Page 44 of Echoes of Obsession

Ray looks up at me, his face pale and eyes wide with terror. “I... I understand,” he croaks. “It won’t happen again. I swear.”

I nod, stepping back and adjusting my vest. “Good. For your sake, I hope you’re telling the truth. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind and let the rest of my pissed-off brothers take their turn.”

Ray scrambles to his feet, backing away towards the hallway, where Reynolds steps aside just enough to let him pass. He disappears into the house, leaving the room heavy with tension.

I turn to my club, their faces set in grim determination. “Let’s get out of here,” I say. “We’ve made our point.”

As we leave the house, I can’t help but feel grim satisfaction. Ray learned his lesson today, and if he’s smart, he’ll never forget it. Zoe and Amara are safe. And that’s what matters.

***

Hunter: Next fight has been scheduled for this weekend. Venom is on the roster to cage it out with Beckam. Fucker doesn’t stand a chance against our guy. I might throw arounda rumor that Venom isn’t feeling well and might not be his best. If people bet towards Beckam and he loses, we’ll make big bank.

I roll my eyes at the message I received this morning from Hunter. All that man cares about is money.

“We have a problem,” Hayes says from the doorway of my office at the Cage. “Hunter is out here causing a scene. I’ve kicked his ass out twice, but the fucker keeps finding a way back inside.”

“Tell him to get his ass in here,” I sigh. “The idiot just can’t help but be the center of attention.”

“Yeah, well, he’s drunk.”

Fuck. It’s almost one in the morning, and I don’t have the time or patience to deal with his shit.

“What the hell are you doing, Hunter?” I ask when I reach him. “Where are your clothes?

“He’s trying to touch my tit,” some woman says. “And earlier, he shoved his hand up another woman’s skirt and tried to play with her pussy.”

Double fuck.

“Get off the bar and put your damn clothes back on,” I growl. “Then you and I need to have a talk.”

“Oh, hey, Ghost. Did you know your dancers make upwards of thousands of dollars a night? Hell, I can dance.”

Hunter moves his hips back and forth, his placid cock out where the world can see.

“I’m calling you a cab,” I say. “You’re going home and sleeping the drunk away.”

“Fuck you, Ghost,” he slurs. “I’m making some dough. Join me.”

“Get the fuck down, or I’ll knock you down.”

Sighing, Hunter fumbles around until he’s back on the floor.

“You used to be fun,” he says. “What happened? Is it that bitch you brought to the club? Did she turn you into a pussy?”

Without thought, my fist flies forward.

“You broke my nose,” Hunter says, blood running down his face. “I’ll be sorry you’ve ever met you. I mean, you’ll be sorry for meeting me. I mean… fuck you, Ghost.”

“When you sober up, you and I are going to have a serious conversation about our partnership,” I say.

“When I sober up, I’m going to fuck you, Ghost,” he says. “I mean, when I’m sober, you’re going to get fucked. FUCK! You know what I mean. We can’t be friends anymore.”

It takes nearly forty minutes to get him dressed and into a cab.

“Your friend is a nut,” Hayes says. “And the drunkest man I’ve ever seen.”

“Even drunk, all he can think about is money,” I sigh. “I’m thinking about buying his half of the company. It’s time that Hunter and I part ways.”

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