Page 126 of Sticks and Stones
Yes, yes, it was.
Some of that rage was directed at the bad guys, and some at himself. Since coming here,Philadelphiahas been making him into something that he didn’t recognize.
And that worried him.
Gene wasn’t some mercenary vigilante, but this city…it was testing his resolve. He couldn’t imagine any other city pushing him to his limits like this one.
“Talk to me.”
He pointed.
“How am I supposed to look at this and not be angry?” he asked Greyson. “They hurt him in ways he’ll never forget. With each case like his, and I’ve investigated plenty, I get angrier. That’s why I wanted out of Vice.”
Greyson saw the drag marks, and it made him ill thinking about it too.
So, he warned him.
“Don’t ruin your career over this. Think carefully about the future before you let it make you into a monster.”
He looked over.
“Thanks, Mom. I hope you never find yourself in the same position of having to choose between your badge and your family. It’s a damn difficult place to be.”
Greyson was worried.
“Oh, shit. You’ve already made up your mind,” he stated.
Yes, yes, he had.
This wasn’t going to court.
He was returning toBull’s, but he was returning as their worst nightmare.
Bet.
On.
It.
Every single person who touched Corbin, and destroyed that innocence in him, had a serious problem.
HIM.
Since he knew Corbin was going to wash away the evidence, they wouldn’t be able to lock this case down in court. One asshole would blame the other, and they’d blame someone else, and all that would happen was Corbin would be humiliated and broken.
Like he wouldn’t make Ethan face that, he also wouldn’t make Corbin face it.
Gene was going to have to face the cold, hard truth.Philadelphiawas going to be the death of him.
Without another word, he headed back toward the end of the alley. It wasn’t open on the other side. There looked to be a smoking area right outside the back door, leading into the shithole.
It would be the perfect place for the scum atBull’sto dump a dying man, close down the establishment, and call it a day. From back here, no one would hear Corbin screaming for help.
In his head, he pictured the man being hoisted into a garbage truck, tossed away, and never seen again. That didNOTHINGfor his temper.
As he scanned the area, what caught his eye was the mattress beside the dumpster.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a pair of gloves, and pulled them on. Then, and only then, he grabbed the mattress and pulled it from where it sat.
