Page 16 of Revenge

Axel shakes his head but doesn’t back out. He can’t. If he does, we’ll never let him live it down. He brings his hands up in front of his face, waiting on me to make my move. “No face shots. I have a date later this week.”

“No promises.”

We bounce on the balls of our feet, keeping our steps light as we focus on each other. My fist aims for the side of his head, but he blocks it with his left one and swings a jab at me with his right. I’m able to block the hit with my arms before he can get me in the gut.

Round and round we go, each of us bobbing and weaving, dodging the others’ fists. Axel is holding out better than I thought he would. I’m impressed with his ability to hold his own, but he’s getting tired. The hits are becoming wide and sloppy. His endurance is no match for mine.

He throws a punch and drops his other hand a bit, exposing the left side of his face. I take advantage and nail him in the eye.

“Shit.” He shakes it off but doesn’t tap out.

His temper gets the best of him and starts coming at me fast and hard. I let him get a hit in and he’s so focused on his victory that he doesn’t see my fist until it’s too late. I throw an uppercut, hitting Axel right under the chin. He’s knocked down onto the mat and flat on his back.

“Fuck, man. What the hell was that?” Axel groans from his sprawled out position on the mat.

“That was what happens when you get cocky and let your guard down. Remember that because there are no second chances if you fuck up out there.” I hold out my hand and help him sit up. His bottom lip is split open and there’s a small cut along his right eyebrow, but other than that he’s fine.

We sit and catch our breath while Zane watches from his seat. He knows I needed this. The longer he stares, the more my agitation grows. I hated the way I was always watched in prison, like I was some animal they might need to tase, and I’ll be damned if one of my own does it to me.

“You know I hate it when you fucking stare like that. If you have something to say, just come out and say it.” I don’t spare him a glance as I unwrap my hands.

“All right.” Zane laughs. “Now that we have her, what’s our next move?”

I stop what I’m doing and meet his gaze head-on. “Now, we’re gonna take them out one by one.”

“Starting with that fucker, Benny?” Axel asks, looking ready to maim something.

“Tomorrow night.” I nod.

“And Diego? He’s bound to know she’s missing by now.” Zane presses his lips together into a firm line.

“We’ll make the call in another day or so. Let him tear the city apart looking for her first.”

“And the girl?” Axel dabs at his lip and glances up at me. He’s too interested in Charlee and it’s setting me on edge.

I wipe the blood off my knuckles, letting my silence speak for itself. Charlee’s mine and I’ll take my time with her.

Chapter Ten

Asher

Benny rolls the creeper underneath a Corvette and goes to work, completely unaware that he’s being watched. His radio is blaring Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” making him both deaf and blind to his surroundings.Idiot.He’d never last a day in prison.

Our feet never make a sound as we enter the shop. I stop a few feet away from the passenger side of the Corvette, while Axel follows Zane toward the lift’s control switch with his aluminum bat in his hand. I tilt my chin over the roof of the car and give Zane the signal. He pushes the release lever and the lift drops. Benny only manages to get his top half out from underneath the car before he’s pinned down. He pushes against the car, but it’s pointless. He ain’t going nowhere. His groans of pain echo against the metal walls and my body lights up like the Fourth of July. Time for this piece of shit to pay his dues.

“You didn’t secure your lift. That’s not very smart, Benny.” I cock my head to the side and glance down at him.

He’s disoriented and struggling to make sense of things, but then his black beady eyes take me in, and I see the exact moment recognition flares behind them. “Detective Savage?”

My body tenses. I haven’t heard that name in years and it’s like pouring acid on an open wound. Something inside of me itches to break free, but I ignore the war that’s battling underneath my skin and focus on him. “It’s just Savage now.”

And he’s about to realize just how relevant that is.

“I thought you were locked up?” His dark eyebrows pinch together.

“He got out.” Zane comes to stand next to me and crosses his arms over his chest.

Benny’s Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he takes in the sight of my brothers and me. We’re scary as fuck on a good day, so I can only imagine what must be going through that small brain of his. He tries to put up a brave front, but I can see right through his bullshit. He’s scared shitless and he should be.

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