Page 11 of EX

I shake my head.

See what I mean about Mutt?

I’m here for two seconds and look at this shit…

“Forget about the interest charge,” I tell the woman. “Go get tested for diseases.”

There’s a pause.

I point to the door. “Leave! Now!”

My voice booms and the woman runs.

I turn and look at my cousin.

“I didn’t know you was getting out,” Mutt says, his voice crackling. “Man, I would’ve come got you and everything, you know?”

I step up to Mutt and sigh. “Sorry about this, buddy…”

I punch Mutt in the face as hard as I can.

He’s outcold for a good two minutes.

I walk around the garage and take a mental inventory of everything.

There’s a car in each bay. There’s work waiting in the lot.

I nod.

This can work.

“Corbin?” Mutt calls out as he starts to sit up.

“Couldn’t even come visit me once, huh?” I ask. “You were waiting for the old man to kick it I bet. You wanted it all to yourself.”

“No,” Mutt says. He puts a hand out. “No, not at all. We’ve been busy here. It’s a good thing. I’ve been holding this place down, Corbin.”

“Old man died, what, three years ago?”

“How’d you know?”

“I know everything, Mutt. Prison works in funny ways. Parts of it are just like in the movies. Doesn’t matter now though. I’m out. I’m back. I’m here to take back what’s mine.”

I smile.

I’m not thinking about the garage right now either. I’m thinking about my Katie girl. And her sweet, succulent cunt. I can’t wait to get my mouth between her legs.

“You can leave now, Mutt,” I say. “Go home. Take a shower. Put some ice on your face.”

His left eye is mostly swollen shut. There’s blood pouring down his face. He probably needs a stitch or two. He knows what to do in that case. He knows to tell the doctor that he bumped his face off something.

What can I say? Prison taught me how to throw a really good punch. Because in prison you rarely get a chance at a second one.

I unbutton my flannel shirt and take it off.

Underneath it I’m wearing a white, sleeveless shirt.

It’s time for me to get dirty.