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But she’s still there, ever present. I hear her laughter in my dreams, see her face in my mind daily, and even though New York is busy, there is always room in my head for her.
It’s done nothing to lessen my self-loathing.
“Your worst fucking nightmare.” I step closer, ready to rumble.
One of the younger guys steps forward, and I don’t hesitate as I rear my arm back and hit him square across the jaw before he even has time to get his footing. He jerks back, his body hitting the table with a jostle, just as the other one steps toward me.
I look at Dante for a second and see him standing back, arms crossed, letting me have all the fun, which I don’t mind at all.
“I think you need to step back, brother,” the guys warns me as he takes another tentative step in my direction.
“I’m not your brother,” I spit back as my hand flies out and I connect with his nose. Blood spurts from the impact, but I don’t stop as he lunges for me again.
He gets a hit into my ribs, and I yank his head back and head-but him in the face, further damaging his already broken nose.
“Fuck!” he groans, but doesn’t pull away, his resilience admirable.
When he lunges for me again, I swivel, kicking him in the torso, before I step toward him and follow it up with another hard punch to the ribs, hearing two of them break. He staggers back, but still doesn’t lay down. Unlike the other guy, who still hasn’t risen from the floor.
“Not so fast,” I hear Dante’s voice rumble, as he grabs Henderson by the sleeve, just as he was trying to escape.
“Carter, stop playing, we’ve got what we came for,” Dante says, pulling Henderson along, taking him out to the car.
I look back at the two men, both bloody and broken.
Throwing another punch, it lands right across his temple, sending his head whipping to the side. I see the lights in his eyes go out before his body even hits the floor.
“Goodnight, brother.”
Straightening my shirt, I look around, all eyes in the place on me. So, I nod quickly, pacing out the door to meet Dante and Henderson.
Sebastian has some questions.
***
Turns out that Cliff Henderson was a dead end. After bringing him back to the compound and turning him black and blue, he didn’t give us anything. Even though he was most definitely hiding something. Leaving us all frustrated, we kept him a few days before I stole his last breath. His soul joining all the others that I have taken in the depths of hell.
Dante and I have been out and about every few days, following the trails of businessmen, while Sebastian and Nico have been following the money, the paperwork.
Between the four of us, we know we are getting close, but as I look down at my knuckles, the bruises and cuts are not going away. Cementing to me that Cat and I just aren’t meant to be.
Chalk and Cheese. Day and Night. Never meant to happen.
The small scar above my eyebrow has faded slowly, but the memory of the way her body felt under my touch, not so much.
Walking into our meeting room, I am the first one to arrive, and I slump in my chair as I pull my ringing cell phone from my pocket.
I see Benji’s name on the screen, so I answer quickly.
“Hey, man,” I say casually, when all I really want to do is ask if he has seen her, if she has been back at the gym this week. I don’t need to know, of course. Because I already do. I like to taunt myself at night, watching the gym cameras, and I am glad she is still doing the classes. That what I did hasn’t deterred her from doing what she can to keep herself safe.
“Hey, I have news.” I can hear him walking around, and I know he is at the gym, running up the stairs for privacy.
“What’s going on?” I press, as I get myself settled, waiting for the boys and wanting him to get to the point. The gym has been going well, and all bills are paid. From what I can tell, there are no issues with the staff either, so I have no idea why he is calling.
“I saw Doc with another man this morning,” he finally says, and I still. My heart pounds out of my chest, blood pumping through my body and heating me up in the worst way.
“And?” I grit out, as I crack my sore knuckles, hating the world right now.
