Song: Come and get it from me-Sun Heat

The next morning Stella calls into to work. I guess she will spend the day recovering. I don't bother going to her friends' house to check on her because I know that she is safe. The next day, I walk into the café and she is at the counter working away. I wait my turn. "Good morning Stella...the usual please."

She looks up with a smile. "Good morning Atticus." She fixes my cup and hands it to me.

"You look better today. Are you still staying with your friend?"

"Yes...but I plan on going back home today. I'm surprised that Mark hasn't bothered coming by here. I guess you really shook him up the other night."

"Well...he deserved to be shook up a little." I take my coffee and sit down at the table. I watch her work for a good half hour and then I leave. I don't want her to think that I am stocking her. I follow her home but she has no clue that I am close by. As she goes into the apartment, I go across the street and climb the fire escape. I watch as she walks into the living room. Everything is put back where it was. Everything is spotless.

After taking him to the remote location, I came back and cleaned he house. I also took out all of his shit...every piece of clothing...anything that I thought might be his. I left a scribbled note form him stating that I was sorry for putting you in harms way and that maybe it is better if we go our separate ways. She reads the note and it slowly slips out of hand and drifts to the floor. She sits down on the edge of the bed and lowers her head. I can't tell from here if she is sad or happy that he is finally out of her life. Either way...I am fucking happy that he is gone. No one should have to face a guy that beats you every day.

In that split second, I think about my mother. I wonder how she has been doing. I haven't gone by in so long. I bet she thinks I'm either wasted on drugs or dead in a ditch somewhere. I get back in my truck knowing that Stella will be alright now and head to the other side of town. When I pull up the house still looks the same. I get out and walk up the sidewalk to the house and knock on the door. I could easily go right on in but I just don't feel like I will ever be able to do that here again. I knock again and he answers the door.

"Well...I never thought you show your face around here again?"He looks me up and down before back up to stare at me.

"Yeah...well surprise. Where's my mom?"I don't take my eyes off of him.

"She is probably in the kitchen either cleaning up or cooking dinner like she always does." He steps the side and lets me through.

 I glance around the place of course everything is picked up and in the proper place. I'm sure she cleans up this place the day he lifts a finger hell will freeze over. I stand in the doorway to the kitchen and she is at the sink washing dishes. She is in her own little world. I make a low grunt and she turns around. When our eyes meet she slowly smiles. "Wow...what I nice surprise. I thought you would never come back after the last time."

"Yeah...well...surprise. I felt like I needed to check on you."

She quickly dries her hands off on the dish towel that is thrown across her shoulder and then opens her arms wide for me to hug her. I take a few steps towards her and she meets me half way. I let her hug me as well I hug her right back. I hate that he pulled us farther apart over the years. It was all him that did this and she let him. He lived his way...he never cared for me and when he took her from me, I knew that I would never get her back. "So how are things going?" I ask as I sit down at the table in the kitchen.

 She pulls out the chair beside me and quietly sits down. She keeps playing with the towel in her hand. I feel like she wants to tell me something however she pushes the thought away. "Oh you know same as always, nothing ever changes around here. Don't worry about your momma...tell me about you. Where are you staying? Is there are girl?"

"I live with my boss. He has this really big place and there is a like a guest house. Anyway he offered me to live with him as long as I worked for him."

"Oh that must be really nice. So what does he do construction or something?"

"Something..." Well it's not like I can tell her that I clean up dead bodies. "It's a cleaning business. We stay busy. As far as a girl...I kinda like someone right now but I don't think she likes me in that way. Anyway I was just driving around and I thought I would swing by for a few minutes...you know to check on you."

She places the towel down on the table and stands up. "Let me fix you something to eat." She makes her way to the fridge and pulls out the container of ham and the cheese. She reaches up in the cabinet and pulls down the loaf of bread.

"Mom I did not come here to eat."

"It's just a sandwich, Atticus...please let me fix it." I don't argue. I let her make it. It's funny how she even knows that I want a thin layer of just mustard and a slice of tomato. "There are drinks in the fridge if you want to get one you can."

I stand up and walk over to the fridge. The first thing I see is his Pabst Blue Ribbon...Not the beer of my choice but you know I think that is what I want. I go to grab one and I can't help but notice the look she gives me. I know he will see me drinking one and it will piss him off. I don't mean to cause trouble but I want to see how far I can go before he barks at her.

