Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Legend and Axel gaped at him in shock. This was a rare occasion when both appeared utterly speechless.
“How do you know this?!” Legend asked.
“From her niece. Mrs. Florence made a fake call to get the family outta the house ’cept him, ’cause she knew he never went to church. I imagine she disguised her voice and told ’em there was an important meeting at the church. He was in there long enough for her to go ahead and do the deed.”
Caspian could almost hear Axel’s heavy breathing. The man paled, but just for a moment because soon, both men put on shit-eating grins. He was sitting amongst monsters, and he fit right in.
“You’ve got to be shittin’ me?” Axel barked.
“Man, you know if Caspian is saying it, it’s true!”
“No, I don’t. This is the same motherfucker who lied and told you I was jerkin’ off to Mrs. Florence’s photo in a yearbook, to get you all riled up.”
Legend snorted. “Good point. Caspian, you might be full of shit.”
“I’m not. I promise ya. Here’s proof.” He pulled out his phone, found the photo of the article, and handed it to Legend. As the man read, his eyes got big. He passed it to Axel, who read through it too, then placed the phone face down on the bar counter. “She wrote that little ‘farewell’ greeting on that article, too.”
“…’Bout him burning in Hell?” Axel asked while taking his new beer from the bartender.
“Yup.”
“She understood me,” Legend said in a near-whisper. The man seemed to have disappeared into another world. His facial expression was suddenly hard to read, but he looked vindicated. Perhaps that was a good thing. A bit of extra healing.
“Do you think this was her first and last time righting a wrong?”
“Absolutely not. Playing devil’s advocate, I’d say even if it was her first and only time, it still means it was in her to do it all along.” They shook their heads. “She planned that. She was calculating and bided her time. She wasn’t in immediate danger but some of her family members were. The little cousins and nieces… He was a degenerate and got what was comin’ to him. She made sure of it.”
Caspian polished off his drink and his tongue begged for more. “There are people who delete folks once every decade. Like, it’s literally on a calendar. A sort of anniversary.” Axel’s brows rose and he shook his head. “I’m serious. There are people who are just like that.” He shrugged.
“No, I believe you. Just interesting is all.”
“Then there are people who do it all the time, without a thought. There’s no rhyme or reason to it. They’re sadists, acting just for the hell of it. Broken souls hellbent on breakin’ others. Some folks do it due to a sickness. A need to cause pain or distress to the family, to punish somebody and satisfy their hatred of women, children, men, or whatever… Then there are folks like me… like you… like us.” He pointed to his empty glass when the bartender looked his way. “She was one of us, brothers. She’s a B.D. Brother Disciples member.”
They all bumped fists.
“Contrary to what you said, Axel, I don’t have a compulsion, either,” Caspian continued after a pause. “I pride myself on my ability to control what I say, what I do, and how I move. I want what I want right away, but not at the expense of messin’ things up. Never in such a rush that I don’t do enough research and observation. So I’m not going anywhere, brother.” He grabbed Axel and hugged him, then wrapped his arm around Legend’s neck, too. “I’ve been drinkin’ a lot tonight, but I mean these words. The key is to always be learning. To always be ready. To always be in the midst of observing. Every day. Every hour. Every second. Even in your sleep…”
Chapter Twenty-One
Azure’s long, naked leg folded over his as they lay in bed. ‘Beautiful’ by Tweet was playing on low volume and a dense fog of cigar smoke filled the air. He placed his cigar down on the nightstand. When he turned back around, he went back to what he was doing. Stargazing. Azure was indeed a star in his eyes. The beautiful woman was still asleep, yet her soul was always moving, even when still.
He could feel her energy, like an electric current racing through him and entering his soul, invigorating him to be a better man. He swept his hand along her hip, then bent down and kissed it. Flashes of their lovemaking consumed him. He’d held her tightly in his arms and pumped between her thighs until he had not one more drop to give. When they finished, they were sweaty and exhausted. Full of love.
I love you, baby…
She looked like passion. Desire. She looked like the owner of his heart.