Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 38978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
The beauty of my surroundings finally penetrated for the first time as I took in the wildflowers spread out in abundance, with the backdrop of redwood trees. There was a nice stream running through the property that dad and gramps kept filled with trout, wild birds were going crazy in the trees closest to the cabin, and the sun was magnificent. How the fuck could life still go on when I felt half-dead inside? I wanted to rant and rave, scream at the top of my voice, kick and yell like a toddler with ADD until this pain left me, but nothing I did helped. I thought with time, it would get easier, but with each passing day, the agony intensified. My trust was gone with the wind, shattered; I had no feelings left, no care for anything or anyone, I literally wanted to lay down and die, but this beauty, this peace that now surrounded me, was the first light of hope in a thousand days of darkness. It was my new awakening, time to plan. Let the motherfucking games begin.
CHAPTER 4
Mom answered on the first and a half ring like she'd been waiting by the phone, or maybe it was that freaky premonition shit she's had going on since we were kids. Somehow she always knew when we were up to no good; as a teenager, that shit was scary as fuck. Imagine planning to have a fuckfest while the parents were away for the weekend only to have your moms give you the evil eye and a lecture before the fact. Good times.
"Baby, how are you? Where are you, are you okay? You need to come home. Your father and I need you here so we can take care of you; everyone's worried sick, especially your brother and sister; we've been going out of our minds here."
"Mom, slow down; I'm fine, really; everything's good." I lied through my teeth. Just the sound of her voice and the love I heard there made me want to cry like a little bitch. I do want to go home and crawl into her lap and let her play with my hair the way she did when I was sick as a child. What the fuck? Man, the fuck up, Maddox, no crawling in mommy's lap, you douche, it was time to be a man and hit these motherfuckers hard; can't do that from mommy's lap.
"Of course, you're not fine, don't lie to your mother; regardless of what's going on, you need your family at a time like this; we need to regroup and come up with some kind of plan. Jane has been calling here nonstop looking for you, something about a statement. Suzette called, and I had to restrain your sister-in-law from reaching through the phone and strangling her." My girl Connie I felt the first smile in a week cross my face. Connie was a grade-A bitch, but when she was on your side, you had no worries. I had no doubt she would tear Suzette a new one, but that was my job; I had to leave my little hideaway and go handle my shit. I wasn't surprised the skank had called my house; how she found the nerve was beyond me, though, the girl I knew was a timid little thing afraid of her shadow. She must really be desperate if she was willing to confront Linda's wrath over the phone. She had to know my family would want nothing to do with her right now; at least, I thought she knew us that much. We're a clannish bunch us, Maddox. We stick together no matter what.
"Mom, I just needed to get away for a while, clear my head, you know, but I really am better now. I just needed some alone time out of the public eye. I think I've had enough of that shit to last me a lifetime."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about the vultures; for the first few days, they were camped outside the gates, but I took care of that shit right quick." Did I mention I got my potty mouth from mom? Funny as hell, here she is, the sophisticated little bundle of beauty who stood all of five foot six, her blond beauty a throwback to a different era. To see her, you wouldn't think butter would melt in her mouth, but when she got riled up, that little sailor that lived inside came out. I think I learned my first cuss word from her.
"Oh yeah, what did you do?"
"I decided to take a walk with Zeus and Xerxes...without a leash."
I felt the laughter start in the pit of my guts and work its way up and out.
"Oh man, I would've loved to see that." I couldn't stop laughing at the picture in my head. Zeus and Xerxes were two Doberman pinchers with a mean streak a mile wide; if you weren't family or friend, they'd try to eat your ass. I could just see the paparazzi scattering.