Page 106 of Average Joe

Who did shit like that?

I loved him.

I had to stop him before he did commit murder.

“Joe!” I shoved through the door and barreled into the hulking beast, who didn’t budge. “Let him go. He can’t breathe!”

Joe released his captive and stepped back, lacing his hands on top of his head, dragging in a slow deep breath.

The man bent at the waist, hands to knees, coughing and sputtering.

The mother in me took over. “You okay?” I rubbed his bony shoulder. “Need some water? A chair?”

Shrugging me off, the man sucked in a slow, deep drag of air, then blew it out as he straightened, a killer glare aimed at Joe. “This changes nothing,” he croaked, then on shaky legs, moved closer to Joe. “You chose that crazy hag over your own blood.” He spat, hitting Joe’s soiled boots. “You’re dead to me, boy.”

With that, he headed to the front door, favoring his left leg, Joe trailing a step behind.

“Need my key back, Larry.”

Larry dug into his pocket, still on the move, and dropped the key on the floor without turning around.

Joe made no move to pick up the trinket. Instead, he watched through the window, shoulders bunched, stance set wide, fingers dangling and twitchy at his sides while his uncle made a slow escape.

Joe huffed. “How much of that did you hear?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Is it true?”

“I didn’t kill my uncle.” He pushed the door closed with his foot, then twisted the lock and pulled the curtain closed.

“You went to jail for Alice.”I made a slow approach because Joe hadn’t moved, but his body vibrated, sending waves of tension through the air.

My heart was seconds from bursting. When I grazed his shoulder with shaky fingers, he flinched but didn’t turn, so I squeezed between my man and the door, coiled my arms around his waist, lay my cheek on his chest, and waited, measuring his heartbeats, the rise and fall of his chest. I hugged Joe tighter, hoping to convey my gratitude because I wouldn’t have had Alice without his sacrifice.

“I had to protect her,” he murmured.

“Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?”

“Would you have believed me?”

“Honestly?” I stretched my neck to see into his eyes. “I don’t know.”

Finally.Finally, those warm, strong arms enveloped me. “You loved her, and I didn’t want you to have that image of Alice in your head.”

“I don’t understand. Alice would’ve never let you go to prison for her.”

“I came home that night to a bloody mess. Found Alice unconscious and Bill…” Eyes liquid, he swallowed then coughed, unsuccessfully hiding his emotions. “I tried to revive my uncle, but he was gone. There was so much blood. I…” He stepped back, looking down at his hands, lost in memories too painful to voice.

Vulnerability fit Joe like an itchy sweater, bothersome and not his style. I waited, fighting tears while he shed the nuisance.

Avoiding eye contact, he continued. “I told the police I wrestled Frank off Alice and lost my temper. We’d fought, and I’d watched him fall but left him to bleed while I tried to help my aunt.

Shaking my head, I rasped, “But Alice wouldn’t have gone to jail. It was clearly self-defense.”

“Wasn’t jail time I was worried about.” Joe raked a hand through his hair before meeting my eyes. “Larry and his buddies would’ve made Alice’s life hell, or worse, killed her. I had no choice.”

A full-body shiver tore through me. “Weren’t you afraid they’d go after you?”

“I’m untouchable,” he sneered, stepping closer.

---