Cyrus: Swamp Heads (2 page)

His voice is close to my ear, breath hot against my skin. “We have something to settle.”

Okay, now I do turn. Hoping this time, he will go for the only option there is. “I’ll give you half when I have time to get to the bank and I’ll hunt down my brother, Wilbur, and get you the rest of the money. Just give me your number and I will contact you when I can give you the full amount. Then you can go
find a place that’s a better fit for someone like you.
Far away from us, because I don’t believe the ‘born a few miles from here’ for one freakin’ second.”

A huge truck comes down the road and stops next to his car. A guy gets out. “We’ve got a delivery for a Mr. Hayes.”

Before Mr. Annoying can answer, I take the liberty to do so. “There’s been a mix-up, that shit needs to go somewhere far away from here.”

“My woman here is a little pissed with me right now. You know how they are… sweet one moment, and fighting ya the next. So you can go right ahead and put my stuff in there.”

What the ever-loving-duck? “Are you out of your freakin’…”

Dammit. My phone rings and that’s a paying customer so I need to get that. Digging the damn thing out of my cutoffs, I swipe my finger and answer before checking to see who it is.

“Bertie’s Snap and Wrap.” I wait for the client to speak but instead I hear nothing. I pull my phone away from my ear and look at the screen. Wilbur’s name is displayed.

Pressing the phone back to my ear and at the same time plugging the other so I can focus on the phone. “Where are you,
connard?
Get your ugly butt here so I can put you in the cage with Nana... Hey! Do you hear me? Home. Now, goddammit.”

There’s some rustling and then a groan. “You gotta come get me BJ, please.” My brother’s voice sounds off.

Some of my anger dissipates and a huge rock settles in my stomach. “Come get you? What did you do?” I half whisper and brace myself.

“I messed up, I… it wasn’t supposed to go like this… I wanted to do something, to help you out. You’ve been working so hard and with your company almost…”

My voice turns into a shout as I repeat myself, “What. Did. You. Do?”

“Sold Pa’s place, gambled it all away and might have a debt on top of it.
Ju
st come get me, please. I’ll try to explain later,
please BJ
.” The words are rushed out in one breath.

The world stops. My hands fall to my side while my eyes find the sky. I am surrounded by idiots. The male species are messed up in the head and they solely walk this earth to duck with the female mind. Well, maybe not just with the mind, but how would I know since I’m still a freakin’ virgin. Hence the surrounded by idiot’s statement.

I feel a hand gently prying the phone out of my hand. Tilting my head away from the sky, I see the idiot that owns my Pa’s house is holding my phone to his ear.

“Where are you?” He demands. “None of your effin business. Now, if you want your sister and me to come get you, then you damn well better spit out an address…. Come again? No, I know where the hell that is. I meant… Never-effin-mind. Stay put.”

The guy holds out my phone for me to take. “Hop in the car, we’re going for a ride.”

“Where the hell is he?” Dammit. Even I can hear the defeat in my voice. I grab my phone out of his hand and shove it into my front pocket.

The guy doesn’t answer me; instead he walks toward his car while he talks to the other guys.

“You, get my stuff inside the house. Chester, are you stayin’ here or do you need a lift back to Pa’s house?”

Chester seems to think about it first before he says, “Nah, man. I’m good. I’m going for a walk anyway. Bertie.” He gives me a soft smile before he walks off but comes to a stop a moment later. Looking back at, what I assume is his brother, he tells him, “Glad to have you back, Cyrus. Really missed your ass,
connard
.” He lifts his chin and doesn’t even wait for a reply before he walks off, disappearing into all the trees.

“Come on, we got a lot of ground to cover.” The irritating man, who his brother called Cyrus, still thinks he’s coming with me to get my brother.

“Tell me where the freakin’ duck my brother is, so I can go get him.”

He opens his car door and just gets in. Effin
connard
. I have no other choice but to open the passenger door.

Leaning in, I try one final time. “Please, just tell me where he is. There’s no reason why you should bother yourself with my shit. Tell me so I can grab my truck and go get him myself and get out of your beard.”

“What?” He shakes his head, I’m sure it’s to shake off the image of my cleavage in full freakin’ display. Me leaning over like this is probably not a good idea. Well, shit.

“Address Peckerhead. I need it. Now.” Yes, that’s a snap. Because I tried it nice a moment ago and he decided my boobs were more important.

“It’s Bumfuck Egypt, okay. I’ll explain later. All you need to know is that it’s a two-day drive to get to him. Just get in and stop wasting time.” He sighs and starts the car.

Dumbstruck and defeated, I drop into the passenger seat. I have no choice. My blasted brother sold the house to this idiot and I don’t have the money to buy the house back. Hell, I don’t even have the money to…
Dagnammit.
Let alone have money to gas up my truck and get the freaking fool. Cyrus leans over and closes the car door before he grabs my seatbelt. Flashing out of my sulking moment, I grab the seatbelt from his hand and shove him back.

