Page 67 of Demise

I tap my knuckles against Bexley’s front door, noticing afor salesign in the yard. I haven’t been here in over a week. I’ve busy trying to piece together the tapes and keeping things running at the warehouse.

I also flew back to Atlanta and spoke with Simon. He got a punch in the gut, and I got my money and cocaine that was owed to Sweep when he set Sweep and Trig up for murder.

I thought about taking his life, but decided I’d keep my hands clean on this one. So after, I had lunch with Moretti and educated him about Simon working with the police with hopes he’d talk about capping him in front of the girl.

He didn’t.

But three days later, Simon was dead.

Which was fine by me. He set up Sweep and Trig. He needed to be punished for it.

Bexley opens the door, and I look around at the scattered boxes behind her. A ball cap is on her head with her hair pulled through the back. She’s in jeans and a band t-shirt that’s tied at her hip.

“Where’s your key?” she asks.

I point to the coffee table. “Left it here.”

“Oh,” she says, looking back.

“You’re selling the house?”

“Yes. Come in.”

“When did you decide this?”

“When we returned from Atlanta. I can’t live here any longer. It just… there’s too many memories.” She shuts the door behind her, and I look down at one of the boxes labeledliving room junk.

I look back up at her. “Could have called. I would have helped.”

She shrugs. “It’s been a little emotional.”

I nod. I forget sometimes it wasn’t that long ago when she was married and off-limits to me, but once I remember, it ignites this fire in my chest.

I’m still angry about it, even though I am trying to move on. I hate things happened the way they did, but Samuel and I would have had a better relationship if he wouldn’t have chosen Bexley to be his wife.

I exhale. I haven’t been staying here much. Truthfully, I don’t like it, and I think she’s aware. She also hasn’t stayed at the bar with me. We’ve only spoken on the phone in the evenings. Like I said, I’ve been busy, and now I see she has, too.

But it bothers me she didn’t discuss this with me.

You told her she couldn’t.

Ah, that I did.

I’m an asshole.

An idea occurs to me. She doesn’t like staying at the bar because of Mae, and I don’t like staying here. “I’d like to take you somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Just pack a bag.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

Bexley

The ride is quiet, both of us in our own heads. I did think about talking with Danny regarding selling the house, but then decided I didn’t need to speak with anyone about it. It was my choice, and I knew without question that I wanted to do it when we returned from Atlanta.

I don’t need that big house, and truthfully, I’m unsure if I was ever genuinelymefor all the years I’ve been living there.

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