Hm. This made more sense the more I thought about her words. In comparison to every other stepmother I had, Nicole always was quite a bit different. Hell, now that I think of it, she and Leon rarely even talked. And in the year that went from their wedding to his death, I could count on one hand a number of times when my father did even spend the night in the same house as the two of us. Much less sleeping in the same room as her.

“I feel like I will regret asking it, but… Why would you want to do something like that?” I already was.

Her laughter grew a bit louder.

“Ah. Well, since the cat is out of the bag, I can as well go all the way. I completely fell for the cute angel. Little Michael Roah was just that adorable. Too bad he grew up into someone like you.” Whatever she meant by this, I wonder.

Yeah, this settles it. The women in my life are bound to have at least some screws loose. But… to think Bella and Nicole had another thing in common… Better not say it out loud, though. I glanced at the sharp nails of my passenger.

“Ha, I knew Bella and you are so much alike,” I couldn’t hold myself back.

“Huh?” A sound of confusion followed.

“For a while, she had seen her dead brother in me.” I also chuckled.

Bella told me as much shortly before our breakup. Adding that it took a bit longer than a year for her to separate Miguel and me, no wonder she doesn’t blame me for not being able to separate her future and current selves.

“So, what is going on between that Alvarez woman and you?” Followed the question. “And that girl who called you honey. She sounded like they knew each other.”

“They actually do,” I acknowledged. “Still have no idea why or how, but it seems like they managed to work out a way to share me.”

“Oh, and you didn’t even ask me?” Nicole sounded hurt, albeit I couldn’t be sure how much of it was just a pretense.

“There is so much fucked up shit going on in my life right now.” I let out a long sigh. “Some things just changed abruptly, while I abruptly realized some stuff. My thoughts are jumbled as all hell right now.”

“Poor soul. Did you hit your head?” I could hear the poison in her words.

“In a way. And pretty badly at that. You can say that my whole life went before my eyes.” My words made her eyes widen. I fought back another laugh and continued. “While I remember the majority of the important stuff, everything else is a total mess. I just can’t wait for the moment when some forgotten debt will come and bite me with interest…”

“You are joking, right?” She asked for confirmation.

“I wish, Nicole. I wish.” I shook my head. Aside from minor details, everything I said was a complete and utter truth. “I have no idea how long it would’ve taken me to remember you if we hadn't met at the cemetery.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

This killed the conversation completely. The heavy silence fell on the interior of the car. I emptied my mind completely, forcing myself to focus completely on the road. Nicole turned her head toward the passenger side window, with only her knowing what was going on inside that head of hers.

Luckily, we were about to arrive at our destination.

“I don’t think I would’ve been able to share you,” said Nicole after a while.

“And I have no idea if I even want to have anything like that between the two of us.” I responded, parking the car in the same place in front of the familiar alleyway. “If you don’t mind, I would prefer to try and slowly work something out, though. I would prefer not to lose an important connection like that.”

“What if I tried to ruin your relationships instead?” I saw the odd gleam in her eyes.

“Then I would crush you like a bug, Nicole.” I decided not to mince my words. “You would get a nice retirement package somewhere far, far away from this city. Without a chance to ever return. I apologize, but this chance means too much to me.”

Signalizing that this line of conversation is over, I left the car.

The familiar shadow, which, most likely, was sent to follow me around, had chosen a different hiding spot this time. I caught their gaze and nodded in greeting, receiving a hesitant nod in response.

The passenger’s side door opened, and a sound of the heel’s meeting the hard ground followed soon after.

“So, why are we here?” Nicole finally decided to ask.

“You’ll see.” I made a gesture for her to follow and went into the alleyway.

***

After a few silent minutes, we spent them walking through the labyrinth of dark back roads. Our destination was finally in front of us. Of course, it was the familiar black metal door under the unlit sign ‘BAR’.

“Michael.” I could hear the irritation in the voice of my companion. “I’m flattered you finally got it in yourself to take me out to drink. I truly am. But I really don’t have time for this right now.”

I ignored her sarcastic remark and opened the door. The insides of my grandmother’s humble establishment looked the same as always. Even the bartender was here, just as bored as always. Maybe it’s time to start treating him as decoration. I nodded to him anyway.

I felt a hand landing on my shoulder, which then made a motion to turn me towards the owner of said appendage.

“Can you stop ignoring me already?” Nicole had enough. “Why did you take me into some obscure bar? To waste more of my time? I may not be able to get enough money, but, at the very least, I should liquidate as many assets as possible. At least I will get a little more than the corporate appraiser’s bare minimum.”

“Nicole, if your problem could’ve been fixed with money, I wouldn’t have brought you here. Now sit down and relax.” I put my hand onto her shoulder, and forced her into one of the empty seats.

“Michael, I think you don’t understand how serious this is for me.” She tried to stand up again, but my hand held her in place. After a few futile attempts to do so, she gave up, yet kept her attempts to bore a hole in me with her glare.

With a sigh, I grabbed another chair and plopped down by her side. Then, out of my pocket, I fished out the wallet and took out the black card that was in there, putting it on the table in front of the stunned woman.

“Nicole, I repeat, just relax. The worst has already passed. Now it’s just a matter of hunting down a certain pig.” I deliberately spoke in a calm and unhurried manner. I tried my best to ignore the boiling of my blood and the beast that rattled its cage. “Nobody can covet what is mine and leave unscathed.”