “You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t even get a chance to flex, you Neanderthal.”
“That was the point.”
I lift my shirt to check the damage. “Nothing yet.”
“It’ll bruise. Are you really just gonna let him leave?”
“Fuck no. The paper trail will follow him wherever he ends up. Asher is taking too damn long. Now, do it again. Also, don’t warn me again—Umph. Fuck!”
“Alright, done.” Billy smiles and shakes his hand out again. He looks way too pleased with himself.
I graze my hand across my abdomen and flinch. His aim is impressive. I’m confident he hit me in the same exact place. “I think you got too much pleasure out of doing this for me.”
“Hell yeah, I did. I’ve been wanting to land one on you for weeks.”
“Wow. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Now, when are you joining us full-time at The Shop?” Billy turns and leans back against the brick, staring at the opposite wall. His voice is nonchalant, but I know him too well now.
“I’ll let you know.”
He grunts again and checks his watch. “Paul needs to go. He’s a liability at this point.”
“I know. I can handle his shit before going full-time. He’s only a figurehead right now.”
Billy nods his head. “Sure, sure. Go to bed and put some ice on that.” He tilts his chin in the direction of my gut.
“Take a few photos, though. A few now, then a few later.” He straightens and grabs his helmet from the ground before he heads back to wherever he parked his bike.
“You know he probably got plenty of evidence with Bobby coming at you, right? I didn’t need to hit you. ”
I focus on the physical pain and wish it could drown out everything else I’ve been feeling since it all went down with Paige. Her face flashes through mine. Each time a fresh one of my fuckups hurt her.
“No. You definitely needed to.”