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Chapter 24
Ares
My cell is chiming on the weight bench. I brought it into the clubhouse gym when I decided to hit the punching bag. I'm fucking mad. For a second or two, I wondered if Gavin was who Willow wanted.
But even I have to admit that what's driving me nuts is wondering if she's okay. I keep thinking about the fucked-up shit I believe Holt is responsible for too, and I want to bash in his skull. I did check my house after Zoe left, just in case, Willow was there. I needed an outlet for this raw and frustrated energy when I got back here, so I'd been in the gym for the last 45 minutes, sweat dripping down my bare chest. I wore a pair of sweatpants and had a run on the treadmill before wrapping my hands so I could go at the bag. I stop and hit the speaker key on the cell phone screen.
"Speak!" I say gruffly.
"Ares," Zoe calls out, and before I can reply, she says, "Willow called."
"Is she okay?" I wait.
"I think so, but I don't have the details yet. Willow’s at some gas station in Culver City," but before Zoe can finish her sentence, I interrupt.
"Where?" I demand.
"Look, I'm almost there. I'm calling from my car. Cody is with our neighbor. Head to our house. We should be there soon," Zoe reasons.
"Fuck that, Zoe.
I want to know where."
The phone disconnects, and I roar, my voice echoing in the room.
Misfit shows up at the door, "what the fuck, Prez?"
"Find Zeke. I want to know where Gavin is before this night is over. I'm going to get cleaned up, and I'm riding over to Willow's house," I call out as I barge past him toward my room at the clubhouse.
Misfit asks, "what's happened?"
"Nothing good," I say cryptically.
***
I'm pacing in front of Willow's house when they pull up in the driveway. It's dark out, and I can't see inside the car. I stand, waiting, not knowing what to expect when I see Willow get out of the car and pause. I catch her face in the lights on the garage. I propel myself forward so I can get a closer look. She doesn't say a word but grabs me for a hug. I pause, not knowing what to say. I can't be sure because the lighting isn't great, but it looks like she's been in a fight.
Zoe stops behind us and says, "come inside so we can talk. Plus, we need to get you some ice for your eye, Willow."
I pull away from her and grab her hand to pull her along with me. I want to punch something, but instead, I work to control my breathing as we make the short walk into the house.
In the light of the room, I turn to Willow and curse. She has a black eye and what looks like a knot on the other side near her temple.
"Did he hurt you anywhere else," I grit out slowly?
"No," she says, closing her eyes for a moment.
"No?" I question.
Willow looks at me intently and says with more assurance, "No, I'm okay."
Zoe comes back into the room with an ice pack.
"Let her sit down.
I'm going to get her some tea.
Can you go to the closet down the hall and grab her a blanket?" Zoe instructs.
