Page 85 of Painting Her Fate

promise.” That is a promise I will forever keep.

I didn’t know where this bastard Isaac was, but it should be six feet under. I need to gather more intel on this, get her to talk.Coming right out and demanding answers will only make her shut down. Give her time.Should I have Shark help me with this? I’ve been hesitant to take it that far. He is the only one I know who can help in finding any sort of details about this mystery woman in my arms.

I’ll wait until she’s asleep. Then I’ll call.

By the sound of her rhythmic steady breathing, my hope is she’s finding peace in her dreams as I ease out of bed, locate my phone in my pants pocket and power it on. I’m not able to sleep the rest of tonight, or little until I get answers, so, it’s time to make some calls. I make my way to the kitchen to prepare a deathly strong cup of joe. That will keep me up for a bit, after that, I’ll kick in the energy drinks. Do what ya gotta do. Checking the time, I find its only midnight, so I send Ford a text asking if he’s up.

Me-Hey man, you up?

A few minutes go by before my phone chimes on the counter.

Ford-10-4, good buddy.

Me-I need your help.

Ford-Really? Like what?

Ford-I’m not in the mood to fix any more toilets.

Me-It’s Lili. She’s had a breakdown.

Ford-Sugar.Honey.Iced.Tea.

He has to have an idea what I’m asking. Another text comes through from him, all focus and no funny business.

Ford-How bad?

Me-Worse than we thought.

Ford and I were not able to talk much about her little episode the other night in the parking lot, but the knowing look we gave one another established that we were on the same page. The same curiosity. I have enough time to take a sip from my coffee before his name flashes on my screen with his call. I pick it up from the counter and answer it, not wanting the ringing to wake Lili. He’s quick to get the first word in.

“Are you at her place? You are, aren’t you? You dog.” He let out a congratulatory whoop.

I huff, stone cold, “I brought over dinner.”

*Ford chuckles* “Sounds like it was more than just dinner.”

I round the counter and sit at the couch, “that isn’t why I wanted to talk to you. It’s something crucial. She was hurt.”

His tone immediately sobers, “Did you hurt her, Zander?”

“Fuck, no.” I don’t blame him for coming to that conclusion, I have been distant from him as of late and the last fling I had ran screaming from my house.“No, I didn’t.” I hear him exhale a relived sigh, “But someone did. She has marks on her, ones she couldn’t make herself.” I pause to run a hand through my hair, “She had quite the nightmare a short while ago. She kept yelling a man’s name, then ran to the bathroom to get sick.”

“¿Que diablos?(What the hell)” His anger is palpable. “That’s fucked up.” I hear him shift around as a car door opens, then slams closed, “You think this person was the one to do it?” He starts his car engine, and I’m put on the Bluetooth inside.

“That’s my guess, but I’m not one hundred percent sure.” I look towards the hallway to check that her door is still closed. “I need your help finding out what happened, or at least to be there to protect her when I can’t.” I grit my teeth, “She won’t tell me a damn thing.”

“Shark is better at diggin’. I already tried looking up her name with no luck, it’s like she’s a ghost. She’s definitely hidin’ somethin’.” A turning signal clicks in the background.

“Yeah, I haven’t heard from him in a while. He still have his security business?” ‘Shark’, better known to civilians as Lance Corporal Harrison Young was part of the patrol team I lead with Ford. Flashes of us joking around while overseas brings a twinge of pain to the surface. I clench my jaw at the memories.The loss.

“He does and is comin’ up this way for the Dyngus day festivities. He wanted to get in on the ‘Pussy’willow action, if ya know what I mean.”

Same Shark, always after the women. I let out a snort. Ford can make light of any terrible situation, usually with a sexual innuendo. Dyngus day is a Buffalo holiday where thousands flock to the area and celebrate Polish pride, the Monday after Easter. We immerse ourselves in Polish food, music and heritage. Squirt guns, pussy willows, and flower crowns are customary for the parade in the city.

It’s Gorski pride day as mom would say.

“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll shoot him a text. Say, where you off to at this hour?”

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