Page 28 of Wicked Witch

“I think this drive is cursed. There is no other word to describe the amount of fucking bad luck we have had.”

It’s late, and Sin has been snoring for the last hour. My eyelids are heavy and all I want is to take a small nap. The coffee and energy drinks are no longer helping, and I have to piss like a goddamn racehorse.

I got us out of Nashville TN which was a nightmare to drive through. Like who the fuck turns left to make an immediate right to cross over three more lanes to make another left.

I’m glad it was late and not in the middle of rush hour. Yeah to say I’m fucking cranky is an understatement.

Smacking my brother in the arm doesn’t work, and I need him to find us a fucking hotel. I have to stop. I need a bed and to stretch out. My ass is numb, and I’m nauseous from the fast food we’ve been grabbing.

Turning up the radio, I blast it and roll down the windows letting in the strong airflow.

“Wake up, motherfucker!” I roar and Sin jolts awake, his hair a mess and eyes droopy.

“What time is it,” he grumbles and I smack the fucking clock. Like for real bro? It’s right in his face.

“Find a hotel.”

Pulling out his phone he searches our location then chooses one.

“It’s almost five am. I feel like it’s wasteful to stay here for a nap. Maybe we should rest, get some actual food. Hit the hot tub when they open and explore Knoxville?”

I’m agreeing before I even really think about it. This is supposed to be our vacation after all.

Turning the GPS on, I follow the prompts and almost cry when it takes us twenty minutes to get there.

We pull up, and I am shaking. “I’ll order some DoorDash,” Sin says, and I nod.

“Yeah, sounds like a plan, but right now I need you to go check us in while I try to unglue my balls from the leather.”

He laughs, but opens his door and climbs out, groaning.

“Fuck me. We need a bigger truck,” he complains, and I want to beat him with a damn baseball bat.

“Go, Sin, or I am going to kill you,” I warn, and he continues to laugh like I’m kidding.

He doesn’t know what I would do for a toilet and bed right now. I would do nasty, nasty things.

Climbing out, I do a few squats. My hips hurt and my back is fucking shot.

I will be taking full advantage of that hot tub after my nap.

ARSEN

I have a bad feeling. I don’t know why, but something is up. Texting Rus again, I wait for him to reply. I know he doesn’t have the best signal, but how was he calling Astor?

Glancing over at my brother, I notice he’s still asleep. Yesterday was rough. We aren’t used to being in a car for over fourteen hours. Plus the traffic, weather and blown tire didn’t help.

I leave him to rest a little longer, grab my room key, then quietly leave. I’ve been in my swim trunks for a few hours now, waiting on him, but he can come find me when he wakes up.

Walking toward the elevator, I press the button to go down and wait. This hotel is nice. But for the price we’re paying it better be. The doors ding, then open and a woman gives me a smile.

“Going down,” she asks coyly and licks her lips.

“Yes, thank you.” I know she’s bummed when I don’t flirt back, but the wedding band on her finger is pretty obvious, and I am not that kind of man. Though I have been tempted before.

Once. When a firecracker with plump lips, curves and midnight hair was marrying my friend.

I never acted on it, though sometimes I wish I had.

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