Page 3 of Undone

“We need to talk.”

“I’m not in the mood, Dare.”

He put a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s get some air. My lungs are full of smoke and ripe pussy. Jesus, Smith. Duke would shit bricks if he knew what you’ve done with the patch he handed down to you. His reign was all about cleaning the Club up and all you’ve managed to do is fuck it up again.”

“Watch your mouth, brother. You’re up in an ivory tower; forgetting how dirty things are down in the streets.”

“She applied for a lease in one of my buildings. Applied for teaching jobs in the suburbs too. I’ve called in a few favors to make sure she doesn’t get any of them. Do you want me to give her an apartment or lie and say her credit score wasn’t good enough?”

Hell. I never thought she’d move back to Chicago. “Let things play out. If she does move back—keep an eye on her. Threaten any man who dares to try and date her. Especially, Roque.”

“Jesus, Smith.”

My cold eyes turn to him. “She’s it for me, brother. I won’t let another man have her. But you didn’t fly out from Chicago just to discuss my girl, did you?”

“Not here.” He motioned with his head for us to go out back.

We cut our way through the smoky haze; I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until he pushed the door open with his palm and I sucked in fresh, cold, winter air.

Dare turned, looking at me distastefully. “Are we not good enough for you anymore, city boy?”

He smirked while straightening his thousand-dollar tie. “I’ll send you the dry-cleaning bill. It’s going to take five cleanings to get the smell of smoke and sex from my suit.”

“You wanted to talk?”

But we were interrupted by two club skanks who stared at us like we were on the menu that night. Dare averted his eyes, pretending they didn’t exist even as each of them stood between us. The brunette slid her hands down the front of his crisp sport coat. He stepped back and narrowed his eyes, “Move along, sweetheart.” A snort escaped me. The way Dare spat sweetheart, it was clear he used the endearment as an insult.

She pouted, muttering, “Dick,” under her breath as she grabbed her friend and walked in.

“Club girls aren’t good enough for you anymore, huh?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared out into the dark valley below. “There’s more important things on my mind tonight than getting laid.”

“I figured. I didn’t think you flew across the country to discuss her.”

“Rog asked for a meet. On paper, it looks as if I gave him a loan to expand Sassy’s… but it’s a good way to funnel Club cash into a legit business.”

I was about to reply, pissed as fuck that Rog set this up behind my back, but Cortez slammed out the door interrupting me. “I got fresh intel. Let’s ride.”

“Stay in town. We’ll discuss this later,” I demanded, brushing by Dare to hop on my bike to follow Cortez as he took off like a demon.

I filled my hands with lukewarm tap water and splashed it all over my blood-spattered face, watching as the pink water swirled down the drain. Finally, I lifted my head, not even remotely recognizing the man who stared back in the mirror. Would she also want this man? I’m so far from the man I was when I was with her. I’ve changed. I went too far in my vengeance. I’m a killer now. I always was—but killing for a war and killing in the streets are nothing alike.

I took the life from a man tonight, with my bare hands. Held his body as I beat the fight from it, feeling nothing.

“Fuck!” My knuckles were split and bloody. I held a hand over my eyes feeling tears.

Our love broke me.

I’m a broken man.

A beast now lives inside me, replacing the man who smiled and spoke pretty words of poetry.

He’s gone.

Vanquished by hate and the need for vengeance. Now I know how truly far I’d go for her even though I broke myself in the process.

I held my face in my bloodied hands, holding back sobs. I needed her; my angel. I need her now.

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