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Santiago
My father had told me that change was inevitable and that everyone went through several changes in their lifetime. I don’t why I’d thought about that except the question regarding his friendship with Jameson’s father. It was as if the two fathers held a secret, one that would go with them to the grave.
I’d refused to let go of the past, wallowing in the pain and guilt, which my psychiatrist had warned me against more than once. I hadn’t wanted to listen.
Until now.
Maybe the doctor had been right. How interesting that so much had already been altered in my life in a short timeframe. I rubbed my eyes and swung the Jeep around the last curve, barely avoiding hitting a cow standing in the middle of the pathway. I’d forgotten how annoyed I’d been for months after arriving on the island. Now, the roaming animals made me feel like I’d returned home.
I’d spent more time with Jameson that I’d originally planned but I was glad to know he was here, even if I refused to get him tangled up with criminal activity. He didn’t need that shit.
The worst part was fear of bringing the danger to the people of the island.
As I climbed out, I half expected Willow to greet me on the porch. I wasn’t surprised to see more of the wildlife grazing near the house. They knew activity meant food. I walked inside, listening for any sounds. Then I moved through the rooms, immediately yanking my weapon from the holster. There was no sign of any disturbance, but my nerves remained on edge. After I returned to the living room, I hissed, raking my hand through my hair. She’d gone to the damn beach by herself. I had no doubt of it. She’d gone against my rules on purpose.
What the hell was I going to do with the girl? I slammed my hand on the door leading to the deck, taking long strides. Then a noise caught my attention. A yelp.
A woman’s yelp.
With the gun in both hands, I moved against the side of the building, pressing my back against the exterior and moving toward the sound. When I got to a corner, I heard another series of noises.
Pig noises.
I bit back a laugh and peeked around the corner. Willow was in the shower, fighting with the door that currently had a six-hundred-pound blockage. I walked closer, taking my time. When she noticed me as she peered over the ledge, her face turned bright red. I hadn’t been this amused in a long time.
“Are you going to just stand there or shoo him away?” she asked, although her tone was demanding.
“He seems comfortable.” I glanced at the pig and couldn’t keep from laughing. “He was lured by your luscious scent.”
“You’re a sick man, Viper. Very sick. Get me out of here.”
“I’m just curious,” I said as I eased my Glock into the holster. “How long have you been in the shower?”
“Too long.” She smacked a part of her body against the shower wall, the rattle making the pig roll over, snorting his happiness from being in the puddle of water.
“That’s what I was thinking. Now, the way I figure it, you’re going to need to pay a toll to get out of there.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Okay then. You have water to drink. I wouldn’t suggest lying on the stone tonight. There are some pretty big creepy crawlies that come out at night.”
“You are a horrible man.” She issued the words with such conviction that I almost felt sorry for her.
I couldn’t remember that last time I’d laughed. I walked closer, unable to keep from grinning. “You look good in red.”
She swatted at me, stamping her feet. “I’ll give you whatever you want. I’m being eaten alive by bugs as it is. Damn outdoor shower.”
“Whatever I want. Those are loaded words. I’d be very careful what you’re offering a man like me.”
If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under. I continued to laugh as I whistled, the sound something I knew the pigs didn’t like. While it took the ole boy a few minutes to rally himself up, the pig finally trotted off into the trees.
Willow gasped then reached for the towel that I’d already grabbed from the hook. Once again, she was on her toes, peering over the edge of the stall, her face pinched. “If you think this is funny, you are sorely mistaken.”
“I absolutely think it’s funny. Since we made a deal…”
She narrowed her eyes, muttering under her breath. Then she opened the door, storming out of the stall, slipping almost immediately on the mud created from the lengthy stream of water. She went down with a hard thud. “You son of a bitch! You did that on purpose. I know you did. I’m going to kick your ass.”
There’d been very few times in recent years that the toll of what I’d gone through, the hatred I’d built into walls surrounding me and the violent anger had ceased to exist even for a few precious seconds. It was at that moment that I realized the ugly emotions had faded away, pieces of cold steel peeled back, allowing me to experience the man I’d been before the war. Before the violence and bloodshed. Before the death and carnage.
