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The smartest of the bunch ran as soon as I stepped out from behind Savini’s shadow.
A few stragglers smacked each other, loudly whispering amongst themselves and questioning whether I was real or not. Some of them evaded us, too.
But then there were the stupid ones. The fucking idiots who decided to get cocky and pull out their guns and take a handful of the strippers hostage.
It wasn’t the cleanest operation, but Savini and I managed to slaughter every single remaining fuck boy with only a few injuries to the women. We worked well together, our backs to each other as we maneuvered through the dimly lit place to eliminate each of our targets.
I had shot the last one in the leg, his scream rippling through the air. He dropped his gun and clutched at the gaping wound as I shoved him onto the sticky floor and punched him over and over until blood dripped down my face. I rose from his dead body, and the women who were cowered in the corner gasped.
Savini reassured them that I would bring them no harm and told them to leave. He threw a quick bandage on the last woman’s arm where a stray bullet from one of the guy’s guns grazed her and told her to get to the hospital. He shoved a fistful of cash into her hand and turned toward me.
“Are we good?” I had asked him.
He nodded and I left, which brings me to the here and now, where I’m speeding across town and running every red light to get to the woman I did this all for. The one that’s going to fucking murder me for being late.
I burst through the garage door and into the house.
Magnus and Simon stop chatting and look right at me.
Magnus is the first to speak. “You can’t go up there. Not like that.”
“You don’t understand, I have to.” I glance at the clock, noting the three hours that have passed since when I told her I’d be here.
Simon puts his hand out to stop me. “Look in the fucking mirror, Dom.” He nudges me toward the one near our bourbon bar.
Blood streaks my cheeks and speckles my hair and beard. My knuckles are tender and painted red, too. The shirt that was perfectly pressed earlier today is now ripped and destroyed, stained with remnants of the evening.
“She’s already made it clear she wants to be left alone.” Magnus comes over and slaps me on the back. “Your best bet is to get yourself cleaned up and beg for forgiveness when she cools down tomorrow.”
“I didn’t mean to…” I don’t finish my sentence, because if being here was what I really wanted, I would have been. I might think I’m doing this all for her, but it’s pointless if I lose her in the process. If I must lose her, I’d rather it be this way than in death. I’d rather her hate me than be dead.
I can live with that, but I can’t live with doing nothing when I know her tormenter is still out there.
The only way to salvage this entire situation is if I come clean and tell her the truth about why I wasn’t here.
But what if even that isn’t enough to bring us back from the cliff I’ve thrown us off of?
13
JUNE
I’m so fucking mad I can’t think straight.
I thought I would sleep it off, but no, what little rest I did get was taunted by nightmares I couldn't wake up from. Luckily, my obsessive bodyguard shook me to reality and cupped my face in his hands.
He isn’t supposed to be in my bedroom, but that hasn’t stopped him from crossing that line and coming in here when I’ve needed him.
After a long shower where I stood under the water until my skin turned red from the temperature, I towel dry my hair and moisturize the fuck out of my scalded body. I dress quickly, throwing on the first thing I find in the expansive closet, and step into the hall.
I run smack dab into Simon’s strong chest. “Shit, I didn’t see you there.”
He steadies my shoulders. "Sorry, I should have stepped out of your way. Didn't realize you were still on a warpath."
I roll my eyes. “I’m not one to get over things easily.”
“I’ve noticed.” Simon motions for me to go ahead and walks beside me as we descend the stairs. “How are your palms?”
I show him the right one. “They’re fine.” The marks have scabbed over and started to fade. And I’m sure within a week or so, the cuts will be gone completely.
