Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 45548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
I didn’t miss the irony that it was she who had brought this out in me. Maybe it’s just one of those things where we were meant to be, no matter the fucked up circumstances that brought us here. Whatever the case, my protective instinct for her was just as strong as my hatred had once been.
“Do you want this?” This was me sliding in and out of her with my arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her close. This was me willing to put the past behind us and move on hopefully to something better. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, I only knew that at this time, in this moment, I couldn’t see life without her in it.
She nodded her head as tears formed in her eyes. “Then fight for it.” I caught her lips under mine before she could give me an answer one way or another. She cried through our lovemaking and after while I held her without uttering a word. I’ll give her the two days to work it out, but if she didn’t, I’ll do what needs to be done. After all, this was my life now too.
She snuck out the next morning early after I’d kept her up all night and I watched until she disappeared through the door. I watched her climb onto the couch and lay there staring at the ceiling. I reached for my phone and texted her. “Sleep, I’ll watch over you.” And I did, until the sun came up and he stirred.
I watched for a little while longer to make sure she was okay and that he wasn’t giving her shit. He didn’t seem to sense anything out of the ordinary. Though I’d sent her home with my scent still in her, on her.
I knew though as I watched their interaction, that I couldn’t do that shit for much longer. I was beginning to feel like a fucking cheat, and that’s something I’ve never been and would never condone. What a fucking mess.
I dropped into bed after he left to get some much-needed rest before I had to get up later and take care of my other shit. The accountant had promised to put a rush on the audit and I was in a hurry to get that shit squared away so I could put it behind me.
One of my reasons for going to my folks the day before was to get some info on where Doug had ran off to. I didn’t tell them anything about what he’d done and wasn’t planning to until after. I planned on putting in some calls later to have him picked up from the little bungalow he was hiding out in in Fort Lauderdale.
Obviously he must know the jig was up as soon as I came home. I’m sure he knew me well enough to know that I would’ve come after her, and once she talked his shit was dust. Why the asshole didn’t just leave the country is anyone’s guess. Then again, it wouldn’t have mattered. After what he did, I would’ve gone to the ends of the earth to find him.
When I rolled out of bed a little before noon the next day, the first thing I did was text her. She’d gone into work today, which meant I could take care of my shit without worrying about her. Once I got her answer assuring me that she was okay, I had my first cup of coffee and put in a call to an old marine buddy. He wasn’t there so I’d have to get back to him later.
I could get on a flight and go to Florida, but I didn’t know exactly where on the beach the asshole was staying. For all I know he could’ve lied to his mom about where he was, that’s the only reason I wasn’t doing this shit myself. I wasn’t about to go on a wild goose chase, leaving her here alone for who knows how long?
I made myself busy the rest of the day doing research on getting my record expunged. I was going to have to handle this shit carefully. It’s the only reason I wasn’t planning on killing my cousin outright. I wanted to clear my name. Funny enough I was thinking more of her than myself.
If we moved back to our hometown, I didn’t want the stigma of the past hanging over her head. I could give a fuck what anyone thought about me, but she was a different matter. She hated it here, and I imagine she’d be just as miserable anywhere else that wasn’t home.
I’d never had any plans to live anywhere else. Our town may be small and out of the way but it was some of the most beautiful country I’d ever seen and I’d travelled around the world in the corps.