The Wrath Walker (The Wrath Series Book 1) by Matthew Newson (fun to read .txt) 📗

who would win a Grammy or an Oscar that year, and God only knew what else Joey had on there. He took their money and gave them a receipt and told them to come back later to pick up their order. If the person won, they returned and showed their receipt which was their ticket, and they walked out with a to-go bag of food with their concealed winnings. Joey also had literal to-go orders processed through there as not to draw unwanted attention. It took me a while to figure out how he did it, but by then I had already been terminated from the force, and everyone thought I was making accusations as a way to get even. I drove around the building a few times and made sure it wasn’t being watched by the police or Wrath, and to see if Joey had stepped up security after Ron’s murder. Everything appeared normal, so I parked and walked toward the building. Joey’s Kitchen was the name of the Italian restaurant he owned, and you couldn’t get any more cliché than a mobster owning an Italian restaurant.

I had to give credit to Joey because his place looked amazing, and the chicken parmesan was pretty good too. The off-white stone caused the place to have a warm and inviting feel to it, and the patio was lined with black tables and chairs that were always filled with people. The flower bushes lined the building and accentuated the main entrance to draw people’s eyes from the to-go door where the real business happened. It really was a shame what that place was used for because it would make anyone a great legitimate living.

I stepped up on the sidewalk as Scott Fuller walked out with a large brown paper bag. I had never officially met him, but I’d recognize his weaselly face anywhere. He had short blonde hair and with a well-trimmed beard to match. He was dressed in a casual button-down plaid shirt with kakis and seemed just as meticulous as Lizzie was. I knew the moment he locked eyes with me he knew who I was. I figured Lizzie had told him all about me and must have shown him some pictures with a warning to keep an eye out for me because she believed I spied on them. I decided it was best to ignore him and walk by like he wasn’t there, but Scott had other plans for me.

“Brandon Farmer, if I’m not mistaken?” Scott stopped directly in front of me.

“Yeah, and you are?” I hoped to push the conversation another way.

“Cut the crap, Brandon, I know you know who I am,” Scott fired back with an edge.

I expected him to be a little upset, but I was a little surprised by his hostile demeanor. I wondered if Lizzie knew he had a temper. I had to keep my cool and get rid of him as fast as possible. If I threatened or intimidated him in anyway, he would go right back and tell Lizzie what happened between us. At the very least it would cement all the horrible things they thought about me, and she would arrest me or file charges against me at the worst.

“Okay Scott, yes, I know who you are.”

He walked up to me, and I could see the anger flare in his eyes as he stopped about a foot away.

“I’m glad I ran into you. Elizabeth told me you have been watching us.”

“That’s not true. I haven’t been spying on you guys.”

“I said cut the crap, Brandon. She told me you did a background check on me. You can look all you want, but you’re not going to find anything. Your spying on Elizabeth and I stops today.” He stepped a little closer to me as his tone grew harsher. “I know you know who I am, and what I do for a living, because Elizabeth told me all about it.”

“Look Scott, I’m not watching you and Elizabeth, and I’m not looking to start any trouble with you.” I stayed calm while I secretly wanted to punch him in his mouth.

Scott eased his tone, and stood straight, no doubt feeling victorious over me. “Okay Brandon, I just want to say to you that you don’t scare me, and Elizabeth and I will both press charges on you if we happen to see you anywhere near us again. You must accept the fact your relationship with her is over. Can you be a man about this and accept that?”

There was the counselor part of a social worker coming out in him.

“Yeah, I know,” I said and looked away.

“I’ll hear you say the words, please.”

That was it. His condescending tone fried the marrow in my bones and my anger burned as he leaned closer. I’d had all the disrespect I was going to take.

I snapped my head straight and locked eyes with the man. For the first time I saw how scrawny he was. It sickened me that Elizabeth was with that runt of a man who I’m sure couldn’t protect her if someone came after her—which happened more frequently than it should in her line of work. I wanted to respond kindly again, but it was too late, and the guy had got under my skin.

I took a commanding step forward and drove him out of my space. “Who do you think you’re talking to? One of those dead-beat parents who neglect their kids?”

His confidence quickly drained. “Okay, Brandon, now wait just a minute...”

I stepped forward again. “Don’t okay Brandon me. You’re the one who started this whole confrontation. I was happy to walk past you, and not say a word, but you had to run your mouth like a tough guy. Did that make you feel like a big man? Are you going to demand me to say other things too, so you can go and tell all your friends, tough guy? I bet the only fight you’ve been in was a shouting