“What the fuck do you want?” I snap.
“I came to tell you to stay the fuck away from my niece,” he replies.
I laugh. “That’s none of your goddamned business. But to ease your mind, you don’t need to worry about it. Found out tonight, she’s a fucking Kyle through and through.”
I want so badly to tell him to enjoy his stay in prison but I don’t know if that’ll happen. All I care about right now is that I get Aaron out.
He looks proud when he answers, “She certainly is.” He gives me a look before turning and leaving and I laugh again because he’s such a fucking prick.
I close the door and go to the kitchen getting a new bottle of whisky from the cabinet. Just as I get ready to take a swig, someone knocks again.
“Goddamn it,” I mutter, ready to serve Kyle his ass on a plate since he’s come back for more. But when I open the door, I see it’s Matt. I open it wider letting him in before closing it then walk back to the kitchen getting down two tumblers pouring us both a drink and handing him a glass. Holding my glass up, I say, “To bitches who cut your fucking heart out,” and down it all pursing my lips at the burn as it goes down.
“Hear, hear,” Matt mumbles doing the same.
I grab the bottle and walk into the living room sitting on the couch setting my glass on the coffee table and refilling it. He does the same.
He holds his glass up. “To taking down motherfuckers who screw with people’s lives.”
“Hear, fucking hear,” I answer and drink the entire contents of that one down too.
“That fucker you fought tonight was bad news,” he says.
I snort. “He was good.”
“Yeah. I was just trying to make you feel better.”
This makes me laugh and I pour us another drink. We finish the entire bottle and I don’t remember anything after that. I think what happened was I finished the bottle while he listened to me complain about how fucked up everything was. No, I didn’t whine like a little bitch, I know that much, but I did gripe about how Laney played me and that I’d never trust another woman again.
Someone’s banging on my fucking door and my phone’s going off at the same time.
“What?” I answer as I get up to open the door.
Jake’s standing there on his phone talking to me. “’Bout time you answered your door, you lazy ass bitch.”
I speak back into the phone to him. “Go fuck yourself, asswipe.” When I realize I’m still talking to him on my phone and he’s standing right in front of me in my living room, I end the call giving him a dirty look. “Bastard,” I mumble then go take a piss while he laughs at me.
When I come back into the living room, he’s got two laptops and a printer set up on the coffee table. “If these can’t get through, nothing can,” he mumbles, typing shit in on both of them.
I sit on the couch and watch him when ten minutes later he yells, “Hell yeah!” I sit up to see what he’s yelling about. “I’m in!”
He tells me he’s going to find Kyle’s account and password and I don’t give a shit about the play-by-play calling he’s giving me. I just want to know the final outcome. I sit back and another ten minutes or so goes by and he says, “Look at this shit.” I move to the edge of the sofa to see he’s got several files pulled up. “Bingo,” he says, smiling.
“Damn, you’re good,” I mutter, clapping him on the back. “Can you take Aaron off there?”
“Will do,” he says, and I watch as he finds Aaron’s name and deletes the over sixty-thousand dollars that’s listed by in the column by his name along with payments and interest. Jesus.
When he gets ready to print them, I say, “Also, can you take off Matt Baldwin too?” He scrolls until he finds his name and deletes his name and numbers too. “Thanks.”
“Anyone else?” he asks. When I shake my head, he starts printing out over twenty pages of names and amounts owed.
“Thanks, man. I owe you,” I say watching as he straightens the sheets of paper into two neat stacks handing one of them to me.
“No problem. Printed two copies for you. I hope this guy goes down.” He starts packing everything up. “I’ve gotta go help this hot MILF I met yesterday with her hard drive.”
“I’ll bet you do,” I say with a chuckle. Then I add, “I hope you’re not still wanting to be hooked up with Laney’s roommate.” God, just saying her name hurts.
