A year later, my brother Zachary got out of the Army and told me he was heading to Paradise to be a bounty hunter. His unit buddy, Shark had a gig down there.
I hopped on the plane and joined him.
Many didn’t realize it, but bounty hunting was still alive and well in America. The private-security industry was a $350 billion market in America. It paid the bills. With Shark’s guidance, we hit six figures each year.
I should count myself lucky. I must be in a mood.
The sun set.
I rounded the corner to my neighborhood, pulled into the driveway, and parked in front of the garage.
A minute later, I entered my house from the side and kicked off my shoes. My wet shirt went next. Unbuckling the top button of my jeans, I went to the fridge, and grabbed a beer.
I sat down at the table, twisted off the cap, and chugged it.
Now let the boredom begin.
While my job surged with excitement, the rest of my life held no pizazz.
I was the only one with this problem. Shark had his wife and son. During Zachary’s off-hours, he enjoyed sweet-talking easy women out of their clothes. Somehow that kept him busy.
The roar of my brother’s bike sounded outside.
What’s he doing here?
Minutes later, the front door opened.
Zachary stomped in. “Do you have condoms, Zain?”
I looked up. “You passed five convenience stores to come over here and get free condoms?”
He pulled out a drawer, grabbed five packets of condoms, considered that total, and then grabbed two more. “I’m on a budget.”
“You have 4k in your pocket.”
“I’ve got a date with Siena. You know how expensive she can be.” He opened the fridge and pulled out two beers. “You need to go shopping. There’s nothing in here but beer and milk.”
“You’re back to messing with Siena?” I frowned. “I thought that was over?”
“I can’t help it.”
“She’s crazy.”
“But her pussy isn’t crazy.” He opened his beer and took a swig. “Why don’t you drag your bike out of the garage, dust it off, and hang with us?”
“I’m good.”
“Speaking of crazy, I haven’t seen you with a woman in months.”
“You’re not over here enough.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Zachary gestured around the kitchen. “I can tell when you’ve had a woman in here. It would look cleaner. Right now, it’s a mess.”
“Get out.”
Taking his beer with him, Zachary pushed up from the table and turned to go. “Don’t forget to call Mom—”
“I know her birthday is tomorrow. I reminded you this morning.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did.”
Zachary took another swig of his beer and then put it back in the fridge. “Don’t drink this. I’ve got dibs.”
“You can’t have dibs on my beer in my fridge.”
He pointed at me. “That better be there, when I return.”
I grinned. “Stay out of trouble.”
“No way, bro. I’m trying to be deep inside trouble this evening.” He walked out.
And everyone thinks Zachary is the sensible one.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled Twitter.
A boom sounded off in the distance.
I scrolled.
Another boom came.
What is that?
I got up from the table and looked out the window over my kitchen sink.
A broken-down red car sputtered to a stop right in front of the vacant house next to me. Another boom sounded. Then, the car backfired in the driveway.
Time to get rid of that.
A short, brown-skinned woman stepped out of the vehicle.
Who’s this?
The woman dug her hands into a big red and white purse and pulled out keys.
I studied her closer.
She was stunning. Full lips. Curvy and petite. She had short, flame-red hair that curled in pretty tendrils around her face. Her white shirt hugged her breasts and ended at the top of her hips, which were displayed in skintight leggings that didn’t hide the sweet curve of her ass or the shape of her femininity in front.
Now that is pussy that could be worth lots of trouble.
Two boys climbed out of the back of her red car. One looked to be twelve or thirteen. The other had to be no more than ten.
Damn. She has kids.
I stayed away from single mothers. I’d watched my mother battle through single motherhood like a champ. However, she’d had a lot of douche bags dragging her down and blocking her blessings.
I didn’t want to be a douche bag, interrupting a good home.
Too bad. I’ll have to leave her alone.
I watched the kids.
Laughing, the boys pulled out blue water guns. They followed behind her. Every few steps they squirted each other.
When she turned around, they stopped and pretended to be on their best behavior.
She headed to the house, and the boys returned to their fuckery. One shot the other in the eye. He took it like a soldier and snuck a shot to his brother’s ear.
And she knew nothing as she arrived at the front door, put the keys in the knob, and disappeared inside.