Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Maddock leaned forward and extinguished his cigar. Grandpa sucked his teeth, then had Jasper hand him his packet, ending the one-sided conversation.
“And now, we come to Journey. My marathon runner. A pro athlete! Tall and fit as a fiddle, you fly high, like an eagle. You’ve always been fast! I used to call you my little eagle scout.”
Journey lived part of his time out of state, but still had a home in Houston. Lennox figured he was the hardest one to find and get a hold of, then forced to attend this little meeting. After all, he was a celebrity and had people around him at all times. Journey had wild blonde hair that was tapered on the sides and nape, an angular face, and hard jawline. But what stood out most about him were his piercing peridot green eyes.
“You decided you wanted to engage in professional sports instead of taking your rightful place by my side, with the finances. I even offered to let you do both.”
“I didn’t want to do both. I told you since I was a kid, Grandpa, that I had no desire to work for you. I have my own life and—”
“You excelled in collections, as I recall it. You have a good eye for numbers. A brilliant mind. You know how to make money and spot financial opportunities a mile away… ol’ eagle eye. One day, your body will tire out, boy. Running will get you nowhere.”
“The whole point of running is to get somewhere, Grandpa. It’s called a finish line for a reason.”
“Smart ass, like your cousin Roman. You won’t be able to compete with the young blood entering the sport of professional running much longer. You’re gettin’ long in the tooth. Then, where will you be?”
“Grandpa, when that time comes, I’ll be happy and retired.”
“Just like you should be, minus the happy part,” Kage blurted out.
“Ahhh, yes. My first-born grandson that ran away to live in the woods, like some wolf in a fairytale book, has to add his two cents. Only there’s no Little Red Riding Hood with a basket of goodies, is there, boy?” He waved over to Jasper to hand Journey his envelope.
“…But there’s a grandparent in that story all right. Oh, Grandpa!” Kage squealed in a high-pitched voice. “What big fuckin’ nerve you have!”
“Kage, stop performing for your cousins. We’re not amused. I was speakin’ to Journey, not you. I think you’re hardly in any position to be giving advice on one’s future, seeing as how you’re a recluse.”
“This isn’t a performance. This is how I really feel about you.” Kage waved his long finger at Grandpa’s face. “If Jasper hadn’t taken our weapons away when we came in here, and you hadn’t had us kidnapped in the first place by those hoodlums this morning that are now parked outside these office doors like the National Guard, you’d be in the morgue right now, all on account of the seven of us!” Kage yelled. “You’re a Bible quotin’ yet sin totin’ fossil-faced fucker! I hope you die tonight while gettin’ pegged in your rusty, ancient ass with one of these ignited cigars that little blonde number handed us today. Burn, baby burn!”
Roman could be heard laughing behind a balled fist pressed hard against his quivering lips. Grandpa shot Roman a menacing glare and he stopped laughing so blatantly although his body still shook with mirth. Jasper was now standing behind Kage once again, his gun pointed towards the back of his head. Kage didn’t appear phased.
“Kage, this is what you do, isn’t it? This is what a lone wolf does. Pitiful as you are,” Grandpa stated mildly, an ill-fitted, strange kindness behind his eyes. “It’s in your nature to distract, so you can hide your true self in plain sight.”
“I’m not hiding anything. I think it’s clear where I stand.”
“You’re a coward. You banished yourself from the family so you couldn’t be examined up close. But I know you, boy. I know the real you. You’re scared.” Grandpa brandished a nasty grin. “Scared of the real you being exposed. The only reason why I let you still draw breath and get away with this sordid horse and pony show you’ve been engaging in today is ’cause of my daughter. Your mama. She begged me not to have you put down when you came to harm me. She said you weren’t in your right mind. That you were only a child. I let her have her way, ’cause Sarah has been a good daughter to me. Otherwise, you would’ve been sucking on some bullet lollipops that night, my boy.”
“I’m no coward. Isn’t that rich? A coward is a guy who has to bully his family members into being employees of his corrupt empire. I couldn’t be no damn coward because I’m a reflection of what you’ll never be. Now you tell your little errand boy standin’ behind me to get that fuckin’ gun off the back of my skull, or I’m gonna kill him before sunset. And that’s a gotdamn promise.”