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Gage insisted on hiring a security team to keep an eye on the house twenty-four hours a day. I don’t argue because of Tess and Conner. Anyone who comes here looking for me will also find them.
Nobody can make me believe that the attack was random or inspired by some petty macho pissing contest. No, Halligan isn’t quite dumb enough to make that kind of a plan without the promise of a hefty paycheck. He also has no friends who would be willing to risk a fall for him. His accomplices were also paid off.
And whoever is pulling the strings decided to make it personal.
Verypersonal.
I could name a list of punks I’ve grappled with over the years. But I also have instincts and every one of them is saying that this doesn’t have the flavor of an east side grudge.
This is deeper, uglier.
While these thoughts swirl around in my head, here comes the palpable itch under my skin. This longtime enemy is recognizable as my own rage. It propelled me into endless battles from the time I was in grade school. It kept me alive in prison when I had to do vicious things or else suffer having them done to me.
I’ve kept the rage under control for a while, properly channeling it into a career in the ring. I won’t be able to do that anymore. The rage knows it no longer has an outlet and is hunting for another way to show itself.
“I need to get the hell out of here.” Gently, I push Tess from my lap and leave the table.
“What do you mean? Where are you going?” She’s panicking, looking to Conner for help.
Fuck, how I hate doing this to her. “I just need to go somewhere alone and think. It’s not a big deal.”
Tess’s face crumples. I want to punch myself with my remaining fist.
Instead, I grab a set of keys from the ring by the door. “I’m taking your car. I’ll return it soon.”
Conner stands so quickly he knocks his chair over. “I’ll come with you.”
“No, you won’t.”
His jaw sets and he issues a stubborn glare. “The hell I’m not. You can’t stop me.”
My laughter sounds crazy. “You’re right, I can’t stop you, Conner. You’re the big, strong quarterback with both hands. And me?” I wave my stump in the air. “I’mthis.”
The blood drains from his face. Tess covers her mouth like she might vomit.
Still, I won’t back down, no matter how big of a piece of shit that makes me. “You’re not coming, Conner. And don’t send any of Gage’s fucking goons after me either. This is a solitary mission.”
I’m fast, out the door and backing out of the garage before anyone has time to recover. A black Escalade with tinted windows, undoubtedly one of Gage’s boys, tails me through the neighborhood and I let him think it’s allowed until I reach the freeway. Then I hit the accelerator and leave his ass behind.
I had no destination in mind when I set out, but it’s probably not a coincidence that I keep traveling east. As if my subconscious is leading me back to the place that was more than a second home. The place where I learned how to control my temper and found acceptance. Even friendship.
Golden Wings looks no different from the outside, but the twinge of loss in my heart is real. There’s really not a place for me here anymore.
Next door, the walking penis has a new costume. He wears a Scream mask with a huge pink inflatable dick strapped to his middle. He waves at traffic. He waves at me. I don’t wave back because I never do and I see no need to break from tradition.
Elijah is behind the front desk, as usual. He drops his phone when I walk in.
“Hot damn, there’s my boy.” He charges from behind the desk and crushes my ribs with a rare hug. “Good to see you, kid.”
I thump his back until he lets go. “Sorry I haven’t called you back. I know you’ve spoken to Tess too.”
“Hey, no worries. Let’s go have a talk in the office.”
“Actually, I came to clear a few things out of my locker.”
His brows pinch together. “No need for you to do that.”
If I can’t hide from the truth, neither can he. I hold up my arm. “I’m not a fighter anymore, El. There’s no point in pretending otherwise.”
