Page 10 of Barrett

“Was blood drawn?”

“No.”

“Do I need to worry about either of you getting arrested?”

“No.”

“Then go, Reghan. Take Oleander with you to the gym and get that shit out of your system.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied. I could hit every bag down there, run on the treadmill for an hour, and I still wouldn’t remove Barrett from my system. Although, maybe I could get the tension to bleed out of me a little.

Oleander and I stepped into the elevator and stood still until the doors closed and we both relaxed.

“What did Barrett do?” Oleander asked.

“Nothing I want to talk about.” It was one thing for me to tell my brother. While I was friendly with all the guards, none of them knew me well. They got bits and pieces. Little slices to let them know I was human.

“So be it.” The doors opened, and we stepped out on the floor the gym was on. “Get changed, and you can pound the shit out of something.”

I nodded, then walked to my locker. I kept it stocked with clean clothes. Migraine medicine sat on the shelf, so I slid one of the dissolvable tablets onto my tongue. The throbbing in my head would ease soon. Was working out the best thing to do with a migraine brewing? Probably not, but I was pissed and needed to get the anger out.

After I was dressed, I entered the gym to find Oleander talking to Sheldon. It wasn’t surprising. They were as close as my brother and I were, except they weren’t related.

“What do you need?” Sheldon asked in a way that told me he wanted to help. He was wearing black shorts but no shirt.

I stretched my neck from side to side. “I’m going to run.”

He nodded. “Treadmill or laps?”

Now that I thought about it… “Outside.”

“Let me grab a shirt.” He didn’t ask, didn’t even bat an eye. Sheldon jogged to the locker room for a shirt.

“I’ll come too,” Oleander said. I’d tell him he didn’t have to, but Jordan asked him to go with me. He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. My guess was it was to Barry, the head of security, to let him know the three of us wouldn’t be in the building.

We didn’t have to check in with him constantly, but he should know when three of Jordan’s top guards were leaving. Even if we weren’t on duty, we were still here if anyone needed us.

The three of us took off without a word once we were outside, falling into sync as our feet hit the sidewalk. We easily dodged around the people still out, then changed course to put us on the lesser traveled roads. On this side of the city where Jordan was king, we didn’t worry about much. Hell, we didn’t on the other side either. While I wasn’t armed and doubted Oleander was, I noticed something strapped to Sheldon’s bicep under his shirt sleeve. We didn’t need weapons, but they came in handy.

We kept running, staying in step with each other until my thighs burned. That was when I knew it was time to turn back. The longer we were out there, the more the city quieted. There were sirens in the distance and the occasional argument was heard through an open door or window. All things I easily pushed away.

I also made sure to keep my mind off Barrett. Instead, I mentally listed what I needed to do tomorrow before I showed up at Jordan’s home for my shift. Laundry was to be started, and other chores were to be done. I should clean.

When we returned to the building, I had sweat running down my body. I used my shirt to dry my face.

We rode the elevator up to the gym and headed for the showers. That was when Barrett crept back into my mind. I was alone, soaping my cock, cleaning the sweat from my skin. Even though I had my own stall, I didn’t rub one out. Fuck Barrett and his need to keep me away.

My brother was probably right. Barrett didn’t know shit about me. This wasn’t the way he was going to find out either. It was a two-way street, and I’d be damned if I offered up information without getting some in return.

I could have gone to Jordan and asked him what he knew about Barrett. He had more information than anyone here, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’d always thought if Barrett wanted me to know, he’d tell me. Clearly, he didn’t. So, we’d go back to hating each other while desire brewed inside us.

I didn’t miss how hard Barrett was earlier. He probably thought I didn’t notice, but I saw everything when it came to him.

Except his secrets.

Except his personal life.

Except everything that really mattered.

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