“I can take care of that myself. Just drive, okay. Oh and we stop at my place first so I can pick up a few things.” Putting my hands on my lap, I turn to look out the side window, deliberately ignoring his ass.

“No need, we’ll pick up stuff on the road if we need it.” He puts the car in reverse, twists to grab the back of my seat and look over his shoulder to back up the car.

Turning his attention back in front of him, he stops and flips on the radio. Risking a full glance sideways, I see him place his hands on the steering wheel. Locking eyes with me, he pops a question, “Where did the fire go,
Ma Poupée
? What did your brother say to you?”

I might as well throw it out there since he’ll know soon enough. “The blasted idiot gambled everything away and may have a debt on top of it. Now, will you please just drive so I can go kill my brother?”

He just nods and drives off. Thankful he doesn’t gloat or asks another question, I fix my gaze out the side window and I let my mind travel along the freakin’ hell of a mess.

When I notice we’re getting near my house, I point to the left. “Take that turn right there.”

Instead of taking my directions, he ignores me and drives on.

“Did you not hear me? You need to turn; I have to pack an overnight bag and arrange a few things before we can leave.”

He shakes his head. “No need, we can pick up shit along the way. You got a phone on ya, so you can call someone to arrange the shit you mentioned. Or grab my phone and make the call.”

Oh, I’ll take his phone alright. Roll down the window and throw that darn thing out. I glare as I hold out my hand. “Gimme your phone then.”

He eyes me a few seconds before he focuses back on the road. “Yeah, maybe not right now.”

What the actual duck? I’m sure my face is projecting my thoughts.

“You can have it later when we get to a hotel. Your eyes twinkled and they always do that before you do something unexpected.” He even dares to chuckle.

He speaks as if the Peckerhead has known me for years.
My eyes twinkle
. Riiiiiight. They need to shoot fire so I can fry his ass. Grabbing my phone out of my jeans I take a deep breath before I make the call. It rings four times before he answers.

“Hey, Coot. Listen up, that asshole of a brother of mine called me and I need to go pick him up. The idiot is apparently at least a two-day ride away… Yeah, I know… No, that’s okay… I will... Nah, four days, five tops… You sure? You can always ask Chester… Thanks. Oh and Coot? Leave Nana alone. I’ll handle her when I get back, I’ve fed her yesterday so she’s good for a few days… Ha! Yeah, I’ll try… Okay, thanks, love. I owe ya.”

Dragging the phone from my ear, I keep it in my hand and stare at the screen. Coot is a good guy. I’ve known him for years now and the guy always has my back.

“Who the effin hell is Coot? And Chester? Do you mean my brother, or what?” He practically snaps at me like a gator.

Turning in my seat, I study the idiot. Full beard, nicely trimmed though…bright green eyes… wait, is that a tattoo peeking from underneath that suit?

“Well?”

That tiny bark of a word brings me out of my staring.

“Okay, listen up, you rude idiot. Since we’re stuck together for the time it will take to get my brother, we’re gonna have to make somewhat of a truce, okay?”

The idiot turns his head and I just know he’s gonna interrupt me so I hold up my finger.

“Oh, no you don’t. Listen first and then… you get your chance.” I wait for his sharp nod before I continue.

“Alright. The main reason I’m in this car right now is not just because you offered, but because I trust Chester. Yes, I’ve known him for years now. He works for me every now and then or just comes by to help out or watch the store for me. Or help out with the gators.”

His head whips to me and the swift movement makes me look a little closer at him. Concern and disbelief. Slight panic. I’m pretty sure he didn’t know his brother works with gators. Whoops.  Sorry Chester.

“Relax, he never does dangerous things. I won’t let anyone of my team do the stuff I do.” If my voice could roll like I’d like to roll my eyes right now, I’d be happy to do so. Freakin’ idiot of a man.

“Why in the effin hell do you do it then?” The car fills with that gator snapping timber voice of his.

“Because it’s my company, you idiot. I need to make money, trying to keep it afloat since… you know what? Never freaking mind. It’s my line of business. It’s just the risk of running a gator farm. My life, my choices, my effin business.”

I cross my arms and legs, I’m freakin’ done with this guy. I ain’t sayin’ one darn word more this whole freakin’ trip. Who the hell does he think he is?

Mile after mile without a word. He suddenly flips on the blinker and heads for a gas station. Without one word, he gets out, walks around to the passenger side and fills up the car. After he’s done, he steps up and opens my door.

“Can I get you anything?” His voice is neutral but my anger is still very much alive. So my lips stay shut.

