Page 24 of Hearts Etched in Glass
“You piss me off one more time, I open this.” Kenneth hits some button, and the side opens to reveal adders crawling around within the vented, glass casing. My eyebrows reach my hairline in surprise.
Nifty.
“We leave. Alright?” the husband mumbles with his hands in the air, like Kenneth has a gun drawn at him.
“Does anyone have anything else to add?” He looks around the table, then the Immertreu clan leave the warehouse.
Kenneth and I sit in silence, watching them exit the building. I would have never thought anyone would be more hateful then my brother Kenneth, but I guess life can surprise us. A thought enters my mind as I look around at our me accompanying us. “Kenneth, how come the twins, Gregory and Jacob, aren’t here doing business with us?”
His gaze is still a fixed on the warehouse doors, they left from. There’s a smug expression across his face; his arms are crossed and leather gloves creaking as he flexes his hands beneath his arms.
“They are assigned to other business in America. Assisting Everett with the farm and shipping stock back and forth from America.”
I nod.
“You ever think you’ll get married? Like Brielle and Everett?” I ask.
His head snaps in my direction, arms still crossed, while his eyes lookmenacing.
“Are you going to stop your fucking questions? You’re irritating me.” Then he rubs the back of his neck. “And no. I don’t want to marry a fucking kraut like Everett. Let alone get married to some half-witted woman. Marriage is a silly construct to try and settle the inner beasts within men’s souls.”
I roll my eyes at him.
"Well, at least everything appears to be in order. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity together! Psalm 1-." Before I may reference the scripture, Kenneth is standing from his chair, eyes wild and grip settled on my throat.
"Never speak Bible shite around me, ever again." His threat causes my bones to shiver with unease as I place my hands over my heart in a promising gesture.
After we conclude our business at the warehouse, we check shipments, staff morale and begin to leave the area. When I walk outside, I notice near our vehicles a parked trailer on the side of the welding mill.
“What is that?” I point in it's direction.
Kenneth begins walking towards the trailer, so I follow along. Once near it, we see a beautiful stallion, with a snow white under tone and black peppered spots. Itssnout comes up between the opening of the trailer to sniff my fingers that are curled on the metal frame.
“Absolutely gorgeous.” I mutter in amazement.
Lyle comes up and slaps my back, with a shit eating grin, as I furrow my brow at him. “Is it what ya wanted, boss?” He looks up at Kenneth, and a faint smile etches across my brother's face as he nods.
“It is called an Appaloosa; they are supposed to be an excellent breed for barrel racing,” Kenneth explains as he leans against the trailer frame. “Figured you might want a horse that won’t fight you as you try to live your cowboy dreams.”
I gaze up at my brother, mouth agape.
“Kenneth, I can’t take this. It is so perfect. And you don’t do these types of gestures. Are you feeling well?” I reach for his forehead, but he slaps at my hand.
“Don’t ruin the moment, prick.” Then I breach his space, moving swiftly to wrap my arms around him and deliver the most uncomfortable, embarrassing hug, before he clobbers me on the head.
Chapter 12: Tilly
Tear You Apart,She Wants Revenge
I cannot sleep. After Ronald had abruptly shown up at my doorstep, I have been anticipating another visit, looking through my curtains, fear clutching my stomach.
I turn back to fold my laundry as I hear the front door open and close. I can hear Biscuit’s soft snores from the couch. He refused to sleep in my guest room. The heavy footsteps draw up the stairs as I softly call out, “Hello?”
Placing the clothing on the bed, I go to my nightstand to pull out my knife.
Marcus’s handsome face appears before the crack of the doorway. Placing two fingers on the door, he pushes it open. His eyelids are hooded, though I spy one of his eye sockets is bruised and there are faint cuts to his cheek.
“Oh, love what happened?” I rush towards him, but he staggers past me and falls dramatically onto the bed. Laying his arm across his face he exhales and says, “I’m fucking pathetic, Til. I belong nowhere.”I perch one eyebrow and slowly walk towards him. Setting my shirt on the end of the bed, I grab his thigh with my hand. “What do you mean, darling, you belong here with the Adders.”
