Playette

Max loved a woman who didn’t love him back. He was too blind to see it, too stupid to know better. And in the process, he killed those that actually loved him. Who would have done anything for him.

Washing my hands, I watch as the blood washes down the sink and takes my emotion with it. Mother’s better off, she was sick. I should have done it all those years ago, but she wasn’t as easy to kill as my father was. I know she was vindictive, but I loved her.

When I go back to the mansion, the clean-up crew has already arrived and are sweeping up the mess. Body bags are being taken out, and I stop when I know it’s her. My hand touches her body over the top of the black bag.

“Cremate her, and bring her back to me.” The cleaner nods and continues to go about his business.

“I sent Isadora away. You need space from her,” Carter says. He’s my second in command for a reason. He sees clearly when I don’t.

“Do you think that’s smart?”

“You tell me? You wanted to kill her, but couldn’t. You took a bullet for her then you watched as her uncle killed your mother. So, you tell me, was it the best option?” He shakes his head and starts walking out of the room.

“She’s more to me than just a pussy, Carter. Watch yourself.”

His back straightens. “We know this. She knows this. Let it breathe, and when you both have had time to grieve then go back to each other and see what’s there. Right now, it isn’t smart.”

“And you know about love, do you?” I ask him raising an eyebrow.

He laughs. “I love you, boss. I’d give my life for you. No one else matters above you. But that is the life I choose. You didn’t. So you can love more than us. Fuck, you can have her if you want even if she doesn’t want you. It’s you. It’s all about you. Who are we to stop you. But all I ask is that you let yourself breathe for a moment. You need that. Just breathe. Take some well-earned time off. You’ve been consumed by her, and I personally don’t understand it.” He walks away leaving me standing where I am, watching the space he vacated.

When I was a teenager, before I killed my father. What I wanted most in this life was a wife. One who I could count on. One who wouldn’t ruin me or use me. I figured out later that it was next to impossible to find something like that in this life. Especially considering who I am, and the power I hold. But that dream, it still niggles at the back of my throat when I’m near Isadora. Could she be it?

No, she can’t be. She started a war and never finished it.

Though, this wasn’t all her, and despite everything that’s happened I still very much want her.

She’s exactly what I fantasized about. She was the woman stuck in my dreams, and when I found her I knew I had to have her, it was simply hard to work out how. With so much bad, so much ugly, how could it ever really work?

Dreams are meant to be altered, and mine was, tremendously.

Max’s body comes up last. “Burn that one or feed it to the wolves, I don’t fucking care,” I say pointing to her Uncle. If I could kill him, again and again, I would. The cleaner nods then walks out with some of my other men.

This life I live is one where I run, and profit, from the businesses around me. I own half of them, and if I don’t, you can bet I soon will.

My father took this town with force, scaring the locals, but I run it with good business sense. Bought them out, and made sure they knew not to cross me. Some I loaned money to, knowing full well they couldn’t pay me back, but their business was always my collateral.

The strip club where I found Isadora.

Benny. He’s not one of the brightest lights in the sky. I did the same thing with him, but at least he still runs it. Benny most definitely isn’t my biggest fan, but he doesn’t need to be.

“Do you intend to do anything?” Ace asks, pulling his shirt over his head.

“Yes, I plan to burn Max’s place to the ground.”

Ace nods.

And that’s what we do.

Go straight to that shithole where Max lived. We walk in, spilling accelerant all over the floor, and then removing the cars. I can sell them. As I said, I’m a businessman, I’m not stupid. I have plenty of cars both old and new alike, and they’re like a passion for me.

Walking up the stairs to the rooms, I come to an office first. Clearly this is where that bastard looked after the business. Behind that is three rooms, the first is a bathroom, the second is Isadora’s.