Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
His perfect teeth gleam as he talks. It looks like he’s had them whitened. Or maybe he’s just never had a cavity. Either way, even the way he speaks says “money.”
I can feel the rage inside me reaching a boil as he refuses to shut his mouth.
“But I know what really drives you crazy is that you have to build the house that I’m going to live in with a girl you thought you actually had a chance with.”
My fists clench at my sides. My jaw goes tight. My abs tense.
“You’re going to sweat and struggle every day to put that house together, and when it’s all done, I’m going to take that girl you want so badly inside it, and I’m gonna fuck her brains out–”
That’s it.
I swing.
The next thing I expect to feel is this son of a bitch’s cheekbone against my knuckles. But that’s not what happens.
I feel about six hands grabbing me all over and my crew’s voices loud in my ears.
“Whoa, take it easy! Take it easy!” Rodney says as they all pull me back from Jerry.
“You bastard!” I rage, completely out of control. I struggle, but my boys have got me. I can’t break free of all three of them.
Somehow, the old man at the door has woken up from his nap and is screaming loudly for us to get out.
“Yeah, get out of here, Saw Boy,” Jerry laughs as I’m hauled away. “Go back to the side of town where you belong!”
He and all his friends laugh as I’m dragged out of the bar and into the parking lot. The boys finally let me go, and I try to rush back inside, but Dave boxes me out.
“Cool it!” he shouts. “The fuck, man? You know who that guy is?”
“Of course I do!” I roar.
“And you’re trying to what? Get arrested and sued for assault over some girl you just met? He’ll take you for every penny you’ve got!”
Panting, I sink to one knee.
My heart is pounding in my chest. I’m so fired up that I just want to get back in there and beat Jerry Williams to a pulp, but Dave does have a point.
It takes me a minute, but I’m finally able to cool down.
“Come on, guys,” Chris says. “Let’s get outta here.”
I take Rodney’s hand, and he hauls me to my feet. We pile into the car and head out. It’s mostly silent on the way home. Not even the rest of the guys are joking around. They were right for pulling me out of there, but I know one thing for sure: This isn’t the end of things.
That girl will be mine.
4
CASEY
I look down at the concrete steps in front of me. Eventually, once this project is done, they’ll lead into the large, open living room of the modern home I’m helping build for Jerry and Michelle.
His soon-to-be wife, Michelle.
When we first got the plans for this house, I was actually excited. I thought a house like this would be fun to build and a lot different than the regular McMansions we’re always throwing up in the suburbs. But now, all I want to do is tear the whole thing down.
I don’t want to admit it, but what Jerry said last night got to me.
“You’re going to sweat and struggle every day to put that house together, and when it’s all done, I’m going to take that girl you want so badly inside it, and I’m gonna fuck her brains out.”
If only the boys hadn’t held me back. Yeah, I probably would have lost my job. Yeah, I’d have spent the night in jail. Yeah, he and his family would have probably sued me for the little I’ve got in the bank.
But it would have been worth it.
Just to see that smug, stuck-up face of his snap back as my knuckles blasted him in the cheek. Just to watch a look of shock come over him as he took his first punch. Because lord knows that’s a guy who’s never been in a fight in his whole pampered life.
I could do it. I could sabotage the site.
All it would take is a few holes in the concrete pour, and some Bristar slurry to blow out the slabs, and all the work we’ve done would be trashed. The “good” Reverend would be back to square one.
But what would that do? Would that really stop anything?
It’s not like he and Jerry would postpone the wedding over a house. Those bastards are ruthless. No. If I want Michelle, I’m going to have to find another way to get her. I’m going to have to take the Reverend down.
“Yo, we’re not getting paid to stand around, ya know?” I turn to see Dave grinning behind me, holding a cold beer. It’s the end of a long day, but I shake my head.