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Better With - Friday Pilots Club

“It’s about Riley,” Seb’s voice demands into the phone. Seb is my right-hand man. I go to him for most of the day-to-day stuff I don’t want to do. The stuff that used to be my job. Until I took over when my dad was killed.

My tone remains even, but immediately, I’m on alert. “What about her?” I roll myself out of bed. I slept off the acid, and Seb’s call woke me up.

“I have something to show you.”

He’s never mentioned Riley. I thought I’d made it very clear she was off limits. To everyone. Why did he feel the need to call me? With Riley, anything could have popped up. I’ve tried to keep Riley out of trouble, but maybe I missed something. She’s been getting more and more out of hand.

Seb rambles on about something, and I grip the phone until it digs little grooves into my fingers. I drop my head while my voice lowers, “If you don’t tell me right now what’s wrong with Riley, I’ll hang up the phone, ride to your place, and put a bullet in your head. I’ll replace you with Jeremy. I’m sure he’d love your spot.”

“It’s one of the rental properties.” Seb sputters out an address. Riley’s address. “Someone approved the eviction of the last tenants.”

Yes, I did. Riley forged the papers to look like my family’s business name. When they came through the office, I handled them, and then I handled the complaint they filed.

They must have filed another.

“And?” I ask, my voice low.

“And that was part of the Henson family. This has Riley all over it. She’s out of control, and now the Hensons are pissed and coming after us.”

The Hensons are small potatoes, and I couldn’t care less. If Seb had any balls, he wouldn’t either. He’s clearly not cut out for this.

“I also have collections up my ass.”

I frown. I was taking care of the bills. What the hell did Riley charge to our business? And why does Seb care?

Seb’s voice lowers. “She’s distracting you. I don’t like to see you distracted.”

Tick. Tick. Tick. The muscle in my jaw does a little dance.

“I’ll handle it,” I say.

“Manson, you know I care. I think she’s just…you’d be better off without her dragging you down.”

An instant flash of heat and anger fills me. I see what he’s doing. He’s going to try and paint me as distracted. As the one making bad decisions because of my wife. He’s going to try and take over my spot, using Riley as an excuse.

I hang up the phone, stuff my pistol into my pants, then stalk downstairs. Grabbing my bike keys, I pause.

I should check on her. Just to make sure.

Opening my tracker app, I check Riley’s second bike. It’s still showing at her place.

See. Still home.

But still, I open my app to the trail cam I have on her house.

There’s an error code.

What the fuck?

I watch the last footage I have. It’s from an hour ago, and it looks like the camera just shuts off. I watch it again. There’s a slight movement from the back door and the flash of something.

Slowly, my blood boils. She took out my camera.

That little bitch.

I can’t help the thrill that runs through me. Oh, I’ll have fun punishing her for this little stunt.

This better be worth it, Mrs. Kennedy, ‘cause I’m about to make you regret ever defying me.

I send a message off to Jeremy to put a bullet through Seb’s skull, then jump on my bike to get my wife and the pretty little side piece she’s claimed.