Free Out Of Bounds (Balls To The Walls) by Lolah Lace Page A

I arrived at this bloody condition. Soon, meaning two hours later I was back in my car with the weight of my actions consuming my thoughts.
    I drove back to Somerset Lane with my one functional hand. I entered the house and I soon realized that I wasn’t alone.
    My daughter Sienna was inside the house. I didn’t want her to see me like this. I forgot she was going to come over and help me pack. I had been a shitty father ever since the breakup.
    “Sienna.” I called out to her as soon as I reached the top of the stairs. She turned to me. She was in the bedroom folding my clothes and putting them neatly in a plastic bin. I walked in to join her. There was absolutely no need for me to hide my hand.
    “Dad, what happened to your hand?”
    She rushed over to me. “It’s nothing. There was some glass. I got cut.”
    Sienna didn’t believe me. I could see that much in her bleak facial expression. “Dad, you’re still sad and that’s okay. I know you will feel better when you move out of here. There are too many memories of that witch here. This place is the past.”
    “You’re right this place is the past.” I faked a smile. “I have one hand so I can’t really help you.”
    “I’m not doing all this by myself.” Sienna smarted off.
    I was grabbing a few items from the closet when I thought I heard the front door. It only took a few minutes before I could clearly hear Mason barreling through the front door downstairs. Great, I only have one hand. This Neanderthal is looking for a fight.
    “JACK! JACK!” I heard Mason calling out to me. Sienna had stopped packing. Her eyes grew big. She knew something was up. This asshole is scaring my daughter.
    Mason was up the stairs in seconds. He charged right toward me and punched me square in the face. My entire body landed on the bed. I didn’t try to defend myself. How could I with one goddamn hand? He had only gone in for one punch and he didn’t try to throw anymore.
    “Are you fucking crazy?” He was yelling like the mad man that he is. “You threatened my wife!”
    “It was an accident!” I tried to clear my name. I felt like shit and I sort of wanted him to hit me again. Scaring Kari was never part of my ultimate plan.
    “Bullshit!” Mason charged my way. He was going to hit me while I was down , not surprising.
    “STOP! Don’t hit my dad!” I heard Sienna scream from the closet entryway. Mason turned to look at her as if for the first time. I don’t think he noticed her before that. With all the commotion I had almost forgot she was in the room.
    I took this opportunity to get up off the bed. Mason watched me cautiously. His eyes flitted between Sienna and me.
    “Jack, you are irritating me dude, my patience with your bullshit has run out. Stay away from Kari! Get the fuck out of her house before I physically throw you out.” His nostrils were flared and I understood why. I scared Kari so bad I scared myself. I punched straight through her driver’s side window. Violence is not my go-to form of resolution. That is Mason. He’s the violent one. That’s not me. I didn’t want to upset or hurt Kari and I definitely didn’t want to hurt the baby.
    “You asshole! ” Sienna barked. “We’re leaving this dump! Get the fuck out and leave my dad alone!” Sienna was shouting and Mason was halted in place by her words. He looked a little lost. He looked perplexed.
    I saw a bit of the anger in his eyes subside. “Jack, stay, away, from Kari.” Mason calmly said as he backed out of the doorway. My daughter may have saved my ass. There was no way I could’ve defended myself with one hand.
    I heard the front door slam and with the door came the realization that I really hate that guy. Sienna rushed to the bedroom window and watched as Mason drove off down the street.
    S econds later, Sienna burst into tears right before me. I didn’t know what to do. She ran into my arms and I hugged my frightened and hysterical daughter. This was a terrible thing for