Page 19 of Smoke

“I’ll put in a call to Canyon’s crew and make sure they know we’re coming. See if they can spare a couple guys.” Scarrow types into his phone, his brow still sweating out the tequila from last night.

“That’s what I like to hear. Send Omen up when you see him.”

Tap. Tap. He knocks against the doorframe. “No need. I’m right here, bro. What’s up?”

Scarrow pats him on the back before scurrying past him. He gives him a nod.

“Hey. About last night…” I start, not sure how to explain the chaos between me and Cherry.

Omen shakes his head and holds up his hand. “Nah, it’s all good. It was the liquor and the lack of sleep talking. Don’t even sweat it.”

It’s not his fault that he doesn’t yet understand the hold she has on me. “Appreciate you. If you don’t want to fuck with her like that, I’m not going to guilt you into it.”

He sighs. “Look, I know you got history and feelings and shit with her, Hawk. But that woman is the fucking devil. I promise you that. El fucking diabla in the flesh. No matter how alluring that flesh may be, you gotta resist it. She’ll eat you alive… or put you back in fucking prison.”

“I chose to take the fall for her, Om. I don’t expect you to understand. She’s not as evil as you think. She’s had a hard fucking life.”

He snickers. “We all have, bro. She ain’t special. Remember that next time she leaves you hanging.”

When this motherfucker cracks, it’s not going to be pretty. His awakening will be vile and messy and deranged. And beautiful. I can’t wait to watch it. “That’s not going to happen this time, my friend. She owes me too fucking much. Trust me. There are plenty of little punks who drool over her. She walks all over them and leaves stiletto marks on their fucking souls. But I ain’t one of those chumps, Om. Don’t get it twisted.”

He nods. “That’s your business. I’m just saying, I will put that woman in her fucking place if she tries that shit with me. And I will get what’s owed to me too.”

I cross my arms over my chest and lean back. “No sex. No money. What do you want from her, Omen?”

He licks his lips, his eyes darkening. “Pain and suffering.”

I can’t help but smirk. He has no fucking idea that underneath that demand is the very thing he thinks he hates. It’s only a matter of time before it’s his head I find between her thighs.

Seven fucking missed messages from my favorite unknown number. Great. Just what I need right now. I brace myself as I unlock my phone. But before I settle back against the bar, I glance around and make sure everyone’s drinks are full.

My stomach knots as I read Kane’s texts. They go from unhinged to desperate to homicidal. I’m lucky he hasn’t shown up here. The last one was sent at four this morning. What a fucking psycho.

You better text me back soon, slut. Maybe I call the Sheriff. Or maybe I come over there and do the same thing to you that you did to those boys. Right after I make you suck my dick, of course. You remember how good my cum tasted, don’t you?

I grind my teeth, my blood boiling. I can’t believe I used to fuck with this guy back in the day. It was partially his fault that Hawk went to prison. Kane was the one who egged me on that night. It was his idea to get fucked up and steal Hawk’s car.

Except Kane stayed sober. But he got me drunk and high before making me drive us to the make-out spot on the hill. Then he almost choked me to death while fucking my throat in the back seat. He kept me strung out all night. The sun was barely coming up when we finally started to bead back.

I was out of it and could barely see straight. Driving way too fast, I misjudged a hairpin turn and flipped the car into a ditch. We crawled out, lucky to be alive, then ditched the car before anyone saw us. When I got home, Hawk took one look at me and knew what I’d done. He always knew when I was up to no good. Not to mention I had cuts and bruises all over me.

By the time I fessed up and told him where the car was, it was too late. The cops were there, investigating the scene. The inside of the car was littered with pills, blow, and liquor bottles.

Hawk had a valid alibi. He could’ve easily told the cops that I stole his car. But he didn’t. He lied for me and went to prison for two years. Another thing my daddy’s never forgiven me for. Yeah, even preachers hold grudges.

Kane laughed when I told him. He said it served him right for looking at me the way he does. He was always jealous of Hawk.

I finally text Kane back after pouring another round of beers for Marv and his buddies.

For fuck’s sake, I was sleeping. Take it down a notch. I always get back to you.

The knots in my stomach tighten when I see the texting bubbles. He’s obsessed, doing nothing but waiting for me to respond. It makes me sick.

Well, maybe start setting some alarms, baby. I expect you to respond as soon as I message you. Or I’ll make good on my threats.

Fuck you, asshole.

How long are you gonna drag this out, Kane? I can’t live like this forever.