Second Best

“Sorry. I can’t be tied down to one man, hun,” she said, hips swaying as she walked away.

Rose Nanson, steeped in rumors of lust and adultery, was the apple of his eye.

A new man this week. Maybe two – he’d lost track of the gossip. The things he heard about her made his ears burn, and not from modesty.

When he saw her with her latest catch, he saw red. Or maybe green. Jealousy consumed his soul. He could just imagine his older brother laughing at him now.

Always second best, Johnny-boy. That’s all you’ll ever be, he’d say.

Always average. Never number one. Well, he’d show them all. And Rose Nanson would send his message for him.

If he couldn’t have her, no one could.

He slowly stalked away, tapping the gun in his pocket with a smile.