Shaking his head, he sighs. “I wish it were that easy.”
“Do you think she’s gonna wait for you forever?”
He stops, not saying anything this time.
There’s an awkward pause in the living room as I remember Eli’s hiding somewhere in the apartment right now.
“You don’t even know her.”
I just shrug. “I’ve seen the two of you together. I’ve heard stories. I know enough.” Emphasizing the last part. “I know she risked her life to save me yesterday.”
At the mention of what happened yesterday, Z’s face falls, and he drops his MC exterior.
If I didn’t know him, it would surprise me as he pulls me in again, hugging me even tighter. “I was so fucking scared when I picked up the phone and you weren’t the one on the other end.”
“I can imagine.”
“What do you remember?”
“Nothing really, besides what he looked like. He came up to me at the bookstore, and we talked for a while before I agreed to go have a drink with him. I remember walking into the bar, and then I woke up in the hospital.”
His eyes drop, looking at me. I haven’t seen this side of him in years, and it’s bittersweet. I miss my brother, but I’m sad it took something like this to bring it out of him.
He nods his head, pulls out his phone, and presses on the screen until he turns it around to show me. “This him?”
New images from yesterday flash through my head, causing me to look away quickly. I’m sure that Z can tell by my reaction that it’s him, but he needs me to confirm it. Even though I’m not looking at it anymore, the photo is seared into my mind. He sits tied to a metal chair, duct tape covering his mouth. If I’d have to put money on it, I guess it would be in the basement of Pistons. Blood is streaming down his face, covering the tape that’s over his mouth, onto his legs, and soaking through the jeans he’s wearing until, I assume, pooling at his feet. I’m thinking he’s unconscious cause his eyes are closed as Spyder holds his head up by his hair.
“Yeah,” I whisper, my exterior finally breaking.
“You sure?” he double-checks with me.
“Yes, I’m positive.” Looking up at him, I know exactly what confirming it will lead to.
“Good.” Z sighs with relief, pulling me in for another tight hug. “Call me if you need anything at all.” He reminds me, just as he always does.
“I know.” Pulling away, he turns to the door. “What are you going to do?” I shouldn’t ask him, but I can’t stop myself. I need to hear him say it.
“Take care of it.” An evil smirk spread across his face as his persona comes back into place. “I’m going to make sure of that right now. I just needed you to confirm it.” And that’s the whole reason he just showed up at my apartment. I don’t doubt he was worried about me, but that took a backseat to the revenge that the MC prez wanted to get.
I attempt to keep my panic at bay as I hope Eli is hidingsomewhere far enough that he didn’t just overhear our conversation. Wondering if he’s already making calls. Wondering if I should tell Z not to go through with it. Wondering if I should tell him to come out and have a murder unfold right in my living room.
“Good,” comes out of my mouth before I can decide, so I just look up at him, nodding this time. “Cut his cock off.”
He just shakes his head as he looks at me. “Come on, Drew, don’t say cock, it’s weird for me.”
“You know I’m an adult, right?”
“I know, and I know you have sex.”
Oh, the irony.
“But then someone says it to me, and all I can think about is when you said it. It just ruins it for me.” He shakes his head.
“Fine, dick?”
“Not any better.” He’s laughing this time.
I can’t help but roll my eyes as he says it, and I can’t help but wonder if he didn’t leave college after my parents died and take custody if he’d still be this fucking protective.