Of course he walks in and sees me sitting there at the table eating a sandwich that she fixed me and his Pabst Blue Ribbon. I see that he is dying to say something but he grunts under his teeth as he walks over and opens up the fridge and pulls himself out a can of beer. When he turns around he glares at my mother and walks back into the living room not saying a word to me.

"I guess I should be getting out of here." I stand up and throw the can in the trash. I walk over placing the plate in the sink. I start to wash it off and she comes over touching my arm.

"I got that. I wish you could stay and chit chat longer. I so miss seeing you."

"I miss you too." It's not a lie. I do miss her. The old her; the her before she got with him. "Mom you can call me whenever you need me you know that right." I grab the pad of paper on the counter and write down my number for her. "Here's my number alright...seriously if you ever need me please call me."

I let her hug me again and then I head out the front door. I don't bother saying anything to my step-dad as he sits in front of the TV watching the game. He thinks I left the house but I don't. I wait outside to see if he ever says anything to her. And just like I knew he would he does. I can hear him cussing her out about me drinking his beer. I should go in but I walk to my truck and sit and wait for him to leave. He does about thirty minutes later. I follow him and it doesn't surprise me to see him down at the local liquor store buying more beer.

 When he walks out, I let him get in the car and drive back towards home. I flash my lights at him a few times and he pulls over to the side of the road. I get out the same time he does and we meet at the back of his car. "What the hell do you want Atticus?" He growls.

"I just wanted to talk to you alone without my mother around."

"Yeah...well now that you have my attention what the fuck do you want?"

I look around to see if anyone is driving by and then when I realize no one is around I punch him right in the gut. When he bends over I take my hand and place it on his shoulder in the right nerve and he passes out. I carry him over to my truck and put him in the passanger side. I don't touch his car and leave the damn thing running. I drive to this old run down factory and drag him inside. I strap him down to a chair and wait for him to walk up.

 About an hour later he starts to come to. I wait for him to look around and start to panic. "What the fuck...What the hell are you doing?" He asks as he struggles against the restraints.

"Something that I should have done a long time ago." I smirk. "Because I should have known that you would never change. You always wanted to drink, get fucking plastered and then beat the shit out of my mother so now it's my turn."

"Well if you want to fight fair you should set me loose...I will show you a thing or two."

"Nah...I mean my mom never had a chance in hell with you so why should I let you." I stand up and punch him right across the jaw leaving a smear of blood on my knuckles.

He groans. "So what you gonna sit here and beat the shit out of me. Why don't you be a real man and let me fight you."

This time I give him an uppercut right in under his jaw. His head goes backwards and I swear I hear his neck pop several times. He tenses up and fights harder against the restraints. He wasn't able to ask me again to let him go and before he can even ask I let up. I don't give him the opportunity to stand up though. I kick the shit out of him right in his nuts and watch him double over. I pick up the two by four that is leaning against the wall and wack him across the middle of his back and he falls hard to the dirty old floor. "You want to know what pisses me off...that she never stopped you. She let you beat her with this fucking hand of yours."

I take the wood and smash his hand. I hear the damn thing crunch. I keep going until I break it so far beyond repair. Then I start on his other hand that is on the ground that is trying to hold himself up. I go wacking at it and I don't stop.

"Motherfucker...I want to kick you fucking ass." He screams.

I just laugh because I sure would like to see him try. And since he gave me the great idea I dive in beating his legs. Blood splatters all over the area and getting on the main part of the floor; I had hoped to keep it all on the plastic for easier clean up. "Why don't you just kill me already...that is why I am really here right? What you can't do it can you...take a life. You have always been weak."

I step closer to him and wrap my cold fingers around his neck, forcing him to look up at me. "You don't know me. I have killed plenty over the past few years...and I will do you the same. I hate you for taking my mom away from me. I hate that you enjoyed beating her all these years and making her life a living hell....but I am done with that. I am done with you over powering my mom. I am done with you period."

I rear back and still with the two by four in my hand I swing it hard as if I am trying to make a grand slam and I hit him over and over bashing his head in. When he is no longer breathing, I drop the piece of wood by his side.

"You don't fucking know me...I am a fucking man."