Recluse Protection

Chapter 45

The pain was numbed by the cold waters of the river, softening the blow of knowledge. I stare at the bonfire that's been burning hot for eight hours now, the embers glow red hot as the flames give in to the lack of wooden fuel. The heat that emits dries my skin and hair, the stench having drifted in the wind, having watched it burn from afar, left me nearly untainted. Physically anyway... The heat sears my skin as if trying to punish me more.

I thought taking care of Cueball would stop the hurt, would make it better. It didn't, I'm just left with three holes in my chest, three large and barren holes. Not a damn thing to fill them with either... The peace of the land I craved doesn't heal me as much as I hoped it would, it doesn't even soothe my nerves anymore. Why did it hurt so much to kill that scumbag? My phone dings the tone normally would've made me bear arms, arm myself to the teeth and nail them. I can't be bothered... I have nothing left to defend.

I feel numb as I hear the bike engine, the sound so distinct and familiar. Can't Cobra just leave me alone to lick my wounds... The thought of talking to someone right now made me want to growl and snarl at them like an injured animal. How proper of me... I spare a glance over my shoulder seeing Cobra shut his bike off and stare at the fire, his eyes slow to meet mine. I'm met with pain, raw pain; he doesn't bother to hide the hurt from me as he dismounts. He didn't talk as he moved to stand beside me, staring at the fire.

I watched him for a moment before turning to look over the land, the hidden and overgrown property that used to be my pride and joy, used to be my world, my haven. The lush greenery having taken over the lands easily, the trails I spent hours cutting and trimming nearly eaten alive with the thick brush. "It's done." Cobra murmured stoically, not asking just stating the fact, making me look towards the embers.

"Yeah... Yeah, it's done." Silence meets me, moments turn to minutes as he absorbs the information.

"What did he have to say?" It's my turn to fall silent, to with hold my words, trying to find the right thing to say. To make it hurt less for him.

"It was a set up... One in the making for years." I feel him turn to stare at me, his eyes drilling holes into my skull.

"Why? Why was this started?" I swallow hard as I stare at the remaining embers, the red hot coals slowly turn white and ashy.

"Because I'm a winner." I shake my head slowly hearing the pause from Cobra.

"What? The hell are you talking about Casey?" I turn seeing him burning holes into me, his eyes burning deeply. "What the hell does that mean?" My eyes search his for a moment.

"Cueball has been hooked on drugs for years, Forger helped him get clean when he first joined... Bear didn't allow drugs or anything of that nature... Welder knew, approached him a year after I was rescued, this was a ploy to drag Cueball down the rabbit hole... to get to me." Cobra's brows furrowed and he shook his head.

"He was just saying that." I shake my head and cross my arms stiffly as I turn away to the fire.

"Why are you out here Cobra? It's done, you should be at the club, mending it." I don't need someone stalking me.

"The club isn't the only thing that needs mending." He said softly, the soft, caring tone makes me want to do something I hate doing. Cry.

"Cobra, I said I'd fix it, I'd clean house I did, now just leave." I grunt as I push from my car, moving towards the buckets of water I had retrieved.

"Casey, you really think I'm just going to let you walk away?" I shake my head, wanting to be alone, to be left to my misery. Just leave me alone... I'm not worth it. Dumping the water over the embers it sizzles, smoking wildly.