Read Crash & Burn for Free Online Page B

the wall
     are now broken and thrown all over the floor, glass cracked and smashed into pieces.
     The coffee table’s on it’s top with magazines, books, and mail all over the place,
     ripped and torn.
    Turning back around, the front door is cracked down the middle and there are three
     fist sized holes punched into the plaster of the wall, streaked with blood. What the
     fuck happened?
                  Walking down the hall to the bedroom, it looks just like the living room. Blankets,
     clothes, and shoes are all over the place, curtains hanging off the rods. I take one
     more look around and walk back into the front room, feeling stunned and on autopilot.
     I haven’t got the slightest clue what’s happened. Nothing seems to be missing. The
     TV’s, computers, electronics, and expensive shit are still here.
    Walking back to the front room, Tank is standing by the door and his face is terrifying.
     My blood runs cold and my step falters. I instantly take a step back on sheer sight.
                  His chest is rising and falling with quick, deep breaths. There is something very
     feral and terrifying in his eyes when he stares back at me, all bloodshot and unfocused.
     For the first time since I’ve met Tank, a beat of fear stutters in my heart. His hands
     are clinching and un-clinching at his sides. There’s a slight tremor in his body as
     he stares at me. I try to smooth my face into something neutral and uncaring, but
     right now I’m nervous; Nervous he’ll be mad, sad, or that he’ll just completely go
     crazy and leave me, maybe worse. Right now he’s unpredictable, so I never know what
     to expect. For the first time, I’m scared of him.
    “Tank ....” I speak first. Holding up a hand, he stops me.
    “Don’t fuckin’ say shit to me.” Blinking a couple of times I look around and back
     at him. Did I miss something?
    “Did you do this?” I ignore him and ask anyway. I wave a hand around the mess, like
     I’m trying to formulate an answer. He dips his head slightly and narrows his glazed
     eyes at me. I’ve got no clue what’s going on, so I stand still and wait.
    “You really disappear on me?” he returns sharply.
    “Excuse me?
    Disappear? I had lunch with Lailah and we stopped by a few stores. I’ve been gone
     for four hours. I hardly call that disappearing on him.
    “Disappear.” he repeats and does hand gestures like a fucking magician. Is he trying
     to be funny?
    “I’m so completely fuckin’ lost Tank. Is this a joke or what? What happened to the
     house?”
    “Jesus fuckin’ Christ. JESUS FUCKIN’ CHRIST!” He roars and puts another fist through
     the wall as he walks out the door. I flinch at the loud crack from the wood giving
     way to flesh, then I watch him walk away, feeling stuck as he once again shuts down
     and shuts me out.
    ****
                  I gave him a few hours. I spent the time cleaning the house, righting furniture and hanging up clothes. For
     the holes, I wouldn’t even know where to start so I leave them for another time. Hang
     a picture over them? Maybe Gin or Happy could fix them. Hell, I need Bob the fucking
     builder for that shit. I’ll leave them be.
    While I picked up and cleaned, I tried to piece together what the fuck all that shit
     was, but I’m fucking clueless. Part of me thinks it’s probably something I wouldn’t
     understand, even if I knew. But my heart wants to know Tank is okay. My heart fights
     to be there for him no matter what kind of shit he’s going through.
                  Driving down the road toward the club, I think and drive, which is almost as bad as
     driving and crying. I’m replaying Tanks heartbreaking face when the wheel jerks hard
     to the right in my hands. My purse topples over and onto the passenger side floorboard,
     while my cell slides off the seat. Instantly there’s a terrible tremor and wobble
     in my Jeep. Oh good fucking God. You’ve got to be