She banged on the front door.Some movement on the other side came through, and just as she was about to bang again, it jerked open.Christine’s boyfriend stood there, wearing a stained wifebeater t-shirt and dirty jeans.The man’s hair was a mop that looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks, and a distinctly rancid body odor emanating from him confirmed that.He might be ugly and smelly, but it was Christine that really held her attention.Christine stood there, looking perfectly fine.No tears.No bruises.Instead, she inspected Kira’s hands, frowning in confusion.
“Where’s the money?”she demanded.
Realization slowly dawned.“You set me up?”
“Where’s the money!”she screamed.
“I took it back to where it belonged.”
“You stupid bitch,” the boyfriend growled.
“That money could’ve set us up for life!”Christine ran agitated hands through her hair.“It was mine!”
Kira lifted her chin.“You should thank me for saving your ass.That money was a death certificate waiting to happen.Do you know who the Sons of Sin are?They’re one-percenters.Which means they’re ruthless and deadly, and they would’ve killed both of us.”
“Jesus, you’re so fucking stupid,” Christine hissed.“We could’ve left Wyoming behind.We could’ve gone anywhere in the world!”
Kira realized there was no sense arguing with her.“You’re not getting a cent, you conniving cunt.”
She turned to march away, but the boyfriend did one fatal flaw.He marched forward and grabbed her arm.Kira swung her bat, and he jumped back, slipping on the gravel and almost falling on his ass.
“Fucking bitch!”he yelled.“You almost hit me with that.”
“I was trying to, asshole.”
He charged at her, but she knew how to handle him.Waiting until he lunged, she swung again and connected to his side.He groaned, wrapping an arm around his torso.She waited, refusing to turn her back on this man.As expected, he didn’t learn the lesson, and grabbed her arm.She was able to easily break his hold, and in retaliation, she rammed the end of the bat into his stomach.He grunted and stumbled a few steps away.
“Don’t.Touch.Me.”
“Get away from him!”Christine yelled as she jumped between them.
Kira hadn’t been prepared for that to happen, and she blinked in surprise.She hadn’t expected that move.
“Stupid bitch,” he reiterated, clutching his stomach.
“I’m not the one hiding behind my girlfriend.”
He did exactly what she hoped he’d do and shoved Christine to the side.As he reached for her, she swung her bat once more and smashed it against his cheek.He let out a groan and fell facedown.Christine screamed and knelt beside her unconscious boyfriend.
“Is he dead?”she cried.
“Who cares.”That wasn’t a question.Kira stared at the prone body dispassionately.“He came at me so I was defending myself.This is on you.Youfacilitated this whole shitshow.”
“You took my money!”Christine yelled.
“It wasn’t yours!”She threw her hands up.“I’m not even sure why I’m bothering to explain.It’s like talking to a stupid wall.”
“Are you calling me stupid?”
“So colossally it’s unreal.”
It was time to get out of there, but as she headed back to her car, a hand grabbed her bat and tried to yank it away.Immediately, Kira turned and thew a punch that landed directly on Christine’s nose.Blood gushed as she screamed in pain and shock.
“You broke my nose!”Chistine yelled, tears pouring down her face as she fell to her knees.
Kira didn’t have one iota of sympathy for her soon-to-be ex-coworker.“Be glad that’s all I’m doing.And if it wasn’t crystal clear, you don’t work at the diner anymore, got it?”
All Christine did was slobber, her tears mingling with snot and drool.Even fucked up she somehow managed to affirm with a nod.Kira marched away, heading to her piece-of-crap car.She was done.Never wanted to think about this place again.It had rocked her foundation on a fundamental level, teaching her she couldn’t trustanyone, not just the male species, and it pissed her the hell off.Kira didn’t look back as she slid behind the wheel and left Christine in her rearview mirror.