“Nah. She’s old news, bro. But you can buy me lunch sometime,” he says standing. He grabs the case handles of the laptop bags and puts the small printer under his arm. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“All right, man,” I say opening the door.
I sit back down on the couch and look through the papers at the hundreds of thousands of dollars that’s been collected and has yet to be collected. Fucking scumbag. Then I call Matt and let him know I’ve got the copies.
I move out of The Estates Monday night and go stay with Aaron and Kam for the week. I’ve needed to spend time with my niece anyway.
I’ve made a few calls and found an apartment that’ll open up by the time I get back from Big Bear. Then I’ll get all my shit out of storage, move it in and move on with my life.
It’s Friday and I haven’t heard from Matt all week even though I’ve got several calls into him. He came by the job site Monday to pick up the copies and that’s the last I’ve heard from him. I’m a bit worried thinking maybe Kyle found out Matt has the copies and has had his flunkies take him out but I’m hoping that’s just my imagination running wild.
This morning I got up and fed Isabelle so Kam and Aaron could sleep in. Isabelle and I have developed a very unique relationship over the past week. By that I mean every time I hold her she shits her diaper and the rule in the house is whoever has the baby when that happens changes her. I’m beginning to think it’s a conspiracy, but she’s only five months old so how could she plan this? But then again, she’s a woman and women can be evil, so there you have it.
When Kam and Aaron get up at eight, I’m ready to leave for my cabin.
“Be careful,” Kam, who’s holding Isabelle, says as I grab my bag up.
“Will do.” I look at Isabelle. “You be a good girl for Mommy and Daddy. I’d hold you and give you a hug, but knowing you, you’d take a dump and I’d have to change you. Not falling for it today,” I tell her, leaning down and kissing her chubby baby cheek as she reaches a hand out smacking me on the head. Jesus. Women.
“Call or text when you get there,” Aaron says just before I leave.
“I’ll text. Thanks again for letting me stay.” I give Kam a hug and Aaron a guy hug then take off.
I’m just outside of LA when Matt calls.
“About damned time, fucker,” I say after Bluetoothing and answering the phone.
He laughs. “Sorry about that. I was busy trying to make the world a better place.”
I chuckle. “You turn the spreadsheets in?”
“Yeah. I need to tell you something too.”
I frown because when people preface conversations with that statement it’s never good. “What?” I ask feeling myself tense up.
“I’m LAPD, Heath.”
I let that little gem hang in the air for a moment.
“You there?” he calls.
“Yeah. I’m here.”
“We good?”
I shake my head and answer, “Yeah. We’re good. I’m just wondering if there’s anyone else out there who’s not really who I fucking think they are.”
He chuckles. “Sorry, man. I wanted to tell you several times but didn’t wanna risk it. Not that I didn’t trust you. I just didn’t need you knowing if someone questioned you, you know?”
“Yeah. I hear you. At least this explains your ugly car.”
He laughs then asks, “You wanna meet for a beer later?”
“No, sorry. I’m heading up to Big Bear for the week. Maybe when I get back?”
“Sounds good.”
“Wait. Is Matt your real name
?”
“Yeah. Matt Malasky.”
“Huh,” I mutter.
“Also need to let you know that they’re picking up Kyle today. Everything’ll be shut down. We’ve got a lot of witnesses coming in also. I did a lot of talking with other fighters while I was there.” He chuckles.
“Good.”
“And you might wanna get hold of your girl.”
“Who’s my girl?”
“That would be one Laney Adele Kyle,” he states a bit sardonically.
“She’s not my girl,” I bite out. “She’s just as guilty as Kyle is. She was involved in everything.”
I hear him let out a breath. “I talked to her, Heath. She thought the fighting was a charity thing. Thought her uncle was giving all the money to the American Cancer Society. She said your brother has cancer and that’s why she figured you were fighting. Until that little douchebag Crowley filled her head with bullshit. She said he told her you were being paid to fight.”
