It took him another three weeks to see that following along with the crowd wasn’t anything to be proud of, and it didn’t make him any less of a pussy. A man would have stood up for the girl, and even though his first instinct screamed to him that it was wrong, he wasn’t going to go against Bay. He prayed in the first few minutes that it was a joke, that Bay would untie the girl, and they’d laugh at the rest who were equally as uncertain. But then he’d just been so damned convincing, like some sick cult leader who lacked empathy, and he’d used their fears against them.
Darek hadn’t wanted anyone to know what had happened to bring him into the group, and it wasn’t until much later that Darek realized he had something on each and every boy at camp.
Bay was the secret keeper, holding all the power from the others in his hands, and it made him the strongest. He’d known just what to do to cover things up, and he had indeed saved Darek’s ass from a life behind bars. Maybe the fucker really was his savior? He couldn’t help thinking that if someone was coming after them, hopefully, they’d go for Bay first. A little laugh escaped him as he thought about it.
Darek pulled into his driveway and realized he had company. Megan’s car was parked outside, and just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse, her father met him at the door.
“I’m only here to keep the peace,” the old man announced with his hands lifted high.
Darek walked past him and stopped in the living room. “You’re getting exactly what you want, right? Well, so am I.”
“Not if you think you’re getting to keep this house,” Megan said.
“It’s my house,” Darek said. “It was my house when I met you, and it’s my house now. You need to gather up whatever shit you want and get the fuck out. Go stay with Rick.”
She cut her eyes to her father, and Darek turned to see what the old man had to say.
“Technically, I own the house. Remember the loan you took from me?”
Darek narrowed his eyes. He’d taken a loan from the old man, only because Megan had wanted him to, and her father had made him put his home up for collateral.
“I’m all paid up on that loan, and it was because your daughter wanted to open a business.” Now he realized why the old man hadn’t just given the money to her. Instead, he’d insisted on collateral. At the time, Darek thought it was just because he hated him, but he had no idea it was to try and take his home.
“No,” her father said. “As it turns out, there are three months’ worth of payments that you’ve failed to make. The last three months. So, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Three months. She’d stopped paying the notes when she decided to cheat. She knew it would cost him the house.
“I’m calling my lawyer,” Darek said. “You’re not going to get away with this shit.” He knew he needed the best, and he cringed, knowing the best would come at a high price.
“Call him, but do it from the street.” Her father opened the door.
“Not so fast, you old fucker. I’m getting my things.” Darek turned to go into his room, but Megan pushed past him.
She walked over to the bed and grabbed his suitcase. “You can check it, but it’s everything you need. I thought I’d be nice and help you out.” Darek snatched the suitcase so hard it jerked her forward. “Watch it! I just got my nails done.”
“Well, good for you. I hope Rick likes them buried in his back.” He opened the suitcase and wished he could find something missing, but it was all there. Everything he needed to get the hell out of her life, including an extra pair of shoes.
Megan’s voice softened. “I’m not sure I’m going to keep seeing Rick, but I know what we have is over. I never meant to hurt you, Darek, but you’re never home, and you work on some awful cases, and—"
“Save it. I was sick of you, too. I guess I just hoped things would get better if I got my promotion. These awful cases are what is going to get me there.”
“Well, maybe when that day comes, we can reevaluate things.”
Darek laughed. “Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not opposed to us trying again if things change.”
“I am. You cheated. And despite my many opportunities, I didn’t. I guess Rick got scared, right?”
“He doesn’t like that you carry a gun, no. He said he doesn’t want problems with every cop he sees.”
Darek leaned down. “Smart man. Looking out for number one. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Her father cleared his throat at their door, and Darek zipped up his case.
“Honey, don’t forget to get him to sign these.”
Megan walked over and took the stack of papers from him. “These are for the divorce. It will get things hurried along faster.”
“I’m not signing anything yet.” He picked up the case and turned to glower at the pair. “This isn’t over.”
As he walked out of the house, he didn’t look back. Even if he had to call Bay Collins to work his maniacal magic and sell his soul to the devil himself, he’d do it to keep his house.
The first person he needed to call was his best friend. The only person he could count on at a time like this.
Max answered the phone, sounding winded, and Darek wondered what the hell he’d been doing at nine p.m. to be puffing that hard. He knew if the guy was having sex, he wouldn’t have answered the phone.
“How’s it going?” Max asked.
“I just got kicked out of my own house by a wife who says that if I change, she’d like to reevaluate our relationship since her new man is afraid of my gun.”
“Jesus, you’ve really got problems. Let me guess. You need a place to lay your head?”
“Yeah, I do. Is it okay if I head over?”
“If I say no, what other options do you have? Lizzy? You think she’d let you in? I wonder if her couch is one of those hard as a rock, leather numbers, or if she’s got the warm and cozy feel up in her place.”
Darek knew what he was fishing for. He’d been suspicious of him and Lizzy for days. “I have no idea, man. I’ve never been to her house, and I have a feeling if I call and ask, she’ll knee me in the dick the next time I see her.”
“Okay. Head on over, and I’ll give you the futon.”
“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver, buddy.”
He hung up the phone and smiled. Max was a true-blue pal and had never held anything over his head. They’d gotten lucky that they got along so well, and now that Darek was going to be single again, he wondered if they’d hang out at the clubs and chase women together like they did in the old days. The old days. In some ways, it wasn’t that long ago, and in others, it seemed like forever. He’d really wasted the last few years with Megan.
When he met her, it took him a year to convince her to go out with him. He’d been star-struck by the beauty pageant thing, and she seemed like she’d make a great wife and mother, in a wholesome kind of way. Once he got her into bed, he’d realized what a little hellcat she could be, and her bratty act had turned him on. It took marrying her to realize the bratty act wasn’t a fucking act at all, and so, he found himself on Max’s front doorstep.
Max opened the door after one knock, and Darek knew he looked pathetic standing there with his suitcase. He didn’t need Max to say anything, but that had never stopped the guy before. “Aren’t you a sight? You look more like you’re running away from home than being forced.”