Page 1 of Rooster's Redemption

Prologue

ROOSTER-8 YEARS AGO

Thunder rolls, vibrating the sidewalk. Lightning strikes off in the distance making the dark clouds ominous. I’m pacing back and forth under the awning in front of my girlfriend, Phoebe’s apartment complex while rain pelts the ground around me. The only thing is, she isn’t here and it’s been storming the whole time. Her tiny blue Corolla isn’t parked in her usual spot.

I received a frantic voicemail from Phoebe while I was in a meeting. Her voice shook with every word. Something was wrong but she wouldn’t say what. I left my meeting and hurried over here. Big fat raindrops pelleted me on my Harley on the way over. It’s like there’s a sign from above that something bad is happening.

Once I parked my Harley in front of her apartment building, the clouds really opened up, bringing ice-cold rain, howling winds, thunder and lightning from the sky.

I’ve tried calling Phoebe back on the way out of my work building with no answer. I’m a communications tech expert at a big law firm in downtown Mt. Pleasant. My day job includes hacking into other systems to make sure our client's sensitiveinformation is secure. I was meeting with the big bosses to inform them of some bugs I found and fixed.

My phone rings in my pocket and I yank it out. Thunder cracks overhead and I almost drop my phone in the puddle forming at my feet. Instead, my leather dress shoes and black slacks take the hit.

“Motherfucker!” I slide the green button without looking to see who it is. “Yeah,” I bark into the phone shaking the water from my shoes. Well, these shoes are fucked.

“Lucas, where the hell did you go?” Mr. Rockford, my boss at the law firm asks. His voice is gravely from too many whiskies and cigars.

“Had an emergency, Mr. Rockford. I’ve given you everything I had on the bugs and how they’re fixed. Nothing is compromised. None of the client's information was leaked. I found it before any damage was done. That’s why you hired me. I’m the best at my job.”

“Mr. Johnson,” my boss draws my last name out, making my skin crawl. “I suggest you get your ass back here. You can’t walk out in the middle of a meeting.”

“I can’t, sir.” I’m fed up with this asshole telling me what I can and can’t do. They’re supposed to be afamilyand look out for each other, but it’s nothing but lies. They’ll cut your throat and steal your clients faster than I can jerk myself off.

He t’sks on the other end. I can hear his whiskey glass hit his teeth and he takes a deep swallow. “That’s too bad. If you’re not back here in fifteen minutes, you’re fired.”

I don’t need this shit. Not with Phoebe missing. She’s been acting weird for the last couple of weeks. Distant and quiet when we’re together. Like she’s going through the motions of being with me but her mind is elsewhere.

“You know what, Mr. Rockford?”

“Enlighten me, Mr. Johnson.” I hear his chair squeak under his weight. Fucker’s sitting in his plush leather chair in his overpriced office, probably has his secretary on her knees under his desk, sucking his tiny dick while his wife is at home with no clue he’s cheating on her with anything that spreads her legs.

“After all the hours and effort I put into the job with little to no appreciation,” I pause for dramatic effect. “You can take this job and shove it up your ass.” God, it feels good to say that.

“Lucas, you can’t be serious.” Now I’ve got his attention.

“As a fucking heart attack.”

“I’ll ruin you in this industry,” Mr. Rockford threatens.

“Try it. I’ve got so much dirt on you and your partners, I’ll make the devil himself look like child’s play.” I inhale a deep breath. “I’m done. So go back to your million-dollar home and drink your fucking liver away, wishing you had that hot little secretary sucking your dick instead of your wife. Your threats don’t mean shit to me.” I click the end call button on my phone, jam it back into my dress slacks and punch the brick wall.

“Son of a bitch!” I shout, my knuckles lace with pain.

“Lucas?” Phoebe whispers behind me. I turn around and see tears trail down her cheeks. Her light brown eyes are red from crying and her golden hair is plastered to her forehead from the rain. She’s clutching her waist, fighting off a shiver. Her shirt is sticking to her chest giving me a glimpse of her tight nipples.

“Phoebe,” I stare at her and whisper.

“What are you doing here?”

“You called me in a panic. I came as soon as I got the message.” I step toward her and she takes a step back. “What’s going on?” I’m standing in the pouring rain. Thunder cracks around us.

“You shouldn’t be here. Please go.” Her eyes plead with me to leave.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. Something is off. “Phoebe, what the fuck is happening?”

She drops her head, staring at the concrete sidewalk, “Just go and don’t come back.” Phoebe’s downright sobbing now. Her chest is heaving up and down. “Don’t call or look for me. We’re over, Lucas.”

“What? You can’t mean that.” I plead. A sucker punch to my gut has me stunned. I didn’t see this coming a mile away.

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