Chapter Eighteen
Snake awoke to a bright sunny room and an empty bed. The clock on Amanda’s nightstand alerted him to the fact that she was long gone. She’d been due at work over an hour ago.
Amanda’s bedroom was a perfect expression of who she was. Neat, full of light, and decorated with a simple but tasteful style of yellow and gray accents. With a sigh, Snake sat up and rubbed his protesting thigh. The leg—actually his whole body—had gotten quite a workout last night followed by the best night’s sleep he’d had in years.
Shit. As amazing as it had been, the night had been a mistake. Snake did not sleep with women. He fucked them and sent them packing. But it wasn’t Snake in the bed last night. It was Nick. Nick who actually felt something for a woman. Nick who loved the feeling of Amanda’s small body cuddled up against him as she slept. Nick who was experiencing all kinds of emotions Snake had locked down years ago.
Not smart. In the light of day, Snake, with his cold heart and violent, vengeful needs, came slithering back to the surface. Rather than try to deal with what happened the night before, he fell back on what he knew. Rather than focus on why the hell he wasn’t moving forward with his plans to ruin Casper, he turned his attention to a problem he could eliminate that day.
Finding out John Michaels’ schedule and address was so easy, it was laughable. Snake called the hospital early in the morning, playing the part of a patient’s family member and had a few questions for the good doctor. He asked how late the doc would be at the hospital so he could catch him for a chat. They were going to have a chat all right.
A bubbly receptionist was more than happy to let Snake know the doc had worked the night shift and would probably be leaving by noon. From there it was simply a matter of finding out where the guy lived.
Snake’s leg was sore as shit from both the fighting and the fucking. He’d never be able to hold his own if it came down to another physical altercation. But this time he was prepared. The Glock tucked in the small of his back provided a measure of confidence, as did the K-bar tucked in his boot. Even in a small town he knew nothing about, it’d been easy enough to find someone to purchase weapons from.
He pulled into the employee parking lot of the hospital and located the cherry red car Dr. Michaels had driven to Amanda’s yesterday. Snake parked in a spot far from the doc’s car, but with a view of both the exit and the vehicle. He wouldn’t be there long enough for anyone to notice he didn’t have a parking tag indicating he worked at the hospital.
He was in his element. This was a world he knew. The world of scumbags and assholes. He may be one himself, but he also had experience ridding the world of those even worse than he. And he’d take pleasure in fucking with the doctor today. Both for himself and for Amanda.
Snake grabbed the metal hanger he’d stashed in his saddlebag and moseyed on over to the beautifully restored nineteen seventy-one Pontiac GTO. Being the middle of the morning on a workday, the employee parking lot was devoid of people, which made Snake’s job a breeze.
With a confidence born of experience, he stretched out the hanger and bent one end into a J-shaped hook. Once he peeled back the rubber weather strip lining the bottom of the window, the hanger slid easily into the car. A few seconds of searching and he hooked onto the locking mechanism. With a quick upwards jerk, the car was unlocked. Simple.
Snake glanced around the still barren parking lot then entered the car. A quick peek at Michaels’ car registration and he had the address. Time to pay the doc a visit.
Just as Snake was about to ride off, John Michaels stepped through the double doors and strode toward his car with the confident swagger every asshole possessed. Unaware he was being watched, he climbed into his vehicle and sped out of the lot.
Perfect timing. Snake peeled out after him and tailed the clueless doctor home. In ten minutes, Michaels turned into the lot of a ritzy apartment complex, or at least as ritzy as it got in this town. The doc probably made good bank, and cost of living in the area was pretty low. Not a bad place to be if you had some cash. A person could live pretty damn well.
After Michaels disappeared into the three story building, Snake waited five minutes then made his way to the entrance. Security on the building was nonexistent, and he was able to waltz right in without having to pick a lock or be buzzed in. What would it be like to live a life where he felt that safe and secure in his home?
By the time he’d climbed three flights of stairs, his thigh was screaming. It seemed to be the way of life now so he ignored the pain as best he could. What was important was walking as normally as possible. He didn’t want Michaels to see or sense any point of weakness.
