Page 39 of Revenge

“Yup. I saw the news.” He’s blunt and to the point. It’s one thing I’ve always liked about him.

“How soon can you get me more info on it?”

He lets out a gasp of air and thinks for a minute. “A couple days maybe. Four max.”

“Good. Come to the house on Thursday evening.” I end the call and turn to find my brothers watching me.

“You sure he’ll come through?” Axel asks.

“If there’s anyone I trust more than the two of you, it’s Carl. He’ll come through.”

Zane messes with his hair, throwing it back up on top of his head.

“You need to cut that shit.” I jerk my chin in his direction. “In prison, you’d already have a mouth full of dick.” My eyes narrow as I cock my head at the glare he shoots me.

“No way.” Axel sits up and looks insulted. “I’d be more popular than him.” He pulls out a pack of smokes and hands a cigarette to each of us. “They’re a little bent, but still work. Like Zane’s dick.”

Zane flips him off, but still takes the cigarette he’s offering.

We light up and sit there for a few minutes enjoying our smokes without speaking. It’s the first time the three of us have just sat together like this since my release and it feels damn good. A lump forms in my throat. I’ve been a shitty brother and need to start doing better by them.

“You know it’s okay for you to be happy again.” He chews on the side of his cheek as he waits for me to lose it on him all over again.

“Even if she’s the enemy?”

“Is she really, though?” Axel asks, giving me a knowing look. One of these days I’m going to knock the cocky out of him.

I open my mouth to snap back to give him shit, but nothing comes out because he’s right. I’ve been so focused on my need for payback that I haven’t stopped to see things that were right in front of me.

Shit.I guess it looks like I’ll be eating crow twice today and do something I never do. Apologizing.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Charlee

After my shower, I sit on the bed and hug my knees to my chest, letting the hours pass in a blur. My fingers dance along the edges of my bracelet as I watch more dark clouds roll in, an apt reflection of my current mood. My only saving grace is that my ankle feels back to normal. It looks like a bigger storm is preparing to roll in, which is only one of the reasons I didn’t attempt to make another run for it. I probably could have gotten farther this time because Asher and his brothers are distracted, but I don’t have it in me to move. It seems the news of my father’s murder is messing with them as much as it is me. Emotions weigh heavy on me. I’ve lost my dad and been treated like a whore all within the span of a few hours.

I should run, but where would I even go? I’m all alone; I have no one else. No way in hell would I go back to the house and risk running into Marco, or worse, the she-devil herself, Lola. My body cringes at the thought. That’s definitely not an option. I need to stay in here, take the time to figure out what I’m going to do and form a new plan, one that will get me far away from all of this bullshit.

The door opens and I know who it is without looking. If I weren’t somehow already attuned to him, the light scent of whiskey would be a dead giveaway. He sighs from his spot against the doorjamb, but I don’t take my gaze off the window. I’m still both hurt and pissed as hell at what he pulled with me earlier and don’t trust myself not to punch him in the face.

After a few beats, he moves further into the room and sits down next to me. The heat of his body radiates against mine, but I still don’t look at him. A pile of clothes is tossed on the bed between us.

“I brought you these.”

“Thanks.” I keep my body facing away from him. The way I’m feeling he’s lucky I don’t punch him in the face instead.

“You’re pissed at me and I don’t blame you. You’re going through something, too, and like the bastard I am, I thought of me and my shit first, but I’ll make you a deal, Charlee.”

Now he wants to make deals? Despite his words, hurt is still shining through front and center. There’s no way in hell I’m making it that easy for him. Whatever he wants he’s going to have to work for. When I crane my neck ready to tell him exactly where he can shove his deal, the bruises on his face kill all my resolve.

“What happened to you?” The question’s out before I can remember I’m mad and not speaking to this jackass.

“It’s nothing. Just a slight disagreement with my brothers.” When I don’t say anything, he continues, “Anyway, like I said before, I want to make you a deal.”

“What kind of deal?” My head cranes to the side as I study him for any signs of deception.

“You deserve an explanation about this morning and if you put these on—” he motions to the untouched pile of clothes “—I promise I’ll explain everything.”

---