Page 80 of The Seven Rings
In the kitchen, Sonya stopped for a Coke. Offered one to Cleo. “And my day was going so well.”
“What the hell happened? Dobbs?”
“No. I bet she enjoyed some of it, though. Brandon. Let’s go out. Come on, Yoda, Pye, Mooks. Let’s all go out.”
“What did that slimy, limp-dicked bastard do now?”
“He came here,” Sonya said as she led the way outside.
Cleo stopped in her tracks.
“Here? To the manor? What the hell is wrong with him? What did he want? You didn’t let him in!”
“Last question first.” Exhausted from it all, Sonya dropped into a chair on the deck. “No, I didn’t, but he came in anyway. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but he somehow thought he could talk me into hooking up with him again, personally and professionally.”
“I need details. You must’ve called Trey. Did he kick the asshole out?”
“No, I did, with some help from Clover and Jack. And Yoda and Pye. He just showed up at the door, Cleo.”
As she told the story yet again, Cleo pushed up to pace and curse, curse and pace.
It occurred to Sonya that Trey kept his rage locked down, and Cleo let hers bust free. And she loved them both madly.
“He thinks he’s slick, slicker than spit. A polecat’s asshole’s more appealing. He put those bruises on you, and deserves a beatdown, good and proper.”
Cleo threw her hands up. “Oh, why wasn’t I here? I swear I’d’ve given him one.”
“I guess he’s going to get one, in the legal sense, because arguing with Trey on this kind of thing’s like trying to bust up a boulder with a handful of overcooked angel hair.”
Cleo stopped pacing. “What kind of beatdown?”
“Charges for criminal trespass—which up here is—Jesus, I think he said a Class D misdemeanor. Physical and verbal assault. And I’m getting a protection order.”
Rolling her shoulders back, Cleo gave one sharp nod. “That sounds fine. I’d rather have some of his blood on me, but that sounds fine. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“I wasn’t alone.”
Nodding, Cleo finally sat, and she took Sonya’s hand. “I’m grateful for that, and they sure sent him off with his nasty tail between his spindly legs. Next time, don’t open the door until you know who it is.”
“As both Trey and the deputy reminded me.”
“You need to tell Winter.”
“I will. She’ll be getting off work soon, and I want to wait until she’s home.”
“You’re worn out.”
“Dealing with him’s exhausting. Jesus, Cleo, Jesus Christ, it’s been a year since I caught him with Tracie and kicked him out, broke the engagement. How can he not be over it?”
“I’ll tell you how I see it. He had these tendencies. He had them wrapped up tight, but they were there. You look back, you can see them.”
“Yeah.” Demoralizing, Sonya thought. And that was exhausting, too. “Hindsight’s a good way to feel like a moron.”
“You’re not and you weren’t. He romanced you, Son, and he was damn good at it. But he’s a cake-and-eat-it sort, so he romanced Tracie, your own cousin, on the side. And maybe she wasn’t the only one.”
Sonya opened her mouth, closed it. Then just put her head in her hands. “Well, hell, that’s one I hadn’t thought of. And now do.”
“Doesn’t matter. Cheating’s cheating. He played her, he played you, and when you booted him, he figured he’d talk you back. He couldn’t because you’re not a moron. Because you have self-respect and goddamn morals.
