Page 42 of Volatile Obsessions

? Courtesy Call - Thousand Foot Krutch ?

Monday morning rolled around and I was no more certain of what my next move would be than I was last week. If anything, I was all the more unsure. I’d gotten ahead of myself by taking out Lux’s biggest clients so early in the game.

Then again, I had no idea we’d be in for such an interesting turn events just days later. And unbeknownst to me, things were about to get all the more interesting.

7am.

The sun was just beginning to rise through the clouds. Punching in the passcode, I let myself into the quiet factory and took a deep breath as I surveyed the room. Usually, I’d relished the silence and enjoy a piping hot mug of coffee in the comfort of my office, before the day got started, but today… Today was definitely not one of those days.

The entire place smelled like a giant bottle of whiskey. I don’t mean the usual smells that infiltrated the factory on a day to day basis.

No.

I mean it reeked of whiskey.

Burn your nose hairs, eyes watering blindly type of reek.

With an arm to my nose, I took two steps inside to assess the problem and quickly deduced what happened. Anger consumed me in seconds. The floor was flooded in at least two inches of the amber liquid. Not a couple of random puddles here and there.

Oh no.

The entire fucking floor.

And I’d just stepped my brand new Derby’s in the mess.

Smoke all but billowed from my ears, my hands curling into fists at my sides as I trudged through the factory to the back where Vic housed all the barrels.

Barrels that would now have to be replaced, seeing as every last one had a lovely hole smashed right through the bottom.

I knew who it was before the thought even crossed my mind.

Lux.

It had to be. I mean, who else could be responsible for this?

Ramos was dead.

His boys had long since fled. Either that, or they were doing a fine job at laying low.

In any case, this was hands down Lux’s doing.

“What in the actual fuck is all this?” Vic’s voice boomed from the front of the factory.

Wonderful.

Just what I needed.

On an exasperated sigh, I stalked out from the back, silently cursing Lux the entire way for ruining, not only my brand new shoes, but my slacks and my morning as well.

“What do you think?” I tossed back once he came into view, grappling his attention from the mess at his feet. “Or rather, who do you think?”

Vic’s already irate expression darkened all the more, his upper lip curling in a silent snarl. “Lux,” he gritted out.

“Ding, ding, ding—we have a a winner!”

“Son of a bitch!” he hissed.

Humming, I stepped around him and clapped him on the shoulder en route to the parking lot. “She’s a cunt alright.”

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