“That asshole,” I mumble trying to get a handle on everything he’s just told me. “Why would she think Aaron has cancer?”
“She said she heard you talking on the phone to him and you mentioned something about white blood cells?”
I think for a moment then it comes to me. “Yeah. His spleen was damaged in his last fight. I told you he was pretty bad. She must’ve heard me when Aaron called and said the doctor told him he was producing too many white blood cells. Our grandfather died of cancer and I freaked out a little when I heard that. But the doctor fixed it.”
Holy fuck. If Laney’s innocent, I’m the world’s biggest prick.
“She’s innocent, Heath.”
And there you go.
Fuck.
“This next part is total chick shit but if I’ve learned anything from my wife, it’s to listen, so I’ve got to tell you that Crowley also told her you were fucking some little blonde in case anything was mentioned about that.”
Now I blow out a breath. “Crowley’s gonna get his ass whipped when I get back.”
Matt laughs. “He’s being brought in too. He had his fingers in every piece of Kyle’s pie. I’m sure he’ll get plenty of ass whippings in prison.”
“Damn.”
“Okay, I’ve gotta go. Just thought you needed to hear all that. You and Laney get things worked out, you can thank me.”
I snort. “All right. Thanks, Matt. I appreciate it. I’ll give you a call when I get back.”
We hang up and I’m left to think over all that was just said for the last hour of my drive.
And for the first time in a week, I start to feel some hope.
That night as I’m sitting in the chair staring at the fire going in the fireplace, I pick up my phone and text Laney.
Me: My super-sucky for today… Super—Being at my cabin in Big Bear. Sucky—Every day since I last saw you.
She doesn’t reply and I don’t expect her to. But I’ll keep it up until she does or until I get back and have a chance to talk to her face-to-face and apologize.
Fishing season opens in April in Big Bear, so Saturday I’m stoked to go. I rent a boat from The Marina and proceed to haul in five rainbow trout while I’m out.
Back at the cabin after cleaning them, I dredge them in seasoned flour and pan fry them in butter. Nothing better than that.
While I eat, I text Laney for the second night in a row.
Me: Super-sucky for today... Super—the rainbow trout I caught today. Sucky—Every day since I last saw you
I know she won’t answer and it’s okay. I just want her to know I’m thinking about her.
More fishing on Sunday and it goes even better than yesterday. I prepare the trout the same way and have another great dinner with a side of sautéed asparagus.
Me: S-S for today… Super—There’s still a little snow on the ground. Sucky—I miss you
Just as I lie down in bed, my phone chimes and I pick it up to see Laney’s texted me back.
Laney: Please stop texting me. I’m changing my number
It’s a start.
Monday I go into town and eat breakfast before going fishing all day. Tonight I sit out on the porch watching the sun set, a tumbler of Laphroaig on the rocks in my hand.
Me: S-S for today… Super—Watching the sunset tonight. Sucky—Wishing you were here with me. I love you.
A few minutes later, she texts back.
Laney: I hate you. Stop texting me.
I’m getting through to her. Thank God.
Tuesday is more of the same. I love it up here. The air is so clean and crisp and it’s so peaceful I wish I could live here full-time.
I watch the sun set from my porch again before texting Laney.
Me: Super—Being here. Sucky—You not being here. I miss you. I love you.
And just to be an ass and maybe get a rise out of her I text her again.
Me: I forgive you
A few minutes later my phone chimes several times.
Laney: I hate you
Laney: Stop texting me
Laney: YOU forgive ME? I did nothing wrong!
Me: I know. It was all me, baby
Laney: Don’t call me baby
Me: I’m sorry, baby
Laney: You’re an ass
Me: An ass who loves you
Laney: I’m curious. Why the sudden change of heart? I’m a fucking liar, remember?
Me: Someone let me know I was wrong about you. I’m sorry I said that to you and for how I behaved
Laney: It was Matt, right?
