Page 57 of Jagged Line Paradise

I’m losing myself to Avalon and yes, I’m fucking loving it but it’s goddamn hazardous, too.

I meant to go straight back to the hotel after the interview with the Millers, take a cold shower, and get a good night’s rest. We’re interviewing the Andersons in a couple of days, and I need to get my head back in the game, focus on doing what I came here to do, which is help give these people a voice.

But I didn’t go back to the hotel.

I went back to Avalon’s.

I got there just in time to watch her get inside some guy’s silver fucking Benz and drive away.

And now I’m following them.

I can’t see who the guy is that’s driving the car, especially now that the sun is setting. I follow them for a couple of miles, wondering where they’re going, how far they’re going, where we’ll end up, and what the fuck I’m going to do once we get there.

Whoever this guy is, I hate him already, only for the fact that he’s with my girl and I’m not okay with it.

Shit.

She’s not my girl.

We hit a stoplight another quarter mile ahead and I know where we are. This area is familiar to me because I’ve been here before. It’s a large subdivision, though, so likely just a coincidence. We turn left into the sub and drive past a row of houses, eventually turning right—toward a dead-end circular loop that I’m very familiar with.

Notjust a coincidence.

The Benz pulls into Robbie Mack’s driveway, the guy I used to do odd construction jobs for as a teen.

How does he know Avalon?

Howdoes she know him?

Why did he pick her upand bring her back here?

I drive the loop, passing right on by his house as they’re getting out of the car. I circle back to the way we came in, then turn my car around and park near the intersection. I cut the engine and turn off my headlights. They walk through the front door together and I sit and watch. I don’t know how much time passes as I stare at the front door.

What thefuck am I doing here?

Sitting here like some creepyass psycho stalker?

They’re probably fucking and it’s none of my business.

But that’s the kicker.

I want tomakeit my business.

There are two options for me. First, I can go back to the hotel and forget about it and let the grown woman do what she’s gonna do. Second, I can walk over to his house, knock on his door, and see what the fuck is up.

I can’t even believe that I’m considering the second option. Avalon isn’t mine; she can go where she wants to go and do what she wants to do. I’m here on business and I’m supposed to be focused, except I’m anything but that and it can only be attributed to her and the way she toys with the goddamn beast.

Fuck it. I’m going in.

I get out of the SUV and walk from where I’m already parked, across the loop, away from his house. I walk right up to his door, raise my fist, and start knocking.

Mack opens the door with a smile, as if he’s expecting someone, but his expression turns to confusion when he finds me standing there.

“Andrés Hernandez? Is that you?”

“The one and only.”

He grins and holds out his arm in surprised welcome. “Well, hey, kid, it’s great to see you! Avalon mentioned you were in town.”

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