“Yeah, you’re right. I do know who you are, and this isn’t it. You’re goddamn right I’m calling you out. If I need to slap you around a bit to remind you, I fucking will. If that’s what it takes for you to quit being a *. Get your ass back to Boston. We’ll ride in together and finish this shit with the old man. You know I’ll war for you, Hunter. What the fuck do you want to stick around here for anyway? Where are you going to go? Boston is in your blood, pal. It’s part of who you are.”
I just sat there. He was right. Who the fuck was I kidding? Sticking it to Old Man Donnelly felt great and I liked the idea of him sweating, but I was running. It felt fucking awful. Working nine to five, listening to Dennis’s shit talk, trying to be polite and pretending to be a normal fucking human being. This shit wasn’t me. Deacon was right. I wouldn’t admit it to the cocky fucker, but he was right.
“The old man is going to come for you, Hunter, and he’s going to tear this town apart. He’s going to fucking murder. Now, I don’t give a flying fuck, but maybe you do. Anyone or anything you’ve touched here, he’ll fucking burn to the ground just to prove a point. You really want to bring that here?”
I stood up, walked over to Deacon, and shoved the bottle into his chest.
“Fuck it. Fuck this town, fuck Boston, fuck the neighborhood, and fuck the old man. Let the bastard come. I don’t give a shit about any of it, Deacon. There, here, whatever. I’m not running, but I sure as shit ain’t going back home. There’s nothing for me there anymore. I’m heading to a cabin in the mountains. If the old man wants to war, he can fucking come to me. I’m done doing that cocksucker any favors.”
I walked back to the cot and sat down. The old man would come and he would bring hell with him. I needed to get out of this place, get far away from these innocent people. I wasn’t good for anybody and I didn’t give a shit. It’s how I liked it.
“Well, if fuck it is your only plan, you know I’m in,” Deacon said tossing me the bottle. “Been like a motto for us sorry motherfuckers for a long time. Let’s finish this fine beverage and then ride, pal. Fuck it, right? I assume you’ve got no goodbyes you want to make?”
I hesitated before answering. I looked him in the eye.
“No one that deserves one.”
I took a big hit of booze and Kelly shot across my mind. I needed to get far away from her and whatever hold she had on me. It was no good for me and was fucking awful for her. She was burned into my mind. The memory of her, with her green eyes looking at me like a savior, her sweaty body writhing under me as she moaned with every thrust of my cock, her nails raking my back as I came deep inside her. She didn’t deserve a goodbye. She didn’t deserve to meet me in the first place. I was a fucking animal and I had devoured and claimed an innocent girl. That was it. That was all that had happened. It was time to walk away. I never had an issue leaving a chick before and this time wouldn’t be any different. She didn’t need me fucking up her perfect little life, and I sure as fuck didn’t need her slowing me down.
“Figured as much,” Deacon laughed.
Well, Kelly. You get your fucking life back, sweetheart. The big bad wolf is leaving town. You’re welcome.
Chapter 19
Kelly
GRACE GENTLY KNOCKED ON THE screen door so she wouldn’t wake Lucas.
“Hey, baby,” she whispered as she smiled and waved from the porch, holding a brown paper bag full of groceries in her other arm. “Open this door and let’s get this show on the road. This is far too late for an old girl like me to be thinking about eating dinner.”
I was so happy to see her. Grace gave me a warm feeling in my stomach whenever something was wrong. I felt like I was about to cry tears of joy just from hearing her voice.
“You’re not old and it’s not that late,” I whispered back, slowly opening the door for her. “It can’t be more than nine, Grace.”
“I know,” she said softly. “Other folks my age ate hours ago and have tucked themselves in for the night like little Luke. How is the dear? Keeping his grades up? Still working his charm on the ladies?”
“How did you know about his little ladies?” I asked with a laugh.
“I have my sources, honey. Don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours. Plus, I’m his Grandma Grace, remember? We have ways of prying things out of our little guys.”
“Yes,” I smiled back at her. “This I know.”
Luke had taken to calling Grace Grandma when we started living with her. All our grandparents had passed away before we were born, so we never knew them. I think he just assumed that Grace was it. And she was. She had fought the name briefly, but as soon as I gave it the okay, she was fully behind it. She would never admit it, but I knew the joy it brought her every time he called her that. It warmed my heart to hear as well. It made both of them very happy and that was all I wanted.
“So, what’s for dinner, Grace?” I said as I walked into the kitchen and realized what a mess it was. I was going to get an earful.