His eldest Michael Jr asked, “What about the club?”
“I’m selling that shit too,” Kurtzwilde said with a smile.“Yeah, this feels fucking amazing.”
He picked up his phone and called his financial manager; he saw no need to wait until morning.“Levi, this Michael Kurtzwilde.I need to see you in the morning.I’m retiring.Liquidating.Cut off all the credit cards for these kids, my wife included, except the one she uses for household expenses.Check the leases on the vehicles for the kids; get rid of everything I don’t need.Yep, all of it.I’m selling off the properties to pay off all the bills.When I leave Chicago, I want to be debt free.Let’s move.”
The meltdown ensued as they tried to argue, reason, and plead.He was doing it for their own good.They needed to become better people, and so did he.This would be the start or the conclusion of a life lived poorly.Either way, going forward, he would be better.
Chapter 20 - Quietus
The month of Aprilended without a fuss or a muss.Several times, Helen went into the office to check the status of the fax machine.One day, out of sheer concern, she called the number on the machine to ensure the line was active.Thus far, there had been no word from either of her seraphim nor a meeting request for a face-to-face or even a coffee.Instinct alone made her check the paper roll in the machine, and much to her dismay, everything worked fine.
“You can’t tell me that in this entire state, there isn’t a single asshole doing some uncouth shit?”She said, sitting, not understanding the quietness of the moment.
By the time Mustang arrived home, they’d shared a quiet meal, and he’d capped off his night on the couch, she’d reached a realization.In the kitchen, leaning against the counter, she watched him reading a magazine on classroom management.She wasn’t sure if he liked the job, hated it, or simply went to work each day because it is what a man was supposed to do, but she wasn’t sure if he was happy.As she thought the words, he looked up.
“The last time you looked at me like that, you walked over and loved me with your mouth,” he said, watching her closely.“Is that where that mind of yours is headed?If so, I’m good with it.No?Not that?Sorry to jump the happy gun.Down Colt; down boy.”
She smiled at him, then squinted and smiled again.This reaction from Helen elicited a facial response from him.His forehead furrowed, his eyes narrowed, and his lips tightened.
“I’ve often wondered what it is you see when you look at men, how you are able to read them so well or people in general.Helen, what are you seeing when you look at me?”He asked, suddenly concerned.
“I see your aura.”
“That is something that is visible to you?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
“And how does one go about obtaining such a skill?”
“You have to die, I guess, and come back to life,” she replied softly.“The veil between the living and the dead is pulled, like a thread in the cosmos, and those who have crossed over and returned are gifted with the ability to point out the ungodly.The Watchers, or the fallen angels who mated with human women, created the descendants who can see the lines, pluck the threads, and bring back those who have work to do on Earth.”
Mustang sat for a minute looking at her with a straight face, then he smiled.“You just made all of that up and are so full of shit.What do you want, Helen?You don’t need any money, a car, or any jewelry...do you want to try something nasty in the bedroom and are scared to ask?”
He burst into laughter, knowing he had ruptured her little manipulation button.She was softening him up for a big ask, and he was invested and wanted to know what it was.“Seriously, wife, what are you seeing when you look at me like that?”
Helen walked over to the couch, seating herself next to him, placing her hand on his thigh.Honesty was her strongest weapon, and she had no reason to lie to him.However, she did manipulate the situation a little to make him more receptive to what she planned to ask him to do.
