Book 0.5 by S. P. Macomber (cat reading book .txt) 📖

I circled from the back, tapping on the glass to signal them, before grasping the driver's door handle, opening the door and, hopping back in.

"So?" Heath asked.

"It's all clear. We're good to go."

Turning around, I face Max and Axel, who both look back at me awaiting orders. "You two stay in the truck, Heath and I will get rid of the old man." I saw them both about to protest, but before they could, I held up my hand, immediately silencing them both. "No arguments."

Turning back to Heath, I tap him on his shoulder and jerk my head in the direction outside. Nodding, Heath jumps out from the Hummer, heading for the trunk. Just as I met him in the back, he had the trunk opened. We both reach in and took one part of the body after Heath gatherers up Frank's backpack.

Carrying him far enough into the tree line, and away from the trail. We walk far enough in where his body wouldn't accidentally be run over should a passerby not see him if he's still unconscious after we leave. I hit him too hard I realized he's been unconscious for a while. Well, I guess as long as he was still breathing, we would be good. After all, Frank was too much of a stubborn jackass to die.

Finding a perfect area, I stopped," This is good enough. Let's dump him here" I announced.

We simultaneously throw, dumping his body onto the ground along with his backpack. Wiping my hands onto my pants, I try to get the disgusting odor radiating from his body off of me. I jerk my head to the ropes, "take them off so this fucker can at least walk his merry ass somewhere far away." Heath bends down, pulling out a knife from his boot; he cuts apart the rope from Frank's hands and feet before rolling them up and tucking them in his hoodie.

"What about the tape on his mouth?"

Shaking my head in denial, "leave it. He can figure it out. He's lucky we don't leave him bound out here for the animals to get to."

Nodding, he closes his knife, placing it back in his boot before standing back up. We both stood staring at Frank's still form. We didn't talk, just listened to the sounds of the forest and our inner thoughts. Shaking my head in annoyance, I turn away from his motionless form before wrapping my arm around Heath's shoulder, turning him away as well. Frank didn't deserve a second thought. He was just the trash that needed taking out. I gently push Heath back in the direction of the vehicle. "Go back to the Hummer, I'll be there in a moment."

He turns back to send a confused look my way but doesn't question me further, instead heads into the tree line, away from my sight.

Letting out an exhausted breath, I reach into my jeans pocket, pulling out a couple of bills. I was reluctant to give any money to this prick, but I needed to. If only to keep him away from my brothers for another couple of months. Shaking my head, I bent over, shoving the bills into Frank's pants pocket. I stood up and without a second glance at him, I turned my back and made my way to the Hummer. On the walk back, I could finally have a few quiet moments to think about how our life was such a fucking mess. Why the fuck did these two miserable people give birth to four children when they both could barely take care of themselves? Why the fuck was I left with all the responsibility when I just a kid myself? Why couldn't we just be normal? These were the usual questions that ran through my mind when I was finally left with some quiet, but who was I kidding. There was no sense in asking why this was the life we were dealt and now we needed to make the best of it.

Which was all I ever tried to do.

Finally making my way out of the tree line, I found Heath waiting for me. Chuckling in amusement at how predictable he was, I make my way over to him. "I thought I told you to go back to the Hummer?"

Sending a sly smirk my way, he places his hands on his ears, rubbing them. "I must be going deaf with my old age."

"Hah! Old my ass, more like just playing deaf as usual."

Shrugging innocently, he stuffs his hands in his hoodie pockets. "I have no idea what you're talking about." 

"Yeah yeah," placing my arm around his shoulder, I lead him to the Hummer sitting a foot away. There was no point in lingering.

"Did he wake up?" Heath asked following along.

"No, but we won't have to see him for a while." I tightened my hand on his shoulder when I felt it tense. I could feel his eyes drilling into the side of my head as we continued walking.

"Tell me you didn't."

"I did."

Shaking his head in disbelief, I watched as he slaps his head in exasperation. "Why?! That asshole doesn't deserve anything from you!"

Letting go of his shoulder, I turn to face him, narrowing my eyes. "First," I lift my pointer finger "control your tone with me, and second, I did what had to be done. It's that simple. If money will keep him away for a while, then the money is what he'll get."

Sending an apologetic look my way, he rubs his forehead as if trying to rid himself of a headache. "I know, okay. I know, but it makes me so god damn angry," he growled out.

