I am adding my links to Criminal Intentions today. If you like Crime Stories and you like Short Stories you should check them out.

Rain today, my cat is missing, and the amazon books are now all updated to Audio books, available on Amazon or Audible:

Amazon: Amazon.com: Wendell Sweet: books, biography, latest update

Audible: Audiobooks matching keywords Wendell Sweet | Audible.com

You can check Amazon or Audible for Dell Sweet and W G Sweet as well.

Fall, or rainy season. It is cold, rainy and crappie. The grass has grown so much with all of this rain that it looks like a damn jungle. For real. When I lived in Alabama the Kudzu would do that sort of Majic. Grow three -foot -long vines overnight, and that isn’t much of an exaggeration. The stuff is tenacious as hell. Here this grass is just sprouting up and growing, it doesn’t know summer is never coming and it wants to say its piece before it all ends.

My Cat: My male cat, Houdini has done another dissapearing act. He has been gone 4 days now. Not a record, he was once gone six days and showed back up with a racoon and her babies like he was going to move them in. My mother said no. He was disappointed but not too much. After all I’m sure he has spend-the-night rights with every cat in the village. And 9 out 10 cats in this village look like him. I am concerned I may get approached for cat support someday. So, either he is shacked up with the latest Missus Hootie, or he is being chased by a bunch of those females that figured out his game. Hopefully that’s it and nothing bad has happened to him.

Criminal Intentions. I decided on a preview from the second book as I have already given a preview of the first book. Here you go, enjoy, Dell…

THE TALE OF LIV

Brian and Liv

Liv Spencer had never encountered a time when Rich didn’t answer his door. She had called him twice, and while someone had picked up the phone, they didn’t say a word. Anxiety gripped her, but her primary concern was her desperate need for heroin. Rich was always there for her. Not only was she in need of his assistance, but she also had no idea where else to seek help like his—help that was infused with genuine care.

For fifteen long minutes, Liv stood outside in the chilly, pre-dawn rain. Fifteen minutes felt like an eternity when the craving hit. Time stretched endlessly, with every clock and watch in the world ticking away the moments. Finally, she began testing the doors. The front and back doors were locked. She hadn’t considered the garage door, but eventually decided to try it. To her surprise, it was unlocked, although the lock was badly damaged, causing her to hesitate.

The rain had ceased. As she stood on the wet pavement beside the door, she pondered what she could say to Rich…

“The door was unlocked, Richie… I found it that way… I just touched the handle, and it turned… It was broken, Rich. I turned the handle, and it just fell open… I needed you, Richie. The door was unlocked… I needed a fix, Richie. Where were you?”

She rehearsed various excuses in her mind, but ultimately, it didn’t matter that the door was broken. She silenced the alarm bells ringing in her head, recognizing that all that truly mattered was that the door wasn’t locked and her need was pressing. With determination, she turned the knob and stepped into the garage.

The garage was dimly lit. She navigated toward the door leading into the house, nearly tripping over a crumpled section of carpet left by the entrance. The door to the interior was barely closed and swung open as soon as she touched it.

“Rich?” she called, her voice hoarse. “Richie!” She ventured further into the shadowy kitchen.

“Richie? The door was open, man. I called… The door…” Her words trailed off as she spotted the bodyguards sprawled in the hallway, appearing discarded like oversized rag dolls.

“Oh God,” she gasped. Instantly, she was torn between two impulses: the instinct to flee, knowing something was terribly wrong at Rich’s place; and the overpowering need to get her fix. It didn’t matter if it had to be something else to alleviate the itch, just something… and it seemed no one here was going to stop her… No one at all.

Run? Stay? Run? Stay? With a shaky breath, she stepped into the hallway and cautiously maneuvered over the bodyguards.

The exercise room was situated off the living room, its glass walls allowing a view that connected the two spaces. One could work out while watching TV on the big screen or vice versa. Typically, the exercise room was reserved for the bodyguards and Richie’s oldest daughter. But this morning, the scene through the glass was disturbingly abnormal, and it took Liv a moment to process it. When realization struck, she doubled over and vomited onto the plush rug of the living room.

As she lifted her head, her eyes were glued to the glass, her mind racing with disbelief. Who could do such horrific things to others? To people who had been alive, breathing, and interacting just days before? The sight was beyond anything she had ever encountered, even surpassing the gruesome horror films she enjoyed.

She bent over again, retching until her stomach was empty, not that there was much to expel in the first place. Staggering back into the hallway, she caught a final glimpse of the bodyguards, Karl and Geezer, lifeless on the floor. Karl’s head was a grotesque sight, his brains oozing out like some nightmarish creation. Turning away quickly, she stumbled into the kitchen.

