After the incident with me, he decided to take a better position in Dallas, so we moved into a large condo. I missed having a warm inviting home that was meant to raise a family in, so at first I was glad to come back to Steeleville, especially to see the sheriff, but now I’m second-guessing my decision.
“Why?” Mack asks. I explain what’s going on while keeping my voice down. “I’ll send one of the prospects. Trust me, if you don’t feel safe there, Wrench or any of the guys will expect someone to get you and bring you somewhere safe.”
“Hurry and when you get here, you can tell me what happened between you and that dirtbag at the bookstore.”
“You heard?” I gasp, wondering how many people know I lost my cool. Is there a town newspaper or reporter?
“Duh, this is a small town. Everyone has.”
“Okay. Okay.” I end the call and grab some things. Then I go to my secret stash of money and see it’s missing. Fucking assholes. Luckily, I have money on my bank card that I’ve kept safely tucked in my bag. I pack my duffel with my clothes and some belongings that I can take with me for a few days, including my laptop, which thankfully wasn’t found.
I wonder if my grandparents knew how fucked up my aunt’s life was, but I doubt it because they wouldn’t have sent me to live with her. They love me and want the best for me, even if they don’t know me well anymore.
I haven’t told anyone, including my family, that I work as an author. Given what I’ve been through, I decided to become a crime novelist.
My parents’ decisions left me in the hands of my grandparents, who did their best to raise me, but they had made mistakes, so they back off now, trying to not push just in case they screw up again. We all made mistakes back then. Still, my writing is a secret because I know they’ll worry if they read it.
It’s been the most fun I’ve had and the reason I was loitering in Sophia’s bookstore. My book was sitting on her shelf after taking off in the self-published market and then being picked up by a major publisher.
When I step out of the room with my things in hand, I see all eyes on me again. “Hey, where you are going, hot stuff?” the creep that had been in the corner asked. Now he’s standing near me, eating up the distance between us. As much as I want to back away, the door is in the opposite direction.
“I’m visiting a friend of mine and her husband,” I state firmly, holding my ground and not letting my voice quiver in the least.
“I didn’t know you were going anywhere,” Aunt Margie huffs behind me, so I turn and look to see her smoking which also takes me by surprise. I could rip her hair out for that.
“Stay and have a drink.”
“I’m not old enough to drink. Besides, Wrench is on his way to scoop me up, and he’s a busy guy.” I intentionally mention him because the Steele Riders pull all the weight in this town. Their expressions tell me I don’t have to explain who he is.
“Oh shit. He’s stepping out on his old lady?” the asshole who doesn’t want to let me pass asks, mouth falling open and then quickly closing as he continues to admire my figure. “I can see why, though.” I do my best to hold back the bile rising in my throat, but it’s only just at the base of my esophagus.
I glare at the bastard with his long shaggy dirty blond hair and worn-out jean jacket that has clearly seen better days. “Don’t be spreading those lies. Mack is my friend, and I’m on my way to see her right now. Excuse me.” Sidestepping around him, I move past, only to have him grab my wrist painfully.
“Little bitch, don’t tell me what to do. I don’t take orders from talking cunts.”
This walking piece of trash has gone too far, and the crazy in me forgets my size to him is comparable to that of a chihuahua to a rottweiler. Glaring into his funky, grizzled face, I snap, “Listen fuckhead, the last asshole that put his hands on me today is icing his balls in a jail cell, so let go before you regret it.” I can feel my eyelid twitching with fear and anger. The mix of adrenaline will fade, but I promised myself that I wouldn’t be a victim again, so I’ll always choose fight.
“Just leave her alone already, Jeff. Your idiot brother got himself locked up by the sheriff again today. We don’t need you there too.” He reluctantly lets me go.
“What the fuck? That asshole sheriff locked him up for what?” he asks the woman who told him to let me go. I don’t know who she is, but she’s seen better days too. This is what drugs do to people and why I stay away from them. It cost me both my parents and a shitty childhood that turned me into a snob when I got older.