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“Well, he’s agreed to meet us.”
My gaze darts to Mia and she gives me a faint nod. We’re in this together. “Ok, here’s the deal. I need you to trust me when I say that I can’t give you all the details yet. Bro,” I turn to look at him, “I need you to set up a gathering with The Void.”
Logan hesitates, but Mom replies instead. “Do as he says, Logan. Please.”
He looks like he wants to argue, but lets out a long sigh instead. “Okay.”
“Just got a text from Victoria,” Big thunders. “To confirm that they’re on the plane back to New York.”
Logan frowns. “They?”
Big checks his phone, and the beating of my heart has gone from fast to erratic. “That’s what she says here, must be a typo.”
“Just get that gathering fixed up,” I bark to no one in particular, suddenly feeling heady with anticipation. “As soon as possible.”
“Alright everyone,” Logan stands and claps his hands. “Meeting’s over. Let’s get back to normal life, all.” He claps me on the back. “You’ve done a great job, little bro.” We watch the others walking around, conversations light, smiles brightly. “They were nervous when you weren’t here.”
“How’s Angélique? I noticed her looking tired.”
“Hm,” he hums, his eyes lasering in on his wife who’s talking to Mia and Charlie, a hand on her belly. “She’s having trouble sleeping at night. I don’t think it’ll be long before our little princess arrives.” He squeezes my shoulder and lowers his voice. “See you later in the office? I have a few things I want to show you.”
“Sure, man.” I watch him stroll across the room, sliding an arm around his wife as he tucks her closer, before gently guiding her to his bedroom. Right before he heads through the door, he turns. “We’ll return to office life and club activities. Big, stay here with my wife, please. I need to finish some things in the office. Sammy, go and visit Mason, then meet me at work.”
“Shall we go, sweetie?” Mia comes walking, my coat around her arm. “I promised I’d cheer you up. Both of you,” she throws me my trench, then hooks her arm into her brother’s. Charlie gives me an understanding grin, then we make for the door. The calm before the storm, I guess.
Chapter 16: Austin
“Again!”
With a shout I let out a series of blows against the punching bag, feeling my right knuckle burn despite the padding of the boxing gloves. My leg kicks out, high against the bag and I feel my muscles ripple, knowing that after a long flight and barely warming up, they’ll be sore tomorrow.
I crave the pain.
“And again!” Kai shouts, holding the bag like a shield. “I bet he treated you like the pussy you are.”
My growl roars like thunder and I dive in again, breathing hard as my fists crash into the taunting, unyielding leather. “Motherfucker!”
“That’s it, c’mon!”
Two more kicks, another set of punches, and I collapse, bend forward to grab my knees, panting like a damn dog.
“Feeling better?” My cousin tosses me a towel and I use it to dry my sweaty face and neck. Opening my water bottle, I mumble, “Not sure, man,” and take a big sip, ignoring his snigger. The strain in my muscles already start to radiate through my body and I embrace it greedily. I need the pain. Anything to make me forget the one bouncing between my mind and my heart like a goddamn ping-pong ball. Images of the past have been haunting me in my sleep—both last night and on the plane—putting me on edge with anger and anxiety. Connor… Fuck, I don’t want to think about him.
Kai gestures to me, an ice pack in one hand and his phone in the other. “Let’s get something cold on those knuckles. Then grab a shower, Thomas is on his way.”
“What does he want?” Folding the towel around my shoulders, I snatch the pack away, grab my duffel bag and make my way to the locker room.
“Don’t know, but he’ll be here in twenty.”
“I’ll be ready before you know.” The showers in the gym we own are small and impersonal. I only need a quick, hot wash, limbs already complaining when I do some stretching, then put on a faded, gray pair of jeans and a black, woolen jumper. When I stumble out of the bathroom, hopping awkwardly into one of my boots, I hear a familiar chuckle.
“There he is, our hero.”
I look up through my dark hair and grin at my dad, who’s eyeing me, his untouchable aura glowing around him as usual. With his composed appearance and black suit, he looks like the immaculate leader, sitting in his black, leather chair as if it’s some throne or shit.
The girl working the sports bar shuffles closer and hands us both a vodka and Coke, which I accept without tearing my gaze from him. His smiles are rare, so the unmistakable pride that glimmers through his eyes shoots me right through the heart. “I only did what I could,” I mumble.
“Nonsense.” He takes a long sip, then rolls the glass in his palm. “You saved that boy and convinced him to come over to help us with these horrifying murders. That’s what a hero does.”