Liv slumped onto the stools lining a small counter, a place where she often found Richie. After a few moments, she remembered that the counter also served as a bar, where Richie sometimes kept a little something extra. Rising, she walked to the sink, turned on the tap, and drank directly from it. She swished the cool water around her mouth and spat a few times, invigorating herself. Leaning closer, she splashed cold water onto her flushed face, pushing away the excess with her hands.

Straightening up, she returned to the counter, now noticing the array of premium liquor bottles lined up. All the good stuff, nothing cheap. Her eyes landed on a bottle of imported Russian vodka, the label entirely in Cyrillic. It looked like a jumble of letters to her, but she could almost decipher it. She grabbed a clean glass from the top shelf and filled it with the vodka, savoring the anticipation of its burn.

Her gaze drifted to the small refrigerator beneath the shelves. Richie often kept supplies there, particularly in the freezer section. She recalled how he would say, “Wait just a second,” before retrieving what she needed. Had he done that every time? She couldn’t quite remember, usually too intoxicated to think clearly, but she believed it was almost always the case.

Settling back on the stool, she took a sip of vodka, relishing the warmth it spread through her stomach. No one would know… No one would suspect her presence here. She had seen Richie’s BMW parked in the garage’s other stall. If only she could find the keys…

Her eyes flicked to the hooks just inside the kitchen door, and there they were—the BMW keys, glinting back at her. The leather fob featured the distinctive BMW emblem. Licking her lips, she took another deep sip of vodka, feeling the liquor ignite a comforting fire within her. It warmed her thighs, spreading a pleasant heat throughout her body.

With a determined glint in her eyes, she looked back at the compact refrigerator and then stood up, swinging the door open, ready to seek whatever solace she could find.

Her eyes bugged out of her head. She had never seen the inside. She had only assumed that it was a refrigerator, but it was not. It was shelf after shelf packed tight with shit. Pot, cocaine, heroin, crack, crank and pills… Probably E, she thought; and at the very bottom stacks of money. She forgot to breathe and nearly toppled over off the stool before she remembered to take a breath again. She took several deep breaths and then went over to the kitchen sink and found the garbage bags underneath. This is not real, she told herself. It’s just not real… But it was. She knew it was. She could feel that it was. She took two bags, slipped one inside the other, and then loaded everything in the refrigerator into the bag: All of it. She hefted it and then went back and got a third bag and slipped it over the first two.

She was on autopilot now. She crossed to the rack, took the keys to the BMW and walked into the hallway. Gelatin, she told herself, just gelatin, as she stepped over Karl and Geezer and then started down the steps that lead down into the garage.

She nearly tripped over the carpet again, looked down, saw one slim dusky gray hand that had slipped out from under the carpet edge when she tripped over it, and quickly looked back up before it could cause her to lose her happy thoughts again.

She opened the garage door. She had thought it would be so hard. She had been convinced it would be, but it was easy. Push the button, the door went up. She climbed into the BMW, set the black plastic bag on the passenger seat, backed the car out of the garage, and then came back and pushed the button to close the door. She stepped back out the side door, shut it as well as she could, then opened it back up, turned the knob on the handset to lock it, and swung it closed once more. It was broken, but maybe it would lock anyway, she told herself. She looked at the dented gold handle of the knob for a moment wondering what had happened here, and then turned and walked back toward the BMW. No going back, her mind said. No going back.

The Paper Boy

She was nearly to the BMW when she bent double and heaved. The vodka came back up; burning her throat raw as it did. She slammed down onto her knees, skinning them, and retched until the nausea finally passed. She got up slowly, straightening her clothes as best she could, turned, and that was when she saw the kid standing on the sidewalk. She tried to smile as she staggered toward the BMW.

“You okay, lady?” the kid asked.

Liv met the kid’s gaze, her heart pounding in her chest as she processed his question. The idea of running away, leaving everything behind, sparked something inside her—a fleeting flicker of hope amidst the chaos.

“Yeah, why not?” she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt. “Life’s too short to stick around in a place like this.” She gestured toward the BMW, the black plastic bags ominously resting on the passenger seat. “I’ve got a plan. We could take this car and just… drive.”

The kid hesitated, uncertainty washing over his features. “But what about… everything? The police? Your—” He glanced behind her, as if expecting someone to come charging out of the shadows.

Liv waved her hand dismissively, trying to brush off the weight of her actions. “I’m not worried about that. Just think about it. A road trip. No responsibilities, no one telling us what to do. Just you and me against the world.” She felt a surge of adrenaline, the thrill of possibility mingling with the remnants of vodka still swirling in her system.

