GRINDING ROAD by Brian Bowyer

Author:Brian Bowyer [Bowyer, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brian Bowyer
Published: 2024-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

IN HER BEDROOM on the second floor of the compound’s main house, Tina finished the book she was reading and set it on her nightstand. Then she took the last drink of Jack Daniel’s in her bottle and dropped the empty fifth into her trash can.

“Need to go get more whiskey,” she told Victor, who lay on the floor next to her bed. The Rottweiler—gnawing on a rawhide bone—didn’t acknowledge her.

Rising from the bed, she headed toward the hallway. Victor got up and followed her down the stairs.

In the living room, DeVonte sat on the sofa, watching TV.

Leo sat on the loveseat, cleaning a disassembled pistol. The grip of another pistol was visible in the shoulder rig he wore.

Tina joined DeVonte on the sofa. “Where’s your brother?”

He shrugged. “No idea.”

“Probably at Roxanne’s,” Leo said, without looking up. “Apparently, she and Jinx are an item now.”

Tina smiled. “How romantic.”

Leo shot her a look. “He needs to bring the Cadillac here and leave it, because I don’t have anything to drive except for the bus. And I’m not driving that bus until I have to.”

DeVonte asked Tina, “Do you need a ride somewhere?”

She nodded. “Yep. Just to the liquor store.”

“I’ll take you,” DeVonte said.

Leo rose from the loveseat. “I wanna go, too. I’ll finish cleaning this gun when we get back.” He grabbed his jacket from the floor and put it on.

At the front door, before they left, Tina told Victor, “I’ll bring you some cheeseburgers for dinner.”

On the floor in front of the TV, Victor looked up from his bone and wagged his tail.

DeVonte drove. Leo rode next to him on the passenger’s side. Tina rode behind them in the back.

At the liquor store, DeVonte waited in the car while Tina and Leo went inside. Tina purchased two bottles of whiskey and a carton of cigarettes. Leo bought a half-gallon of rum and a case of beer.

On their way back to the compound, they stopped at a fast-food joint to get cheeseburgers for Victor. While waiting in line at the drive-through, Leo—sitting in front of Tina on the passenger’s side—pointed to his right. “Check out the tits on that chick.”

Casting her gaze in that direction, Tina saw a teenage girl sitting atop a suitcase next to a payphone. “I think I’m in love.”

“You should go talk to her,” Leo said. “See if she wants to hang out. I’ll pay for Victor’s cheeseburgers.”

Tina got out of the car. The night was warm. A sickle moon sliced through the darkness above the parking lot.

She approached the teenage girl, who sat smoking a cigarette atop her suitcase.

Tina put one of her own cigarettes in her mouth. “Got a light?” she asked the girl, even though she had a lighter in her pocket.

“Sure.” The girl handed her a lighter.

Tina lit the cigarette and gave the lighter back. “I’m Tina. What’s your name?”

“Kaitlyn. I just got into town about an hour ago.”

Tina looked at the girl’s suitcase, and then back into her eyes. “Are you waiting for someone to pick you up?”

“Yes.

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