Surprise, surprise, apartment three-o-six was unlocked. Snake twisted the knob and opened the door without making a sound. The sound of running water greeted him as he slipped in the apartment. A thrill zinged through him as he imagined the moment Michaels discovered he wasn’t alone in his home.
Snake wandered through the stylish luxury apartment until he located the master bedroom. The door to the connected bathroom lay open and steam filtered into the bedroom from the running shower.
With a smile of anticipation, Snake settled himself against the doctor’s headboard and hefted his booted feet up onto the white comforter. Damn, that was pretty comfortable on his sore leg. He drew his Glock from the waistband of his pants and rested it next to him on the bed.
Two minutes later, the water cut off and the shower door slammed shut. Michaels strode out of the bathroom, buck-ass naked, rubbing his damp hair with a towel. His nose was swollen and dark purple bruises rested under each eye from the shot Snake got in yesterday. Must have been fun to explain that away at work.
He saw Snake, and his steps faltered.
“Holy fucking shit!” he yelled as he stumbled backward and dropped the towel to dick-level. “What the fuck are you doing in my house? Are you psychotic?”
Snake picked up his gun and held it in his lap. “There’s a good chance I am, but that has nothing to do with why I’m here.”
Michaels smirked. “That bitch got her hooks in you, didn’t she?”
Pretty damned cocky for a naked man with a gun trained on him.
Snake said nothing and Michaels’ grin grew bigger. “Pretty top rate pussy, huh? But come on, man, you have to admit she’s quite a bitch. You really going to let her twist you up this way?” He waved the hand not holding the towel at Snake. “You realize you’re risking jail time for her by being here, right? Breaking and entering, threatening me with a weapon. That’s some hard time, man. Who the hell are the cops going to believe? A respected physician or some thug who had his ass beat and should have died? How about this, you just get up, walk on out of here and we’ll call it even. Then we can both try to forget about that bitch, huh?”
Snake had remained quiet and allowed Michaels to blabber on, but it was his turn to smirk. Michaels was small time. An asshole. A little boy who couldn’t deal with a woman rejecting him. Snake played for the majors. “Can’t recall that I’ve said or done anything to threaten you since I’ve been here.”
Michaels scoffed. “Uh, you’ve got a gun pointed at me, man.”
“Hmm,” Snake said as he glanced at his lap. “Looks to me like the gun is just resting there. It was uncomfortable against my back while I was lounging. But if you’re going to play it that way, I might as well live up to the accusation.” He rose from the bed, schooling his features so he didn’t wince at the pain in his thigh, and trained the gun on Michaels.
Any cockiness that had been there disappeared along with the color in the doctor’s face, leaving behind a chalky complexation and wide eyes.
“You have any idea how easy it is to get away with shit like this, doc? Any idea how many people are willing to look the other way for surprisingly little money? Even those who promise to serve and protect.” He chuckled and walked toward the doctor. “This ain’t my first rodeo, Doc. I’ve gotten away with much worse, so I suggest you listen up and take what I have to say pretty damn seriously. Drop the towel.”
“E-excuse me?”
“Drop. The. Towel. Pretty simple, Doc.”
Michaels sighed and let the towel slump to the ground. Exposed, he glared at Snake with a hatred that was almost palpable.
“Huh, looks like Amanda was pretty on par.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Well,” Snake said. “She was telling me about the other day at work, you know, after you assaulted her in the stairwell at the hospital, remember?”
Michaels just stared at him.
“I asked you a question, Doc.”
“Yes. I remember.” Michaels spoke through clenched teeth.
Damn, this was the most fun he’d had in a while. Okay, second most fun. Fucking Amanda to exhaustion definitely topped the list. “After she told me all about that chicken shit move, she also told me you had a tiny dick. Looks like she wasn’t far off the mark.”
“Fuck you,” Michaels said.
“Speaking of. You like fucking, Doc?”
“What?”
Snake rolled his eyes. “Shit, Doc, you sure you went to medical school? I thought you doctors were supposed to be smart. Why are you having so much trouble understanding my simple questions? Do. You. Like. Fucking. Yes or no?”