He looked around, weighing his options. “I don’t know… I mean, what if it’s a bad idea?”

“Sometimes the best adventures start with a bad idea,” she said, her voice low and persuasive. “Look, I know you might think I’m crazy, and maybe I am… but if you want to get out of this town, this is your chance.” She took a step closer, her eyes locked on his. “You in?”

The kid swallowed hard, glancing at the car, then back at her. She could see the gears turning in his head, the allure of freedom battling against the fear of the unknown. “I guess… it could be fun,” he finally said, a tentative smile breaking through.

“That’s the spirit!” Liv exclaimed, her pulse racing. She couldn’t believe this was happening; she felt like she was on the edge of a precipice, ready to leap into the abyss. “Get in. We’ll figure it out as we go.”

On The Run

He hesitated for a moment longer before sliding into the passenger seat, his newspaper bag forgotten. As he settled in, Liv felt a rush of exhilaration. She turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life, a powerful sound that echoed in the quiet morning air.

“Where to?” he asked, excitement mingling with uncertainty.

“Anywhere but here,” she replied, her voice steady and resolute. “Just hit the road and see where it takes us.” With that, she pressed down on the accelerator, and the BMW surged forward, leaving the darkness of her past behind.

As they drove, the sun began to rise, casting a warm glow over the horizon. Liv took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her choices lift just a little. This was their moment—an escape from everything, a chance to start anew.

Brian glanced over at Liv, his expression a mix of concern and determination. He could see the emotional storm raging within her, a struggle far deeper than the physical withdrawal she was facing. “Hey,” he said softly, trying to anchor her in the moment, “we’re in this together. Just breathe. One step at a time, right?”

Liv nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “Yeah, one step at a time.” She took a deep breath, focusing on the rhythm of the car and the sound of the rain tapping against the windshield. Each drop felt like a cleansing moment, washing away the remnants of her past. She pulled the BMW to the side of the road: He held as she shook with her sobs and they switched spots.

As they drove through the small town, the familiar sights began to fade into the background, replaced by the blur of trees and the open road ahead. Liv felt a flicker of hope ignite within her—a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Maybe this was the start of something new, something better.

“Do you have any idea where we’re going?” Brian asked, glancing at her as he maneuvered the car through the winding streets.

“Not exactly,” she admitted with a shaky laugh. “But anywhere is better than here. We can figure it out on the way.” She leaned back in her seat, feeling the tension in her body begin to ease, if only slightly.

Brian nodded, his focus shifting back to the road. “We’ll stop at the first gas station we find. Get a map, maybe some snacks. You need to eat, Liv.”

“Yeah,” she replied, her stomach twisting at the thought of food. “I guess I should.” She could feel the hunger creeping in, but the thought of eating made her stomach churn again. “Just… keep driving for now.”

As they passed the last remnants of civilization, Liv felt a strange sense of liberation wash over her. The weight of her old life was finally beginning to lift, even if just a little. She looked out the window, watching the trees blur by, feeling a sense of freedom that both thrilled and terrified her.

“How far south do you think?” Brian asked, breaking the silence.

“Far enough to forget,” she said quietly. “Far enough to start over.”

Brian nodded, his grip firm on the steering wheel. “We’ll get there, Liv. Just hold on.”

With each mile they put between them and the past, Liv felt a flicker of strength igniting within her. It was daunting, the road ahead filled with uncertainty, but as long as she had Brian by her side, maybe she could face whatever came next.

The rain began to lighten, and for the first time in a long while, Liv allowed herself to dream of what could be. A life free from the clutches of addiction, a chance to reclaim her future. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the rhythm of the road beneath them, and whispered a silent promise to herself: No more running away. This time, she’d fight to find her way back home.

Later

The flickering light from the TV cast soft shadows around the small cabin, creating a cozy cocoon in the midst of the cold Pennsylvania night. Brian settled into the chair across from the bed, his eyes occasionally drifting to Liv as she lay there, the peacefulness of her face contrasting sharply with the turmoil she had just endured.

He couldn’t shake the feeling of responsibility that weighed heavily on his shoulders. He had taken a leap into the unknown, and now there was no turning back. As he watched her sleep, he thought about how fragile life was and how quickly everything could change. Liv had been fighting demons that he understood all too well, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship with her.

Brian recalled the stories he had heard about recovery—how it was a long, arduous journey filled with setbacks and small victories. He wondered how Liv would handle the coming days and if she would be able to summon the strength to push through the pain. He wished he could take it all away for her, but he knew that ultimately, it was her battle to fight.