Me: Yes. He set my ass straight. Told me I didn’t deserve you. That I should forget about ever having the most beautiful woman in the world love me if only for a while…
Laney: Whatever. Leave me alone. I’m busy
Me: I love you
Laney: Stop it
Me: I do. I’ll love you forever
Laney: Good luck with that. Bye
I chuckle because I’m getting exactly what I want and she doesn’t even realize it. She’s talking to me which is my goal.
I fall asleep feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I take a chance Wednesday and wait until eleven to text her hoping she’s been waiting on it.
Me: S-S for today… Super—Not much that’s super without you here. Sucky—I miss you…
Laney: Did you have a date tonight? Is that why you’re texting so late? Did Glenda come see you?
I chuckle. She’s jealous and that means she still cares.
Me: Nothing ever happened with her. I told you before, there’s no comparison so stop making one
Laney: I’m not making a comparison. If she’s your type, go for it but leave me alone
Me: You’re my only type, baby. I miss you so much. You should be here with me. I want to fall asleep holding you. I want to wake up seeing your beautiful face
Several minutes go by before she responds and when she does, I want to jump for fucking joy.
Laney: Call me
I dial her number immediately.
“Hey,” she whispers upon answering.
“Hey, baby.” God, it’s good to hear her voice.
We sit in silence for a moment before I say, “Laney, I’m so sorry. You have to understand how everything looked but I should’ve trusted you. Please forgive me.”
I hear her take a breath. “You hurt me.”
I sigh. “I know I did and I’m sorry.”
“How do I know you won’t do it again?” she asks.
“I can only promise that I won’t. You’ll have to trust me.”
I hold my breath waiting for her to answer and it breaks my heart when she does.
“I loved you, Heath…” She chokes up. “I’ve got to go.”
She hangs up before I can say anything.
I text her first thing in the morning.
Me: Please forgive me, Laney. I love you. I’m sorry for everything.
She doesn’t answer for the rest of the day.
I spend m
y time out on the lake then run into town to pick up a few groceries before heading back to the cabin.
After an early dinner, I sit on the porch watching the sun set. I’m pretty bummed because I haven’t heard from her and I’m thinking nothing I say can fix things between us. When I still don’t hear from her, I go inside and read a little of the Sports Illustrated I picked up in town this morning. I’m in bed by ten and just drifting off when my phone chimes.
Laney: I forgive you. I’m sorry too
I can’t type quickly enough.
Me: Thank you. And you have nothing to be sorry for. I love you…
Twenty minutes goes by and when I don’t hear back from her it tears me up. Just after setting my phone on the nightstand, I finally get a text.
Laney: No S-S today?
Me: I think you know what they’ll be
Laney: Would you like to know mine?
Me: Of course
Laney: Super—I bought a new jacket today
I wait for the rest but she doesn’t send anything.
Me: ?
Twenty minutes goes by when I hear a car in the drive just as I get a text.
Laney: Sucky—You’re not out here to help bring my luggage in…
I jump out of bed pulling on my jeans and a hoodie shoving my feet into my Sorel boots and jog out of the room to whip open the front door.
Laney’s standing by her car and the moonlight’s shining down on her and I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
I advance slowly down the steps, not daring to breathe, keeping my eyes on her the whole time making sure she doesn’t disappear. When I hit the ground, I take in a deep breath before walking toward her, our eyes not leaving each other’s. Once in front of her, all I can do is stare down at her waiting for a sign. Taking in a shuddering breath as she looks up at me, she makes a small movement in my direction and that’s all it takes.
She’s now in my arms where she’s supposed to be, and I bury my face in her neck, breathing in the sweet fragrance of her hair, closing my eyes and swallowing roughly as I tighten my hold on her.
When I force myself to pull away to look down at her, I see tears stream down her lovely face and I kiss them away. Then without a word, because what more can be said, I pick her up and carry her inside, taking her to my bed.
The Fighter (The High Rise, Book 1) Page 17