Page 29 of Petty's Crime

I shouldn’t have asked, and there’s definitely no reason to feel this burst of jealousy.

I don’t even like the man for fuck’s sake.

CHAPTERTEN

Petty

To be honest, I preferred exercising my mind, trying to think of how to catch RoseLyn’s ex and being in my bodyguard role to spending time with my wife. I’d welcomed the valid and credible excuse to leave Britney alone in the apartment where we’d lived little more than twenty-four hours.

Having handed RoseLyn’s security over to Sarge, it’s just after midnight by the time I reluctantly give Cobra back his bike and again, trapped in a cage, which seems a euphemism for my life at the moment, drive to what has become my home. Though my ride had been too short to clear my head, it was good to feel an engine throbbing under my thighs once again.

Neither wanting to face Britney’s anger for leaving her alone, nor wanting to risk her trying to push for a more intimate relationship that I’m in no mood for, seeing the lights off, I creep quietly in. I head straight for the new couch, thankful that while it’s really too small, I’ll at least have something other than the floor to lie on tonight. Unfortunately, as I’m still not familiar with this new place, or which of the floorboards make the least sound, I tread on one that makes a noise like a pistol discharging and disturb her.

“You’re late.” She exits from the bedroom, rubbing her bleary eyes.

I draw in a deep breath, knowing she’s not used to my routine. “I’m normally back at this time. I work four to twelve, then it takes me half an hour to drive home.”

Dressed only in a flimsy negligee which hides nothing from my eyes, Britney walks into the room and takes a cigarette out of the pack on the counter. I’d given up smoking years ago, shortly after she’d gone inside, and now am firmly on the side of those who find the smell obnoxious.

But I don’t ask her to go outside. Instead, I open a window.

She cackles as though I’ve made a joke. “You’re unbelievable, you know that, Clark? Does this singer know what a wimp she has protecting her? I doubt she does, else she’d have requested someone else instead. Or has she fallen for your pretty face, hmm? Does she not care as long as you satisfy her in bed?” She pauses, shakes her head, then adds, “Hopefully it doesn’t take much to please her.”

My hands fist but I keep them by my sides. “I’m her bodyguard. The relationship between us is purely professional.”

Her hands wave dismissively. “I wouldn’t expect you to tell your wife if it wasn’t.”

I didn’t know I still had a fucking wife until the day before yesterday.

Oh, sometimes a niggling thought at the back of my mind had reared its head, reminding me that she’d not signed the divorce papers, but I hadn’t dwelled on it. I’d tried to contact her enough times to remind her about it. When she hadn’t replied, I thought she’d washed her hands of me and, as much as she could while inside, had got on with her life. If I’d known what I do now, I’d have made more waves at the time. Goddamn it that I hadn’t.

I go to the kitchen and take a bottle of whisky out of the cupboard and pour myself a generous shot. I swig it back in a couple of mouthfuls, then wipe my lips with the back of my hand. Placing my palms on the counter, I lean forward and look down.Christ, give me strength.

Until Britney contacted me, I felt I was a free man. I have zero designs on RoseLyn, a woman who might be attractive had she more meat on her bones, though she does have nice tits and ass, but her character turns me off completely. She’s far too sure of herself. But while I wouldn’t want to go there, I’d had no restrictions on whether I could or could not. It’s hard to get my head around that I’m now considered a married man, and because of that, should be faithful to Britney.

“You coming to bed?” asks the woman whom I have absolutely no desire to get intimate with, and who I don’t even like. I’m stuck in the trap made by my younger more gullible self.

“I’ll stay on the couch,” I respond, without turning around.

Tensing, I feel her come up behind me. “Then there is someone else. A man like you would never go through a dry spell. You never turned me down before, Clark.”

Before was many years ago. What once got my cock excited now causes not so much as a twitch. Without turning, leaving her looking at my back, I firmly voice my denial. “There’s no one else. Not RoseLyn, not anyone.” There have been hookups and one-night stands over the years, but no relationships. I was never going to put myself through that again.

Her hand rests between my shoulder blades. Like a switch being thrown, her voice goes from hard to soft. “I want everything, Clark. I want what we always planned. To be at your side, to have your children. Life got in the way and tore us apart, but now I’m back and we can have a fresh start.”

The whisky I’ve just drunk sours in my stomach and threatens to make its way back up. It’s not that I’m against kids. Britney’s right, when we first got together, we had our whole life planned. I couldn’t wait to get started on having a family with her until I saw the parts of her I didn’t like and which I wouldn’t want in my children’s DNA.

“Life didn’t get in the fuckin’ way,” I growl, my voice low. “You got yourself arrested and banged up.”

“It wasn’t my fault.” The lie falls easily from her mouth. Even now she’s done the time, it seems she’s still sticking to her story. “Come to bed, Clark. We can’t make babies—”

I swing around, catching her off guard, but not wanting her to fall to the ground, stabilising her with my hands. I remove them as soon as she’s got her balance back. “There won’t be any making babies, Britney.”

“You always wanted kids.” Her eyes open wide.

“Some of my wants are well in the past.” I can’t tell her I still wouldn’t mind having a rug rat or two running around, but not hers. It’s unlikely to happen. To procreate, I’d have to have a relationship with a woman, and she’s soured me for that.

She’s watching me intently, creases appearing on her brow. “You already got a kid?”

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