Page 152 of With A Little Luck
The bleach, even diluted, burns my overly sensitive nose. I’ve always had an acute sense of smell. Growing up, I seemed to notice scents no one else picked up on.
Bleach and commercial-grade cleaners are not my favorite smells, but they’re not more offensive than the blood and urine from the prisoner I tortured for close to eight hours.
“For being an absolute psychopath, you’re not a bad boyfriend,” Shaw says, startling me as I rinse the floor with another towel that will also need to be thrown away.
Am I only herboyfriend? She’s my soulmate. I also intend to ask her to marry me, but I suppose she hasn’t technically said yes yet. She will. Then she’ll be my fiancée.
Shoving the towel into the garbage bag, I smile at him over my shoulder. “Thank you. I didn’t want her to be embarrassed the next time we came into the house. It wasn’t her fault. That series of unpleasant events lies on Costa’s shoulders.”
“You shouldn’t be afraid to show a more caring side of yourself,” Shaw says, leaning against the doorframe. “Ridge is solid. He’s a pain in the ass, but he’s the kind of guy you want in your corner. He’ll be a good packmate to you ifyouput in the effort. I know the two of you have been at each other’s throats...”
My eyes widen.
Is that what it looks like to others?
We bicker, but I wouldn’t have moved so swiftly to staunch the bleeding if I wanted him dead.
“I mean, that’s what it seems like looking in, but if you want to be part of a pack, you have to find some common ground with your packmates. Otherwise, you’ll make Quincy’s life a living hell.”
It would be convenient if all of Ridge’s friends would stop piling on with the pep talks. They could even have a discussionto select which topic they would each like to champion. At least that would offer a bit of variety.
I’m legitimately incapable of forgetting details, even things I would prefer not to carry around, making these repeated conversations tedious and unnecessary. Unless they feel they have to pound the point through my skull because none of them believe I’m listening in the first place. However, it would only be more embarrassing to admit that I attempted to find some common ground with Ridge this afternoon.
Hence my hurt feelings.
I suppose I could try more than once before considering it a lost cause.
Exhaling heavily, I nod. “I understand.”
By the time I’m done cleaning, I’m ready to exit Quincy’s house. I still force myself to spend close to half an hour going through her clothing and personal care items. Selecting things I think she would like to have with her at Ridge’s isn’t the easiest task, but I do my best.
Shaw heads out the back door with the intent of pulling his truck around the front. Since he can back the vehicle up close to the door, it will be easier for us to load up the suitcases and bags I packed.
While he’s handling that, I open the front door and prepare to pile everything outside.
“Who the fuck are you?” a slimy male voice asks.
My head whips up, and my eyelids flutter as Pete comes into view.
Quincy’s cheating ex seems even tackier in person than in the pictures I examined of him.
“I could ask you the same question,” I say, tossing the suitcase and duffel bag onto the concrete just past his feet.
The idiot jolts, jerking his head to look at the ground. “Seriously, where is Quincy?”
“Not here.” I turn back for another bag, fighting the instinct to bury my knife in his throat.
“I’ve stopped by twice, but she hasn’t answered the door.”
“She’s not here now either,” I say, a smile tipping at my lips.
“I’m fucking serious,” he growls, taking a step forward as I toss the next bag near the others.
Do not kill Quincy’s ex. There would be blood stains on the concrete. You don’t want to have to explain this to her.
I could always bring him to a secondary location similar to the one David is being kept in. Then, when someone pisses me off, I could simply pop over to visit Pete. No one needs information from him, so killing him wouldn’t be an issue.
“I need to speak to her. She’s not answering my calls, and she’s never home,” he says, his teeth grinding together.