Understanding his frustration, I slap his back. "I know, brother, but I will always do what needs to be done to protect you guys," Shrugging, I push him along to get us moving, "plus it's just cash, I can always earn it back."

He snorted. "Yeah, right, because the money just grows on trees," he sarcastically replied.

Rolling my eyes in amusement at my brother's dramatics, I reach my side of the Hummer before looking his way. "Just shut up and get in." Opening the driver's door, I jump in without waiting for Heath's response. I could see from the window as he stood by my door for a few seconds in disbelief before walking around the front to the passenger side of the car, grumbling to himself. Chuckling quietly, I turn back to see Axel and Max both leaning forward, wearing curious expressions. Heath jumped in, still quietly grumbling.

"You guys all good?" Max asked, looking between Heath and me.

"Fine!" Heath snapped, staring straight ahead.

Sending an annoyed glance his way, I turn back to Max, giving him an appreciative smile. "We're okay." He smiles back before leaning back in his seat and buckling himself in, but of course, Axel, not reading the mood, wouldn't let it go. "So what were you guys arguing about? Looked pretty heated from here." Heath turns back around to face the backseat, giving him his attention.

"You really want to know?"

Axel leans forward in eagerness, grinning in anticipation. "Of course! You know, I live for drama."

"Okay," Heath shrugs, sending a snarky grin his way, "you said it. Well, Ian and I were discussing leaving you here with the old man, you know since you don't know when to mind your own business and all."

Axel's face switched from surprise to disbelief while we all awaited his response. Uncontrollable laughter spilled from his mouth as he bent down, hugging his stomach, all the while wiping the tears falling from his eyes. "Yeah right! Get rid of me? You wouldn't be able to survive without me! I'm the light of your lives."

Heath couldn't hold onto his anger when it came to Axel. I could see him trying to hold back a smile but was unsuccessful and joined in on the laughter. Reaching back, he pushes Axel back into his seat in good jester. "Shut up! You idiot." Shaking his head in amusement, he turns his attention to Max, who had been joining in on the fun.

"Hey man, I'm sorry."

Max nods his head in understanding. He knew Heath could be a hot head at times. "It's all good."

Heath sends a grateful smile his way before returning to his forward seating. "So.. what now?"

I don't' bother answering, instead I start up the Hummer.

"First things first, we're getting out of here," Turning the headlights on, I make a U-turn, following the trail back out onto the main road. Making sure to double-check that no one had seen us dumping our father in the woods. Feeling confident that we were in the clear, I looked in the review mirror at my knucklehead brothers. "Were clear." Axel sends me a sly grin through the mirror. "Does that mean we can finally go to that party I wanted to crash since we are daddy-free?"

Heath scoffs, shaking his head in amusement.

Turning around to face Axel, he points in his direction "don't even act like you weren't going to go without us," Heath, calls him out on his bullshit, making Max laugh.

Axel dramatically places his hand over his heart "What?! Me? Never!" Heath and Max double over, laughing. "You are full of shit," I utter taking a quick look back at him.

Axel sends a wink my way, "does that mean yes?"

Max finally stops laughing long enough to ask Axel a question "is this some rich kids party from the other side of town?"

Axel shrugs, sending him a smirk "is there any other kind to crash? The rich girls are usually the freakiest and you know I love me some freaky." Heath's face quickly turns red from laughing too hard. He looks across at me after he calms down, tapping me on the shoulder. "Come on bro, let's go. I think we all need some fun after the night we had." I, nod in agreement.

"Whoop! Here I come, you freaky pussies," Axel shouts from the back seat in excitement, grabbing Max around the neck, rubbing his enthusiasm off, making him crack up. I grin at their behavior, glad to take them somewhere to let loose and get their mind off of Frank. "First, we need to make a pit stop," I state.

All three turn my way, curiously. "Where?" They questioned all at once.

"The Den." 

4

Driving up to the moderately-sized building that was hidden by overgrown weeds and trees, I drive to the back, taking the Hummer to a secret entrance we had created way back when. The entrance was covered by a curtain of vines we had roped together to hide the small underground garage. Driving through the vines slide over my vehicle, allowing access to the dimly lit garage. It wasn't anything special to look at, but it was our home away from home. There were six parking stalls and four of the six were already occupied.

Not many people knew of this building. I had stumbled upon it one day when I had been out driving around taking a breather. I had seen the potential in it then, even if no one else had. Roping my brothers and our close-knit group of friends together, we had made it into what it was today. An escape. A place to