Page 70 of The Cleaner

Twenty-Nine

MAVERICK

Sweat drips from my body.Every punch to the punching bag is filled with power and anger. Images of Lisa crumbling on the floor, looking broken, haunt me. I fucked up. Christ, I fucked up badly. Killing her dad was always going to happen. I did it to protect her. He's tied to the Jennings', and they're all going to pay for the shit they've caused. Tanya Jennings is one of the more prominent figures within that family, meaning that Lisa's dad was always a target, even before I knew what that cunt did to her.

My fist connects with the bag again, and I imagine it's Ben’s face. The satisfying thud echoes through the empty gym. I've been here for hours, trying to beat away the pain I’m feeling. But it's not working. Lisa's tear-stained face keeps flashing before my eyes. The way she looked at me when she found out what I’d done will haunt me forever. It was a mixture of horror, disgust, and love. There was also a hint of fear in her eyes.

I never wanted her to be afraid of me. Everything I've done, I've done for her. To keep her safe. To make those bastards pay for what they did to her. But in doing so, I've become the very thing she was trying to escape.

The irony isn't lost on me as I pummel the bag harder, my knuckles raw and bleeding. Have I lost her forever? That’s what I’m afraid of. What if she doesn’t want to see past what I’ve done?

I sink to the floor, my back against the cold wall, and bury my face in my hands. The adrenaline fades, leaving me hollow and aching. What am I going to do?

Lisa's words echo in my head:Don’t you get it? I’m not worthy of love. I fuck up everyone’s life.She has no idea just how much she means to me; how much I truly fucking love her. She’s so used to people giving up on her and leaving her be that she’s afraid I’ll do the same. She can’t see that she’s it for me, has been since the moment she walked into Callie’s pub last year.

Rising to my feet, I know it’s time to prove to her that I’m all in. We’ll get past this. I know it. Right now, I need to get to her. Leaving her was a mistake. What if she thinks I’m gone?

I don’t bother changing out of my sweat-soaked clothes. Instead, I make my way to the front door and out of the house, nabbing my phone and keys from the table as I do. The cool night air hits me as I burst out of the house. All I want to do right now is find the woman I love and hold her. I fucked up by leaving. That’s not what she needed. Fuck.

My finger hovers over the button on the key fob, ready to unlock my car. Suddenly, a sharp crack echoes through the air behind me, causing my muscles to tense and my heart to race. Before I can even turn around to see what caused the sound, a heavy object slams into the back of my head. A wave of dizziness washes over me and I feel myself losing consciousness as everything goes black. The last thing I hear is feminine laughter as I crash to the ground.

The moment I regain consciousness,I tense up as I remember what happened. Some motherfucker hit me over the head. Fucking bastard. Opening my eyes, I see I’m in a dimly lit room. The room spins as I try to focus, my head throbbing from the blow I suffered. I'm tied to a chair, my wrists and ankles bound tightly. The air is stale and musty, as though the room hasn’t been aired in years. As my vision clears, I make out a figure standing in the shadows.

"Well, well. Look who's finally awake,’ I hear the feminine voice say, and her words are filled with amusement.

I strain against my bonds, anger surging through me. "Who the fuck are you and what do you want?"

The figure steps into the light, and I glare at the cunt standing before me. It's Tanya Jennings, her red lips curved into a cruel smile. "Oh, I think you know exactly who I am. And as for what I want? Well, that's simple. Revenge."

I spit at her feet, my voice a low growl. "You’ll die for what you’ve done.”

She raises a brow at me. “What I have done? You killed my husband, my brother, and mutilated my other brother, and I’m the one who’s going to die?” Her laughter is forced. “No, you’ll die, Maverick. You’ll die for killing them.”

I glare at Tanya, my jaw clenched tight. "Your husband and brother deserved what they got. Your husband especially.”

Tanya's eyes flash with rage. She steps closer, her heels clicking on the concrete floor. "What did my husband ever do to you? You fucking Houlihan Gang members should come for me or Da, not my husband."

"I would have," I snarl. "But after I found out what you had done to my woman, there was no way in hell that I was going to leave it alone."

“What woman?” she sneers. “Don’t tell me that the mighty Maverick has fallen for some stupid girl?”

Fucking bitch. The moment I get free of these bindings, I’m going to kill this bitch. “Lisa Turner. You know her, right, Tanya?”

Her eyes darken with anger. "Lisa was weak," she spits. "Just like her mam was. Useless and fucking crazy. She tried to come between my husband and I, even wanted me to leave the house I lived in. She was delusional. No one puts me second, not even to a fucking crazy bitch like Lisa.”

My vision goes red. I strain against the ropes, wanting nothing more than to wrap my hands around Tanya's throat. "You sick bitch. You manipulated a thirteen year old girl into trying to commit suicide.”

Tanya's eyes narrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she quickly masks it. "How do you know about that?" she hisses, leaning in close.

"Lisa told me everything," I growl, meeting her gaze with sheer hatred. "How you tormented her, made her believe she was crazy. How you pushed her to the brink."

A cruel smile twists Tanya's lips. "Oh, poor little Lisa. Always the victim, isn't she? She was nothing but a nuisance, getting in the way of my perfect life. I did what I had to do."

My muscles strain against the ropes, fury coursing through my veins. "You cunt," I spit. "I'm going to make you pay for every tear Lisa ever shed because of you.”

Tanya smirks. “I’d love to see you try. What are you going to do? Hmm? You’re tied to the chair. You’re pathetic. You were unconscious for hours. You didn’t even wake when I dragged you into the house.”

“Where did you manage to get this house from?” I snarl, my fingers trying to undo the rope. “What poor fella did you burn to get it?”

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