Page 18 of Beast

“I’m giving you a chance to keep breathing. I suggest you don’t waste it. It’s time for you to get the fuck out of here.”

“And go where?” he asks, rubbing his wrists.

“I’m sure you know plenty of dark little holes you can crawl into.” My gaze meets his. “Maybe one of yourassociateswill help you.”

His eyes narrow to slits. “You will pay for this.”

I step forward, towering over him. “I’ve been paying since the day you were born.”

He scoffs but his bravado is short lived when he realizes I am serious. He’s done with the club. He is now a Nameless Man. Men who have betrayed the club and whose names are never mentioned in the halls of the clubhouse again. The only time their name can be spoken is in Church.

“Fine, I’ll get my things.”

I push a hand into his chest to stop him. “We’ll send your things.”

“You’re not letting me into my home?”

“This isn’t your home.”

The muscles on his hollow cheeks tighten. My brother wants to murder me. Its written all over his face.

“Dodger would hate this,” he says.

“No.” I glare at him. “He’d do exactly the same.”

Gaston tilts his head. His eyes are gleaming. “Well, we won’t ever know about that since he disappeared now, will we?”

The way he says it.

Like he’s suggesting something.

Knows something.

“You got something to say about Dodger’s disappearance?”

“Do you?”

His eyes bulge when I grab him by the throat and squeeze my fingers around his windpipe. “You suggesting I know something?”

His face turning red, he tries to slap my hands away. But he’s no match for me, and I have half a mind to keep squeezing until there is no life left in him.

But that tiny morsel of humanity left in me reminds me he’s my brother, and I let him go.

He falls against the stone wall, coughing and spluttering as he tries to regain his breath.

“Get the fuck out of my clubhouse,” I growl.

Gaston snarls and sniffs, then spits blood at my feet. “This is my home.”

“Not anymore.”

Gaston’s gaze is full of murder. He wants to beat the life out of me. The desire burns like dark fire in his eyes.

But he’s not willing to pick that fight. Not yet. “I won’t forget this. Keep looking over your shoulder, Beast, because one day I’ll be there and I will have my revenge.”

“That’s something a coward would say.” I take a step backward and open my arms wide. “Why wait—take your best shot here and now. Do it.”

He’s tempted. But also a little afraid.

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