At his sides, Michaels’ fists clenched and released repeatedly. Snake could practically feel how much the man would love to ram one of those fists into his face.
“I’m a man. Of course I like fucking.” He answered with the attitude of a rebellious teen being questioned by his parents.
“Watch the tone, Doc. But that’s good to know. Here’s how this is gonna go.” Snake hardened his voice and dropped all signs of teasing. He lowered the gun until it pointed at Michaels cock. The strangled sound the doctor made was music to Snake’s ears.
The man really wasn’t that small, but he stood scared and naked in an air-conditioned room, which didn’t make for an ideal situation cock-wise.
“You’re gonna grab your phone off that dresser and call the hospital. Tell them you had some kind of emergency. It’s terribly tragic, but you’re going to have to leave the area. Permanently. Move to be near family.”
“What? Are you fucking crazy? I’m not quitting my job! That’s not even a possibility. You have to be out of your—”
“Hey!” Snake slapped an open palm across Michaels’ cheek, snapping the man out of his tirade. “You ever want to be able to fuck again, you’ll do what I say. I ain’t ever shot a dude’s dick off before, but I saw it done once. That was some messy shit. You’re a doctor, so I’m pretty sure you know how it would end. You gonna let me finish my instructions now?”
Beads of sweat dotted Michaels’ forehead and he nodded in earnest. His complexion wasn’t quite as pale as it had been moments before. In fact, he looked a little green.
“After you quit your job, you’re going to pack up all this fancy shit and get out of town. Way out. I’ll be by tomorrow night to make sure you’re gone. All the way gone. You don’t quit your job, I’ll shoot you in the dick. You don’t leave town, I’ll shoot you in the dick. You come back to town anytime soon, I’ll shoot you in the dick. I see you anywhere near Amanda…well, you get the picture. And before you tell me you’re going to call the cops the minute I leave, I’ll clue you in. I’m a master at this shit. I can find you anytime, anywhere and I’ll never serve a second of jail time for any of this shit. That is a fuckin’ promise.”
Michaels looked like he swallowed a bag of fire ants. His face was red and the anger nearly smoldered off him. But there was fear, too. His eyes were full of it. Snake hadn’t been kidding. He’d shoot the guy in a heartbeat to keep him away from Amanda. Really, he was a bit surprised by his restraint. A few months ago, he would have shot Michaels no questions asked, maybe even killed the bastard.
Something held him back this time. No, not something. Someone. Amanda. Even though she wasn’t here, she was in his head. The idea of her finding out he killed someone, even to protect her, didn’t sit well. Probably because he knew in his bones, she’d never condone it. Not for any reason. She’d spent the night with Nick and wouldn’t touch Snake with a ten-foot pole.
She was turning him into a fucking pussy.
“Fine. I’ll do it. Can I put some fucking pants on first?”
Snake smirked. Tormenting this asshole was just so much fun. “No. Make the call.”
Michaels grabbed his phone and called the hospital. The story he made up about why he had to tender his resignation effective immediately seemed to do the trick although whoever was on the other end of the line was clearly distraught. The doc spent a good few minutes apologizing and soothing ruffled feathers.
“Fuck,” he said as he ended the call and threw the phone on the bed with more force than necessary. “It’s done. Happy?”
“I’ll be happy when I swing by tomorrow and find an empty apartment. Better get packing, Doc. Can’t say it’s been a pleasure.” He sauntered from the room, leaving the doctor to his tasks.
Once outside, he rolled his shoulders and took a cleansing breath to rid any lingering tension. Part of him wanted to go back upstairs and actually hurt Michaels. Another part of him, the part that seemed to be winning more and more these days, wanted nothing more than to go home and see Amanda. She wouldn’t be home from work for hours.
But when she did come home, it would just be the two of them again tonight. His dick hardened at the thought of another night like the previous night. Would she be receptive to that? She didn’t come across as a one-night stand girl, and Snake had no idea how to do anything but one-night stands, yet he couldn’t get her off his damn mind. Maybe one more night and he’d be able to fuck her out of his system.
One thing was for sure, he’d spend the afternoon counting down the hours until she got home like some kind of lovesick fool.