Teena. Christo! She came along at a weak moment and at one time, I for some reason thought she reminded me of Beth. Her hair, though dyed, had the same blonde hue. She wore the type of dresses Beth used to wear. She made me stop feeling dead inside, but she never took away the emptiness. Even as far gone as I am right now, I have to acknowledge that the emptiness is gone now that Beth is here at the club.
As I go over everything, my mind pictures Beth on the street that day. Her blonde hair shining in the sun, that white dress flowing in the wind. Such innocence and beauty and it was mine. All mine… for a time. Can I get that back? Does it still exist? She’s not the same. She never wears those dresses now. In fact, she wears nothing but long sleeves and pants that cover almost all of her body.
Could Torch have lied? Did they actually rape Beth?
Mierda! I’m so damned tired. There’s just too many games, so many fucking games that it’s no wonder I’m being pulled into the darkness. It’s always been there, calling me. Beth pulled me out of it once… With her, I felt alive in ways I never have before.
So, it’s sheer madness that brings me to her door. I hesitate before I knock on the door. You can’t go back, and there’s too much between Beth and I for what we have to ever be good again. I’m about to turn away when I hear it.
Her laughter.
So sweet and free that listening to it warms something inside of me—a spot that has probably been frozen over since she left. I turn the knob carefully. It’s unlocked. I have a key that I’ve been using at night, but still, maybe this is a sign that I should talk to her? Can she save me once again?
I don’t fully open the door. I just hold it there, cracked enough so I can hear her easily. Her vanilla and strawberry scent hits me and I close my eyes and drink it in. I imagine her in my mind. She’s probably laughing at Gabby while they play with those blocks that Gabby loves so much. She’s probably helping her build a tower just to watch Gabby knock it over. My wife and my child… together… under my roof…
I allow myself to live in the fantasy for a minute, maybe two… It’s been so long, but there’s a ghost of a feeling inside of me. Not happiness, but… close. Satisfaction. I’m about to close the door again and leave before this small moment in time can be ruined—when I hear Beth’s voice.
“That’s me. Wild Beth…”
Maybe she’s laughing with Katie? What’s she talking about, “wild”? She had a wild streak in her once, one she reserved for only me. Has another man had her since she left me?
Can I believe anything she says?
“Oh my God! Whatever you’re doing, don’t stop,” she moans again. My body tenses with her words.
Then, I hear a fucking man laughing with her.
She is not fucking one of my brothers while she’s here. Who’s with her? Is it Beast? That motherfucker always had a soft spot for her. Shit, it’s probably Shaft, that damn asshole can’t keep his polla in his damn pants! I’ll make sure he doesn’t have one to worry about after this.
I shove the door open with such force that it slams against the wall when it flings open. Beth’s sitting on the bed and some fucker is rubbing the back of her neck. The only thing that stops me from going to him and immediately snapping his neck is the fact that they’re both still fully dressed.
“Who the fuck are you and why do you have your hands on my wife?” I growl before I can stop myself.
“Skull! What on Earth?” Beth starts, but she’s drowned out by the man. He’s holding his hands up in defense.
As if that would keep me away. I’ll fucking end him.
“Hey man, nothing’s going on. I was just checking Beth out and—”
“I saw that, motherfucker. I’m asking you what the hell you’re doing in my wife’s room and why you have your fucking hands on her.”
“We’re not married!” Beth growls, standing up and stomping her foot. I ignore her.
“You got about one minute to start talking and then, trust me when I tell you, you won’t be able to talk when I’m through.”
“This must be your ex, Skull?”
That’s it. I go to him and grab him around the neck, literally pulling him over to the wall. I slam him up against the wall so hard that the pictures on it rattle.
“That’s right, el cabrón, it’s good you know the name of the man who’s going to—Ow! Beth, goddamn it, what in the hell are you doing?” I growl, keeping my hand around the neck of the man while turning to look at Beth.
She’s taken a fucking stuffed animal and continues to slap me up the side of the head with it. I look at it and then her. She’s continuing to hit me with it: a giant, stuffed pony with rainbow colored hair. Christo!