He takes a deep breath, closes the door and walks off. I take this opportunity to make the call I’ve been dreading for the last few days now. Grabbing my phone, I look up the number and dial. The money hungry wolf picks up after the second ring.

“Mr. Danssel speaking, how may I be of service?” His slick voice drips with honey laced cyanide.

“Well you can start with keeping your word and sticking to your contract.” Dammit, I wanted to start this conversation the normal, polite way. But this idiot always rubs me the wrong way.

“Ahhh, Miss Waymonds. I’ve been expecting your call. When will we receive payment so we can start up again?” His voice has a hint of humor. That right there is what I’ve mentioned earlier. Rubbing and wrong way.

“You could have finished by now and gotten the other half if you did business like normal people.”

The car door opens. Shit. I can’t step out so all I can do is ignore the idiot that slides into the car and continue with the other idiot on the phone.

“This is your final warning. Stick to the contract and finish the job you were paid to do.” I all but growl into the phone.

The moron ‘tsks, tsks’ me. “Now, now. If you signed the new contract, we could be finished within the six-month time frame we mentioned.”

That’s it. I’ve had it. “Asshole. If you hadn’t torn up the first contract and demanded I signed the second, the job would be finished by now. I may look ugly but that doesn’t mean I was born on the stupid tree and fell down you freakin’ idiot. The contract still stands so you better ducking well live up to that shit or I’ll take you to court.”

The freakin’ fool laughs.
Laughs
. “You’ll do no such thing. Besides, you barely had enough to pay me for the job we first agreed to. If you lawyer up, you won’t have enough money to pay the rest of the first contract so you have no other choice. Sign the new contract.”

“You watch me
connard
.” Pulling the phone from my ear, I end the call.

Connard
is right. I have no more money. I barely had enough for the first contract for expansion. An investment.  It was supposed to be better for the audience, the animals and the shop. And he freakin’ well knew it too. That’s why he tore up the contract. He wants to partner up so he can get a slice of the cash every damn month.

I almost hit my head on the roof jumping up when I feel a hand on my thigh.

“Easy… I asked if you were okay two times already. What the hell was that phone call about that has you stuck in your head?”

I take a few breaths to steady my heart rate. “Business. My business. Never mind, okay.” Crap. I hate to sound so defeated. I feel lost and out of options. A freakin’ shit pile of a mess; personal and business.

“Look at me.”

My head turns automatically. The demand in his voice makes my body obey.

“Good,
Ma Poupée.
Now, I’m gonna hand you a fresh cup of coffee and you’re gonna take your time to drink that sucker. Then you’ll tell me about your business.”

I’m about to fight him; to let him know to mind his own business when he narrows his eyes and turns his head fully in my direction. He makes eye contact as if he’s ready for my fight. So I just swallow my words and accept the coffee.

***Cyrus***

One can only hope she’ll take my orders, like she did just now, when I have her naked in my bed. I scrub a hand down my face to shake off the visual of having her naked in front of me. Her sweet voice makes me turn my head back toward her.

“I run a gator farm. It’s a great tourist attraction and with what little money I had saved I was going to invest in new habitats and ‘Up Close Experience’ for the kids. You know… see everything there is to see but in a safe way, ya know?”

Her face lights up like the rays of sun streaming down between the trees. Clearly she loves what she does and her face radiates her love for her company, the visitors and the animals.

“Installing a glass wall to slice the pond so they can see how the gators swim and move. Also a huge playground, and that’s where it went wrong…” She takes a deep breath and another sip of her coffee before she continues, “I had a contractor who made me a good offer. I paid him half up front and they started with construction on the habitats. Then the guy wanted to offer another idea for the playground, so I told him; show me and I’ll have a look, but I’m not making promises.”

She waves a hand in front of her. “Could you just drive and I’ll continue. You staring at me makes me uncomfortable, Mudfoot.”

Shaking my head, I start the car without a word so we can continue our journey and she can finish telling me her story.

“It was actually your brother who overheard Danssel. He was explaining to his partner how he was going to trick me into partnering up so he’d have a money cow. Do nothing and have a steady flow of income every month since business is picking up and with the new additions, let’s just say even you would want a hand in this. Anyway…the fucker doesn’t know I’m doing this for the gators and for the people, to teach them, to give something back to both animal and human.” She sighs deeply, letting all the hurt and frustration pour out. “I’m so sick of this shit. Anyway… I told him the second I found out what he was planning to get the job done how we agreed, but he told me I agreed on the change and needed to sign the new contract. He stopped work that day and it’s been two months of getting nowhere.” She stares at her hands holding on to the coffee cup, not saying another word.

So I try to nudge her with a question. “And the reason you’re not lawyering up?”

Her head whips to me. “Because I don’t have the money. I had enough for the investment, I paid half of it up front. So if I lawyer up…”