The TV droned on, but Brian was lost in thought, reflecting on the decisions that had brought them to this point. He thought about what life could look like for them if Liv managed to break free from her past. A life where they could make choices, build a future, and maybe even find happiness. The vision felt distant and fragile, but it was a flicker of hope he clung to.

As the hours passed, the cabin fell into a stillness, broken only by the sound of the rain tapping against the roof and the occasional rustle of branches outside. Brian’s eyelids grew heavy, but he fought to stay awake, wanting to be there for Liv when she woke up. He felt an overwhelming urge to protect her, to be the anchor she needed in this storm.

At some point, he noticed Liv stir, her brow furrowing as if she were caught in a nightmare. He leaned forward, softly whispering, “It’s okay, Liv. You’re safe. Just breathe.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around, confusion etched on her face. “Brian?” she croaked, her voice hoarse.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said gently. “You’re in a cabin. You’re safe.”

She blinked a few times, then grimaced as she shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. “How long was I out?”

“Just a few hours,” he replied. “You needed it. How are you feeling?”

Liv swallowed hard, the taste of regret and nausea still lingering. “Like shit… but better than earlier.” She attempted a weak smile, which faded quickly. “What time is it?”

“Close to midnight,” he said, glancing at the clock on the wall. “I got you cleaned up and settled. You just need to rest.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t think I’d make it here.”

Brian leaned back in his chair, relieved to see her awake, even if she looked like she had just emerged from a battle. “You did. One step at a time, remember?”

Liv nodded slowly, her eyes drifting shut again. “Yeah… one step at a time.”

As she drifted back to sleep, Brian felt a surge of determination. He would be there for her, every step of the way. The road ahead would be challenging, but together, they would navigate it, and perhaps, just perhaps, they would both find a way to heal. The flickering light of the TV illuminated the room, casting a warm, hopeful glow as they both surrendered to the night, ready to face whatever came next.

Slow

The warmth of the sun enveloped Liv as she sat next to the pool, its rays reflecting off the water and creating shimmering patterns on her skin. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. The chaos that had defined her life for so long seemed like a distant memory, and in its place was a budding sense of hope.

As she dozed off, thoughts of her past flickered through her mind. The girl she used to be, with dreams and aspirations, felt so far removed from the woman she had become. But here, in Los Angeles, she could sense the possibility of reclaiming that girl. The vibrant energy of the city, the laughter of people around the pool, and the simple joy of being alive filled her with a warmth she hadn’t known in years.

Brian, ever attentive, watched her as she drifted into slumber. He admired the way the sunlight danced across her features, illuminating the strength and resilience that lay beneath her surface. He knew the battles she had faced, the demons she had fought, and he felt an overwhelming urge to protect her. In the quiet moments like this, he could see the flicker of the girl she once was, and it filled him with determination to help her nurture that spark.

His own past loomed large over him, but with Liv by his side, he felt a sense of purpose. They had forged a bond that transcended their struggles; it was built on understanding and acceptance. He had been her anchor during the storm, and now she was his guiding light.

As he gently squeezed her hand, he marveled at how much had changed in such a short time. The love that had blossomed between them was unexpected, but it felt right. It was a balm for their wounded souls, a reminder that they were not alone in this fight.

Liv stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering open as she felt Brian’s warmth beside her. She smiled sleepily, her heart swelling with affection. “Hey,” she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

“Hey there,” he replied, his tone soft and reassuring. “You fell asleep on me.”

“Guess I needed it,” she said, stretching her limbs as she blinked against the sun. “It’s just so nice here.”

Brian nodded, taking in the scene around them. The pool glistened like a sapphire under the sun, and the laughter of others felt like music in the air. “It is. I’m glad we came.”

Liv sat up, leaning against the edge of the pool. “I never thought I’d get to experience something like this. It feels… different. Good different.”

He smiled, appreciating her vulnerability. “You deserve it. We both do.”

They shared a moment of silence, the weight of their pasts momentarily lifted as they basked in the warmth of the sun and the connection they had forged. Liv’s heart raced with the realization that this was more than just a getaway; it was a fresh start, a chance to redefine their lives away from the shadows that had haunted them for so long.

As the afternoon sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything, Liv took a deep breath, feeling the air fill her lungs. She looked over at Brian, his presence steady and reassuring. “Can we stay here forever?” she asked, half-joking but with a hint of sincerity.

Brian chuckled softly, squeezing her hand again. “If we could, I’d build us a little house right by this pool.

“Just us?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Just us,” he confirmed, a grin spreading across his face.

