Chapter Twenty-Two
I’m going to let this go on for another week.
Wherever Reece goes, I go; a new job site, his favorite gas station, or the occasional dark alley meeting his dealer.
My little scheme has kept him jumpy and paranoid.
By the looks of him, he's sleeping like shit.
Good. Always looking behind him, whether it's walking somewhere, or driving.
I’m enjoying myself way too much, but I chose this pace for a reason. Paranoia catches the canary, or however that saying goes.
I haven’t heard from Juni since she last tried to call me.
Maybe I should have picked up… something could have been wrong.
I just hate this push-and-pull thing she does.
I know she’s not doing it on purpose. I’m a comfort for her, familiar, safe.
But she knows it's wrong, so she pushes me away as she should. She is married. Don’t get me wrong, the mother fucker doesn’t deserve her…
The day I actually get my hands on him, it’ll be a miracle if he fucking lives.
Today, they were gutting a grocery store. This morning, before work, I did my usual routine: sitting in the back of the parking lot, watching him, but not saying a word. He saw me but pretended he didn’t, as if he ignored me long enough, I'd just disappear.
After work, I ran home to change. I replaced my work clothes with a plain black long-sleeved T-shirt, black jeans, and my black Vans. And of course, my half mask. I quickly make my way back to the bike. Heading back in the direction of the grocery store.
Pulling into the parking lot, I’m met with a poorly lit, all but empty lot. To my surprise, though, Reece’s truck is the only one here. I’m guessing Ricky and their help have already gone home for the night. Perfect.
I shut the bike off as I coast into a parking space next to Reece’s clapped-out Ford Ranger. Dismounting the bike, I step closer to his truck and place my hand on the hood; it's still cold. Good.
Making sure my half mask is in place, I make my way inside.
With the mask on and my dark clothes, the only things visible are my eyes and my tattooed hands.
I could have put gloves on to hide those, too, but I doubt he will notice them, since my presence scares him so much.
Quietly stepping inside, I start scanning the area for Reece.
At first, I don’t see or hear anything. As I step farther into the building, I begin to hear commotion in the back.
Walking with a purpose, I control my weight enough to keep my feet barely hitting the concrete.
I am a big man, being 6'2" and roughly 250 lbs., but I can be silent when I need to, keeping my breath steady and slow as I reach the back of the grocery store. I hear them before I see them: a woman laughing, and Reece’s low voice.
Silently, I open the doors to the storage area, walking in between the rows of storage shelves.
Most are packed full of old, damp, moldy boxes.
Blending in as much as I can, I slowly make my way to where their voices come from.
My all-black clothes and covered face really help me blend into the shadows.
As my eyes adjust, everything around me gets clearer.
He really couldn’t be this fucking dense.
As I approach them from behind in the next aisle. Red instantly starts to take over.
They are pulling apart. He already started zipping his jeans back up.
Thank fuck… I have no interest in seeing his tiny, flaccid dick.
I look away for a moment as the woman redresses herself.
He is too busy to pay attention to his surroundings.
I’m maybe ten feet behind him. He pushes that woman against the rack, kissing her like he has not left Juni at home crying for days on end.
She hands him a small bag. Pills. He palms her ass as he pays for it.
I take one step closer. Silent. The kind of silence a man only learns after losing everything he ever cared about.
Reece freezes, not because he hears me but because the shelf next to him shifts from my weight.
He whips around, eyes wide, face drained of color as soon as he sees me.
The woman stumbles back. “Jesus! Who the hell is that?”
I don’t answer her. I only look at him. Slow. Measured. I let my height do the rest, my six-two frame blocking the only exit, arms loose at my sides, gaze fixed on him like I’m carving him into the wall with my eyes alone. Reece swallows hard. “W-what do you want?”
I step forward once. He flinches so hard that the shelf rattles. Good. My voice comes out low. Calm. Too calm. “You’re going to stop.”
He shakes his head, confusion and fear cover his face. “Stop what?”
Another step. He backs up until his shoulders hit metal. I tilt my head. “Everything.”
His throat works. “Man, you... You don’t even know me.”
“Oh, I know enough.” I let my gaze drop to the bag in his hand. Then back to his face. “Stop using. Stop cheating. Stop hurting her.” He pales.
The woman senses the danger and bolts, slipping past me like she’s afraid to breathe my air. Smart. Now it’s just us. Reece starts shaking. Hands. Breath. Voice. “You don’t tell me what to do.”
I lean in, just enough for him to smell the sweat, the rage, the warning rolling off of me.
“If you don’t stop…” I let silence fill the space between us, thick and suffocating.
Then…“’I'll handle it for you.” His mouth opens, shuts.
He can’t even speak. Good. Because I’m not done.
“I’ve been watching you,” I tell him. “Every day. Every fucking minute. You don’t see me until I want you to.
I’ll do worse to you than I did to that doorbell camera,” He looks like he might puke.
I smile once, coldly. “Keep going the way you are… and the next time you see me? You won’t have time to run. ”