Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
“You know, I never got to thank you for what you did,” Frank said.
“We don’t need to talk about it,” Cain said.
Frank nodded and raised his hands as if he was showing a peaceful offering. “I know, I know, but that’s the point, isn’t it?”
Cain put his coffee down and sat back in his chair, looking over at his friend. “What is?”
“You didn’t have to do that. I was going to be locked up and forgotten about. You didn’t owe me anything.”
“You watched my back.”
“And you took care of mine,” Frank said. “Most people would have considered that an equal debt.”
“What can I say, I’m not most people.”
Frank smiled. “I know why she likes you.”
This time, Cain frowned. “What?”
The smile turned into a full-on chuckle.
“Leah,” Frank said.
“I pay her to.”
Frank tutted. “You can make all the pretense you want, it doesn’t change what happened. You’re a good guy.”
“I don’t need to remind you that I am anything but.”
“I know you have a reputation, and you’re not going to do anything to change it, but I also know in a strange kind of way you believe in justice.”
Cain smiled this time and picked up his coffee. “I deliver justice.”
“Exactly. You knew my story, and yet you dealt with it, so I wasn’t locked up for life. You helped me. You righted another person’s wrong, and for that I will forever be in your debt, just like I am for bringing Cameron back to me.”
“Don’t,” Cain said, holding up his hand. “I was happy to leave her memory in the past. It was Leah who insisted we find her.”
There was that smile again on Frank’s face.
“And you went to help her.”
“Leah works for me, and she’s pretty good at what she does,” Cain said.
“And what does she do exactly?” Frank asked.
Cain stared at him for several seconds. “Her job.”
“Ah, you see, this is the thing, I’ve been watching her do her job, and all she does is wear the clothes you ask her to wear, and accompany you wherever you want to go. She has become a deterrent for women.”
“See, she is doing her job.”
Frank tutted. “No, I think it is more than that, and you know it as well.”
“What I know is that I’ve got work to do. If this is where you’re about to tell me you quit, I don’t accept it.”
“I’m not quitting and you can run from the truth all you want. It’s not going to change the facts.”
Cain took another sip of his coffee, because it was delicious. He was happier knowing Frank had no intention of quitting, because he didn’t want to have to find another chef, nor did he want to survive on takeout. Leah could cook, but he liked having her at his side every chance he could get.
“You’re in love with Leah,” Frank said.
“Friend or not, I can still kill you.”
This brought a chuckle from Frank. “You could do that if you wanted to, but I don’t know why you would.”
“I didn’t know we had entered the territory of talking about our feelings. When did that happen?” Cain asked.
“Simple. When you found the love of my life, and when the love of your life beat the crap out of your son and entered yours.”
Cain stared at Frank. “Be careful.”
“Why? Because it’s the truth, and the truth scares you?”
“Love is a weakness.”
“So you see Leah as weak?” Frank asked.
Cain finished his coffee. “I think it is time for me to go.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being happy,” Frank said. “Leah told me that. I know she’s young, and that probably terrifies you, but she loves you. I have a feeling that woman would die for you.” Frank laughed. “I know she hates when women flirt with you. It drives her fucking crazy.”
He had every intention of standing up and leaving, but now as he listened to Frank talk about Leah, he just couldn’t resist and he found himself siting his ass right back down in his chair and looking at his friend.
“Ah, I have gained your attention.”
“If this is just bullshit—”
“It’s not, and when did you become so cynical?”
“Look around you. The world makes sure you know how it works. I’m not here to make friends with anyone.” He had no doubt the world was only happy to fuck with everyone. They were all handed their cards at birth, and expected to play them out.
“But knowing Leah is in love with you matters, doesn’t it?” Frank asked.
“She’s too young to know what love is.”
Frank laughed. “You’re wrong, and stop being a dick and fighting it. In case you haven’t looked in the mirror lately, you and I are not getting any younger, and I can promise you, the last twenty years of my life have been miserable without Cameron.”
“And you’ve spent them close to me, so I must make your life miserable,” Cain said.