Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Sir, please step aside and let me speak to the lady of the house. I have business to discuss with her.”
“Step aside?!” the man echoed with a sneer, then laughed. “Motherfucker, this is MY house. What I say goes. Any business you got with—”
BANG!
“AHHHHH!!! Oh my God!!!”
The motherfucker hit the floor like a crackpipe. Lorna screamed as Grandpa Wilde stepped gingerly over the now dead body of a half of a man with a whole lot of mouth and nerve. He clasped his cane and looked around the place. Lorna bolted towards the back of the trailer and pressed her back against the wall, sliding down into a chair behind a small table. The place was absolutely filthy… trash everywhere. Needles and empty beer and wine bottles. Rolling papers and pills. Cigarette butts stacked high in a teacup. A strange stench hung in the air—something like Cheetos and cheap wine blended together. The floor was sticky with something brown and old, and the walls were covered in torn out newspaper articles and glossy scenes from nature and expensive car magazines.
“Lorna, long time, no see. No need to be afraid.” He offered a soft grin. “I ain’t gonna hurt you. As I told your husband there,” he stated with a smile, “I came here to tell you something important and speak to you about business.” He gave the place a once over again, then met eyes with her.
The woman’s bloodshot eyes darted to her partner who lay in his own blood, and then back at Grandpa.
“Did ya have to shoot him, Cyrus?” she choked out.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he shrugged, “I’m sure your ex-husband, Kage, told you all about me and how I operate. I’m sure you remember, too. Seein’ as, at one point in time, you and my grandson were deeply in love.”
“I… I ain’t seen or spoke with Kage in years… I don’t have no business with him.”
“Well,” he took a drag of his cigar and continued, “maybe you should… I can tell by that purple shiner on your face, and the bruises on your chest and neck there, that you’re not the best judge of character when it comes to pickin’ a partner.” He dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief, then continued. “Now, I am aware that you and Kage ended on bad terms, he and his mama were rather hush-hush about it. Regardless, I’ve lived a long while. I can fill in the blanks.” He tossed up his hands. “Somebody cheated. Kage filed for divorce. When he’s pissed off, he’s pretty decisive.” He chuckled, then shook his head. “He’s almost as stubborn as me,” he said with a sigh. “Anyway, Kage misses you. That’s why I’m here.”
Her eyes widened—a look of confusion showing, along with the struggle to stay alert. Her skin ghostly pale, she slipped into a chair, and lit a cigarette with shaky hands.
“He does?” she finally asked.
“Yes, he does.”
Lorna stared at her dead spouse, then back at Grandpa with those big hazel eyes of hers.
“I think we outta call an ambulance or something, for Hank.”
“Oh, no, honey. He’ll be okay. The morgue is open all night.” Grandpa grinned. “He ain’t botherin’ nobody, now is he? Not me,” he pointed to himself, “and not you anymore, either. Isn’t that a blessing? No worries of some unemployed, low level thief and addict beatin’ the daylights outta you, siphoning your social security check for his drug habit. Now, from the looks of things, not only could you use a new lover now that this ol’ woman beatin’, weak man is departed, but you could also use some money.”
“I don’t want—”
I know it may not seem like it, but I’m a forever romantic. I want to help Kage get his life back on track.”
“His life back on track? Is he hurtin’? In trouble?” She sounded genuinely concerned.
“Yes. He pines over you. On the outside, he’s doin’ great. Got his own business, makin’ good money, real good money, and has a big ol’ pretty house in the woods. And my Lord… you should see the land he owns now. It’s the pride of Houston. Worth millions of dollars.” He smiled when she leaned forward, her attention clearly piqued. “But he’s all by his lonesome. He has no wife.”
Lorna’s eyes got big again, and she began anxiously swinging her tattooed foot, the toenails covered in chipped bright red nail lacquer.
“I think it would be a good idea if you make it over to his house real soon. Pay him a surprise visit.”
“But… but I don’t know where he lives, and he told me after our divorce was official that if I ever saw him out and about, to not speak to him, and that if I show up to wherever he stays, ever again, he’d kill me.”
The woman looked downright petrified now. Grandpa had no idea that Kage had said such a thing, but it was clear she was serious. Maybe more had happened than he realized? He cleared his throat.