Lyon
Chapter 159

“Todd what’re you doing? My dad would kill us if he caught us out here alone.” She looked around as if expecting him to appear out of the darkness. She’s so pretty under the moonlight it hurts.

The feelings I have inside for her scare me. I don’t know if I can make it without her. I’ve been fighting with my parents to find a way for me to stay, had explained to them that even the thought of leaving her makes me feel like my life was ending.

They were more understanding than I thought they would be. My dad is always so caught up in his work I never thought he had any time to notice what was going on around him, and mom, well she’s mom. She thinks every little thing will hurt me, just like when I was five.

We’d had a long talk the three of us about my relationship with Caitlin, my Caitlin. If only her dad was half as understanding then I wouldn’t have this knot in my gut. If anyone else comes near her while I’m gone I’ll end them. But for now I have to make sure she’s okay, she’s been having as hard a time with this as I have.

“Caitie, I know what your dad thinks, I know what a lot of people think, but I’m never gonna make you do anything you don’t wanna. You see this.” I lifted my shirt and showed her the surprise I had waiting, one of her Xmas gifts, her name tattooed across my heart.

“Todd, oh my gosh did it hurt?” She ran her finger gently over the letters; under the concern I sensed the pride. “No it didn’t hurt, whatever I felt it was worth it, to have you with me all the time. This means that I’ll wait for you no matter what.”

“You’re too young, we’re both too young; I know that. For now I just wanna spend as much time with you as I can, just to look at your face. Because seeing your face is like every Xmas and birthday I’ve ever had rolled into one. And one day, when the time is right we’ll have our forever. Don’t cry, you know I hate it when you cry come ‘ere.”

I pulled her into my chest just as I saw the shadow disappear behind the door leading outside. One guess as to who that was, but I was still breathing so maybe he’d heard enough to know. That didn’t stop my guts from tightening in fear though. Mr. Lyon is one scary guy. I wonder how he’d feel if he knew I wanted to be just like him when I grow up.

***

LYON

MONTHS LATER

***

It’s been almost a month since Xmas and I still hadn’t gone to the desert. I gave my word that I would let those boys work their shit, but each day was getting harder and harder. Mancini had been in touch since that first meet and from his smarmy comments I gathered he was working behind the scenes but the fucker was still keeping us in the dark. No one had made a move on my family thus far so I was giving these military f**k types the benefit of the doubt. How long that would last was up for grabs.

“Hi honey guess what?” She was pretty chipper when I got home that evening as she flitted around the kitchen finishing up dinner. I eyed her a*s because the only time she gets like this is when she and her posse get up to some shit that I’m not gonna like.

“What did you and my pain in the a*s mother do now?”

“Nothing, Todd’s back isn’t that great? His parents are here to tie up some loose ends for the weekend. I almost said thank heavens the f**k was back until I saw what was sitting in my living room what the f**k? Where did they take him a farm where they overfeed kids or some f**k. “Who the f**k is that?”

“That’s Todd doesn’t he look great? Caitie is so excited.” She was smiling and clapping her hands and shit like this was a good thing.

“That is no kid in there that’s a grown f*****g man. The f*****g kid looks too grown, I don’t want him around my daughter.” I think I’m gonna have a heart attack.

“Colton you’re being unreasonable now, you need to calm down and think rationally. Do you really want to hurt Caitlin? He’s only home for a few days let them have their time.”

Why is she always f*****g with me? “Where the f**k is the pothead with the pipe? You see that, are you happy now? Look what you’ve turned me into, you and your damn kids.”

“Oh so now they’re mine?”

“Daddy you’re shouting again, that can’t be good for” The little one came out of nowhere with her shit.

“Mengele take your a*s in the basement and blow some shit up.” F**k, the little shit’s eyes lit up as she turned to head that way. “Come back here you.” F*****g criminal in the making. I gave her mother the stink eye because this was all her damn fault. Daughters and shit, I warned her this fuckery was gonna happen.

***

“I don’t know what the f**k’s wrong with her, but she’s gonna tell me tonight or somebody’s getting an a*s whipping.” I don’t know if it’s the stuff I’m dealing with, the fact that I haven’t been able to share it with her, but some f**k was going on.

“Colt, you know you can’t handle everything with anger right?”

“The f**k are you on? I just told you Kat’s been moping around the house for the past two days, even the kids can’t get a rise outta her and you tell me f**k all? How else am I supposed to get her a*s back on track?”

My wife and kids are on a mission to make me f*****g crazy. The boys aren’t so bad; it’s the f*****g females in my house that are all about to get a boot in the a*s starting with their mother. My Caitie Bear has some kid sitting on my couch every evening like he lives there or some f**k and the little one is trying her best to land in the pen before she reach ten with her criminal mind a*s, and now this fuckery.

“You ever stop to think she might be depressed?” I looked at him like he was out his f*****g mind.

“What the f**k? What does she have to be depressed about? The only thing I don’t do for my wife is breathe you f**k, and as much time as I spend watching her sleep I might as well be doing that shit too.”

Jared held up his hands and grinned at me. “You think you’re ever gonna be rational where she’s concerned? It’s been what, fifteen, sixteen years, and you’re still hotheaded as f**k when it comes to her.”

“I don’t see what the f**k that has to do with her moping shit.” He rolled his eyes at me, the f**k.

“It doesn’t, it has to do with you thinking you can fight all her battles for her.” I’m about to knock him the f**k out friend or no friend. “Who the f**k is supposed to do it? And why the f**k do you think my wife is depressed?”

“Colton, do you not remember the reason she moved here in the first place?”

What the f**k? “Yeah, she came here to find me.” The rest of that business does not bare thinking about. “F**k.”

“Where’re you going?”

“Home to my wife you dumb f**k where do you think?” I did not appreciate his laughter; I’ll deal with his shit tomorrow. F*****g depression and shit, if that’s what’s bothering her I’ll go into the f*****g desert and find the coyotes that ate that f**k and kill his a*s again, the f**k.

“Elena, you at my house?” Like she’d be anywhere else in the middle of the damn afternoon with her nosy a*s.

“Hello son, nice to hear you too.”

“Listen old lady, don’t give me any shit I need a favor.”

“What son? Anything.”

“I need you to take the kids and bounce.” The little f***s were home for some a*****e’s birthday or some f**k. No wonder my wife was losing her damn mind, f*****g Catalina alone would send a priest to the f*****g psych ward with her shit.

“Catalina too?” See what I mean? Still.

“You got a problem with my kid?”

“Uh no but do you know what she gets up to with your father?”

“As long as he’s not sharing the pipe I don’t give a fu”

“Colton Lyon you watch your mouth.”

“Makidsoutnow.”

“Oh alright, but I think something’s wrong with Kat.” Her voice had gone soft there at the end.

“Yeah I know, I’m gonna take care of it.” F**k if I can’t.