Liv felt a rush of warmth spread through her chest at the thought. Maybe this was what it meant to be alive again—dreaming of a future, no matter how uncertain it seemed. With Brian by her side, she felt ready to take on whatever came next.

As the day continued to unfold, Liv and Brian found themselves wrapped in the comfort of each other’s company. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue across the landscape. The sounds of laughter and splashing water from the pool created a lively backdrop, but for them, it felt like they were in their own little world.

Liv leaned back against the pool’s edge, her fingers still intertwined with Brian’s. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to savor the peace that enveloped her. It was a stark contrast to the chaos that had defined so much of her life. Here, she felt safe, free to explore the depths of her thoughts without the fear of judgment or relapse.

“Do you ever think about what the future holds?” Liv asked, her voice breaking the comfortable silence. She turned her head to look at Brian, curious about his dreams and aspirations.

Brian considered her question for a moment. “All the time,” he replied, his expression thoughtful. “I used to think about it a lot when I was in foster care. I wondered if I’d ever have a family of my own, a place where I belonged.” He paused, his gaze drifting to the water. “But now, I think about us. I want to build something real, something lasting.”

Liv’s heart raced at his words. The idea of a future together felt both exhilarating and terrifying. “What does that look like for you?” she asked, wanting to dig deeper into his vision.

“I guess it means having a home, maybe kids someday,” he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “But more than that, it means being there for each other, no matter what. Supporting each other through the tough times and celebrating the good ones.”

Liv felt a surge of emotion. She had spent so long feeling lost and disconnected from the world, but Brian’s vision of their future ignited a flicker of hope within her. “I want that too,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want to build a life that feels real and meaningful.”

Brian’s eyes softened as he listened to her. “We can do it together. I believe in us, Liv.”

The sincerity in his voice warmed her from the inside out. She squeezed his hand tighter, feeling a sense of unity that she hadn’t experienced before. “You’re right. We can take it one day at a time.”

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the sky transformed into a canvas of pinks and oranges. Brian stood up, pulling Liv to her feet. “Come on,” he said with a playful grin. “Let’s go for a swim.”

Liv laughed, the sound bubbling up from her chest as she followed him to the edge of the pool. The cool water lapped at their feet as they waded in, the refreshing sensation invigorating her spirit. They splashed each other playfully, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the other guests around the pool.

For Liv, this moment felt surreal. The joy of simply being present, of connecting with someone who understood her struggles, was a gift she never thought she would experience again. As they swam together, she felt the weight of her past gradually lifting, replaced by the promise of a brighter future.

After their swim, they lounged on deck chairs, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across the pool deck. Liv’s heart was full as she looked over at Brian, who was gazing at the sky, lost in thought.

“What’s on your mind?” she asked, tilting her head to get a better look at him.

He turned to her, a soft smile on his face. “Just thinking about how far we’ve come. It’s hard to believe we were both in such dark places not too long ago.”

Liv nodded, appreciating the depth of their journey. “I know. It feels like a lifetime ago.” She paused, her expression turning serious. “I still have moments when I worry about falling back into old habits.”

Brian’s gaze locked onto hers, his expression unwavering. “Me too. But we have each other now. We can lean on one another when those moments come.”

The sincerity in his voice resonated with Liv. She felt a sense of reassurance in their connection—a bond that had been forged through shared pain and healing. “You’re right. Together, we can face anything.”

As darkness enveloped the sky, they sat side by side, sharing stories and dreams, their laughter echoing into the night. The stars began to twinkle overhead, and Liv felt a sense of wonder at the vastness of the universe. It was a reminder that there was so much more to life than the struggles they had endured.

In that moment, Liv knew she was ready to embrace whatever came next. With Brian by her side, she felt equipped to face the future head-on, one day at a time.

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I hope you liked the free read and you can get the books at Google Play using the links below, Dell…

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Criminal Intentions

Criminal Intentions #1

Criminal Intentions are short crime fiction collections from Author W. G. Sweet. 7 to 8 stories ranging from short to near novel length. A mix of truth, fiction and almost truth. 

#Crime #Fiction #NonFiction #GooglePlay #eBook

Criminal Intentions #1 by W. G. Sweet – Books on Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=g9seEQAAQBAJ

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Criminal Intentions #2

Criminal Intentions is a series of books from Author W. G. Sweet that feature short stories in the Crime category. From true stories to fiction to almost true.

#Crime #Fiction #NonFiction #GooglePlay #eBook

Criminal Intentions #2 by W. G. Sweet – Books on Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=hdseEQAAQBAJ

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Home: https://www.wendellsweet.com

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