Page 40 of Erik's Salvation
Eight years to the day since he’d received the news. The news that had come when he’d thought he was already at rock bottom.
He hadn’t been. He hadn’t even known the depths that one could reach. That a few words could plunge a person into a hell so bottomless, few knew it existed. A hell he’d yet to climb out of.
Jab, jab, hook.
He’d gotten his revenge. But since that day, he hadn’t been living, only surviving. Now he was back in Redwood, and suddenly he wanted things he shouldn’t fucking want.
He’d slept with other women since the day his world had imploded, but none of them had meant anything. With Hannah, every touch meant something.
His phone beeped, and for the first time all afternoon, he dropped his fists, chest heaving with his panting breaths as he looked at the screen.
He narrowed his eyes. Someone was here.
He clicked into his cameras and shock smacked him when he saw it was his brother, Nate.
When did he get into town? He wasn’t supposed to be here until the fundraising ball.
The doorbell rang, but instead of going upstairs, Erik used the phone app to unlock the door. Nate would find him. He turned back to the bag and began to pound it again.
It didn’t take long. He felt his brother before he saw him. It didn’t matter how long it had been since he’d last seen Nate; today would always be a day he didn’t want company.
“What are you doing here?” he asked without stopping or turning away from the bag.
Nate came into view. He was five years younger than Erik but just as tall and broad. He also had the same hazel eyes. There was no mistaking him for anyone but his brother. “I knew you were home. I also knew this was a heavy day for you. So I took the weekend off to check on you.”
“I’m fine.” When Nate kicked off his shoes and tugged his shirt over his head, Erik stopped and glared at his brother. “What are you doing?”
Nate grabbed some gloves from a box. “I haven’t had a round with you in years. I think it’s time.”
“I’m not fighting you, Nate.” His brother could well and truly hold his own, but right now, Erik was in a dangerous mood. That was why he’d chosen the bag instead of driving to a boxing gym.
Nate punched his shoulder. It wasn’t a light fucking tap, either.
Erik faced him. “Don’t do that.”
“Hit me.”
“No.”
The next punch came hard and fast, but Erik brought up his arm and blocked. “Stop.”
“Fight me.” Another punch.
This time, Erik slipped to the side. “Nate. I’m not in the mood.”
“You are, though. You want to beat the shit out ofsomeone. Why not me?”
“Because I don’t want to hurt you.” He knew how stupid that sounded. His brother was a damn SEAL.
Nate lifted a brow. “Still underestimating me, big brother.”
This time, Erik didn’t just block Nate’s right cross, he followed it up with his own. Nate slipped away, narrowly missing the hit.
“You can do better than that,” his brother cajoled. Nate was pushing his fucking buttons and he knew it. It was something he’d always been good at.
Erik swung again, this time catching Nate in the gut with a hook.
His brother barely reacted. In fact, he smiled. “Felt good, didn’t it?”
