Shit.
“I’m going.” I backed out the same way I entered and jogged back toward Mak, waving him toward the bikes.
I wasn’t afraid of the police, but I had a bad feeling, and I really didn’t want to end up calling Mark to bail us out.
The idea of explaining another Springfield voyage just did not appeal.
Thankfully, no police cars approached as we pulled onto the street and made our way to Crystal’s apartment.
“What the fuck?” I whispered, looking over the damaged entryway.
“City life,” Makaveli grunted, shaking his head with a grin.
“I’m gonna stay with the bikes,” Easy quietly declared.
“Like a prospect.” Mak grinned, thumping my arm.
“Knock it off,” I snapped, as that feeling in my gut compounded and my heart started to race.
The tall woman who had argued with Crystal when I dropped her off appeared at the bottom of the steps. When she saw us, she backed up toward the debris.
“We don’t want any trouble… Are you okay?” I held out my hands in a passive gesture.
“Get the fuck away. She’s gone. Okay? She doesn’t live here anymore.”
I glanced at Mak and sprinted after her.
“Oh shit,” he scoffed, scrambling off his bike to follow me.
“Wait, hey!” I yelled as she raced up the stairs. “Just give me her fucking number. What the hell? Where did she go?”
“I don’t want any part of this. I’m done. Go away. I’m… oh, my god.” She slammed the door and I heard the chains and bolts sounding on the other side.
Mak thumped my arm and I jerked away.
“Dude, she’s calling the law…” He laughed, “We gotta get the fuck out of here.”
“I– I can’t get the fuck out of here. I– my wife…”
“Your what?” Mak’s eyes lit up and his laughter carried on.
“Fuck you. Shut up.” I shot past him, unsure of where to go, or what to do.
It was a feeling that I knew all too well, but it hadn’t been this bad in years.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
One Year Later
Anthony
I didn’t just pull back, I built a shell around myself that prevented any real emotion. If that shell got weak, I helped Mak clean the glass from time to time. Life had crawled, minute by minute, hour by regretful hour those first few weeks. When that sorrow cleared, my mind exploded and I damn near went off the rails. I became so outwardly vicious that Mark started calling for me before he hit Big Vick’s number.
Sometimes, it helped. There was a release that came with beating the shit out of people. It was short lived. Once the adrenaline dump was over, I’d come back to a reality in which she was gone and the hell would start again.
I could match C.C. shot for shot with his whiskey, but the women…
I didn’t give a fuck about the women.
