Page 31 of Wrath

“Raze is a good man, and the vision he has for this club is the reason I’m sticking around,” she assures me, pulling herself together and getting up. The place is still trashed from last night and when she starts clearing some of the tables I decide that adistraction from the mess, that is my life right now, is exactly what I need. So I get up and set to work helping her.

An idea comes to me when I pass a sports store on my way to Mark Collard’s office and after making a quick stop off, I park outside his big, shiny building and get off my bike. I reach over my shoulder as I head toward the doors, lifting the new baseball bat I just purchased from where I’ve tucked it in the back of my jeans.

I tip my chin as I pass the receptionist and her mouth drops open as she watches me march down the glass-walled corridor that leads to the bastard's office.

I stop myself when I see him, en route. He’s sitting in one of his boardrooms, casually leaned back in his leather desk chair, and listening to one of the five people with him as they make some kinda presentation. A presentation that I shit all over when I let myself in and steal the attention of everyone around the table.

“Sorry for the interruption.” I smile at them all sarcastically, before swinging the bat into the refreshment table that’s neatly laid out beside me. “It’s just that this little jerk…” I point the end of it directly at Mark, “...thinks that it's okay to bully women.” Stepping around the big, long table I smash my new toy into the huge TV screen that's mounted on the wall and displays his company logo.

It gets a good reaction outta my audience, one woman even crawls under the table like she’s preparing for an earthquake.

“This sorry-assed bastard humiliated someone that I care very deeply for.” I move toward him, pressing the top end of the bat into the chair between his legs and resting both my hands on top of the handle. “Now, I think it’s time for that sorry-assed bastard to do some listenin’.” I look the fucker in his sunken eyes and snigger.

“If you go near Eden, or her studio again, I’ll shove this bat so far up your ass that you’ll be able to taste your own shit. If you ever make another attempt to embarrass, or shame her...” I grab his face when he tries to look down, and seeing the sweat pouring from his forehead, and the way he trembles, makes me laugh at him. “...You're pathetic.” I save my words and release him from my grip. He knows exactly what I could do to him. Tapping him on the cheek I take a few paces back, shaking my head at the sorry excuse for a man as I back out the door. I take one more swing with the bat at the huge glass wall expecting to crack, what I don’t expect is for it to shatter completely. “There will be no more warnings,” I promise him, leaving all the gasps and screams behind me as I head for the exit.

“Excuse me. Ummmm, sir?” I stop when I hear a female voice and as I turn back around a woman wearing a red pantsuit and leopard print heels clambers her way over the broken glass to chase after me.

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a face for the industry?” She smiles up at me seductively, holding one of her business cards out between us. “I’m always looking to take on new clients. With those eyes and this body.” She glances me over and licks her lips. “I’m sure I could get you plenty of work.”

“Janice!” Mark calls out at her angrily.

“Sorry darlin’ showbiz ain’t for me.” I wink at her before I turn back around and when I see the security guard waiting forme by the exit I notice his face getting paler as I stomp toward him. He breathes a sigh of relief when I press the bat's shaft against his chest and let him take it.

“Might wanna get someone to clear up that mess, for your boss” I suggest, tapping him on the shoulder before leaving the office and heading out to my bike.

I do a double-take when I get back to the club, and see Rocco on gate duty.

“Why ain’t you at Eden’s studio?” I call out to him once I’ve parked up.

“Didn’t realize I was supposed to be.” He shrugs back at me.

“Eden not here?” I see Peyton’s car in one of the bays so it makes no sense that he never got the message I sent with her.

“Yeah, she’s here. Why am I needed at the studio?” he questions.

“Load a cage with some cleanin’ supplies, and I’ll message you the address. Eden’s asshole ex had some real nasty insults written all over her windows. I want ‘em gone by tomorrow mornin’.,” I order, before heading through the arch toward the clubhouse. Raze not being here means I’m in charge and I wanna check everything’s in order before I go in search of Eden and commit the rest of my afternoon to making sure she’s okay. When I open the barroom door, I’m surprised to find her here, stepping toward the bar carrying a tray of empty glasses and still wearing that fancy outfit and those kick-ass heels.

“What thehellare you doin’?” I snatch the tray off her and place it on the bar.

“I’m helping.” She steps around it and starts loading the dirty glasses into the dishwasher, and I can tell by her refusal to make eye contact with me that she’s mad.

“Eden, look at me,” I order, scowling at Saul when I notice him lean over the bar to check out how good her ass looks in the tight pencil skirt she’s wearing. “Eden, why the fuck are you mad at me?” I’m confused.

“Do I really have to point it out to you?” She eventually straightens up and turns to face me, pinning me with those blue eyes.

“Yeah, ya gotta point it out.” I grip the edge of the bar in frustration.

“You…You just keep making my situation worse.” She shakes her head.

“Ido?” I stare back at her in shock.

“Yes, Aaron. You. I just got a call from Laura and she told me what you did at Mark’s office. I broke that man’s heart, I ditched him in front of all his family and friends. What does it matter if he wrote some nasty words on my studio window?” She tries her best to make it sound like she’s not bothered, but I saw the mess she was in when I arrived at her studio earlier.

“It matters because it hurt you,” I tell her.

“I asked you not to react but you didn’t listen.” Tears are building in her eyes and knowing I’m the cause of them makes me grip hold of the bar a little harder.

“I wasn’t gonna let him get away with sayin’ those things, Eden, you're my–”

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