Page 8 of The Penalty

“Nonsense,” Jordan scoffed. “It’s just like old times, right? A little chat. Some drink. Maybe a few ladies. Is your girlfriend visiting, Xavier?”

Blind rage consumed me. I covered the distance from the door to the couch within seconds and had Jordan in a chokehold. Cade tried to pull me off him but fuck that. I wasn’t releasing this piece of shit’s neck.

Fury spread from my chest to my limbs, ripping through me. I squeezed his neck tighter.

Bennet gripped my arm with inhuman force and yanked me back so hard I thought he dislocated my shoulder. His strength stunned me. I almost took a swing at him but the look in his eyes stopped me dead in my tracks.

“That’s twice, Maddox. You should really work on your anger issues.” Jordan rubbed his neck and aimed a dark stare at Bennet. “We’ll pick this up another time, yeah? You have your hands full.”

Both Cade and Bennet restrained me while Jordan left the room.

Every breath I took drove a phantom spear through my lungs, making it impossible to retain enough oxygen. Maybe it was for the best.

Maybe I should just let it all rip me apart.

Maybe…

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

You’re nothing.

All the muscles in my body tensed. The pressure building inside my chest exploded. A sharp yell ripped through the room.

It took a few seconds to realize it came from me.

“Let him go, Cade. I got it.” Bennet kept an iron grip around my arm.

Blood pounded in my ears. “Sorry,” I muttered.

“Sit” was all he said in return. I scrubbed my hands on my face and ran them through my hair before sitting on the couch. Heavy tension filled every corner of the library.

The cut was pretty deep. You’ll probably have a scar. You got jumped in my own fucking driveway. That’s no way to greet an old friend.

“Drink.” Bennet held out a glass of scotch.

I extended a shaky hand and took it. The amber liquid coated my throat in smoky relief. Without saying a word, Bennet refilled my glass. The alcohol helped but it wasn’t what I wanted.

What I really wanted was Victoria. If I could only pull her close, bury myself inside her, and lose myself in her warmth, her laugh, her embrace…I’d feel whole again.

Instead, I leaned my head back and listened to the silence.

“Why was he here?” Cade asked the question playing on the tip of my tongue. “And why didn’t you tell us?”

“He was here because I invited him. And again, you weren’t supposed to be here for another hour.” Bennet’s cold reply signaled there would be no further discussion.

“Whatever, mate.” Cade sat next to me. “You feeling better?”

“I’ll be fine,” I lied, trying and failing to extinguish the persistent embers of wrath still coursing through me.

Bennet sat on the other side of me. The three of us must look ridiculous. Cade with his sour pout. Bennet with an exterior so icy it could freeze the sun. And me, a ball of rage and anxiety wound up tight enough to burst.

“You think I don’t know what you did the other night?” Bennet scolded. “You think I don’t have contacts at that club? What the fuck, Xavier?”

I lifted one shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “I thought our chat was rather productive.”

“You assaulted him for no reason.”

“No reason?” I sat up straight. “Have you forgotten the hurt and guilt consuming Victoria? That prick—”

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