Chapter 104

Chapter 104
Clive’s POV

“Was that necessary, Jake?” God dammit the man is like a loose cannon waiting to explode. “I thought you had got yourself clean and sorted. You look as high as a fucking kite, Man.” I stand in front of him with my eyes not leaving his.

“Whatever, Clive. You aren’t my keeper. I don’t know how many times I need to remind you of this. I will do what I want.”

He doesn’t budge as he puffs out his chest looking like he is itching for a fight.

“You have brought enough to this cabin, Jake. May I remind you; I own this place and all the land around it. I can have you removed.” He gives me a snidey look.

“Yeah, you and whose army?” Then he laughs, he sounds like some maniac.

I prod him in the chest causing him to raise his eyebrows at me. “I want you off my land and out of my home immediately. You’ve done enough. It’s not going to take a lot for the police to come swarming around here. Again.”

Jake shrugs his shoulders.

“I ain’t done here, yet Clive. I have unfinished business.”

That sends chills down my spine.

“Listen, it’s best you leave. You and the townsfolk have already done enough.”

“And you are part of it, Clive. You helped cover up the woman in the woods, don’t forget. I’ve got you marked, Clive. One word, just one single word and your whole world will come tumbling down.” Hector growls at Jake. He must sense the altercation between us.

“Go, Boy,” I instruct him not wanting him anywhere near Jake.

“She has nothing to do with anything, Jake. She is an innocent woman.”

“Like fucking hell is she. It’s her fault Jonathan is dead,” he retorts with menace in his voice.

“No, it isn’t. I heard her side of the story, and it was that woman who was supposed to be her best friend. She is the one who stuck the blade in, Jake. Not Claire. All Claire did was try to run from Jonathan.”

Jake snorts. “Yeah, and you had to be some kind of superhero didn’t you? Hey? You let her get away and now look at what has happened. Our own flesh and blood, dead. Because of Claire.”

The man is losing the plot here. He must realize that it wasn’t Claire’s fault that our half-brother was killed at the hands of a deranged woman. A supposed best friend of Claire’s. How bad can something go wrong. This is a prime example.

“I am warning you, Jake. Stop this nonsense now or I will put an end to it myself.”

Neither one of us has moved from being rooted to the spot. Thank God, Claire is in her room. Safe. For now. Although not even barricading herself in will be the safest option.

“She isn’t getting away with it, bro.” I don’t like the way he says bro. It’s sadistic, almost condescending.

“God,” I say raking my fingers through my hair. Hector hasn’t gone to his bed. Instead, he remains seated by my side. Time is ticking and I need to be the one to help Claire get to safety.

Yes, I wanted the same thing as Clive at one point when I found out that Jonathan had actually been killed. Our blood line has been kept a secret for most of our lives. His mother is our mother. All three of us have different fathers. Don’t ask. It’s too long a story. Suffice to say that our mother, as good as she was, couldn’t hold down a relationship to save her life. Not because of drugs or alcohol. Who knows but it is what it is. Suffice it to say, we are all paying the price one way or another now.

“I want you out, Jake.” My voice is stern. He stares right through me sending a chill to my bones.

“Not until I get what I want and came back for. She is responsible and you know it,” he says with an almost raised voice.

“Stop right now. Do you want her to hear you?”

He shrugs. “Couldn’t give a shit, Man. She can hear what she wants. Least ways she will know what’s coming.”

I let out a ragged breath.

“I’m pretty sure that woman already knows, Clive. She’s already put two and two together and realized those are pictures of her. How did you even get them?”

He smiles, showing his wasted teeth from drug and alcohol abuse.

“Easy when you know the right people, Clive. Besides, that is irrelevant. Get her ready.” He turns and leaves me standing with my jaw gaping open. Any further and it will be sure to be sweeping the floor beneath me. Hector nuzzles his head against my shin. I bend down and pat him on the head.

This has to end here. Now. With me. It will be up to me to ensure that Claire can get to safety before Jake does something we all will regret including the townsfolk, who had a soft spot for our half-brother.

Jake stands at the kitchen door and turns back towards me.

“I wouldn’t do anything stupid, Clive. These woods go on for miles, you can easily fall down a deep hole and get lost yourself.” 
I watch as he leaves with some kind of swagger in his step. Pulling out my mobile I scan through my contacts and find a number I’ve not used in a very long time and press call.

It rings a few times. I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t pick up at all. It’s not early anymore. I give it a few more rings and then hear a deep man’s voice. “Hello, Clive? Is that you?”

“Hey, Martin. It’s me. I need you to help me with something. Can you manage to meet me out of town tomorrow, say nine in the morning?”

He doesn’t ask questions, he knows that if I call him then I need him for something serious. “It’s been a while, Clive. I can meet you. Send me the details and I’ll be there.”

“Great, thanks, Martin.”

We hang up. Using my ex-army buddy is not something I want to do but with a woman’s life hanging in the balance, I will do whatever it takes. I’m not going down for any acts that Jake has planned up his sleeve.

Someone needs to stop him.