Page 69 of Give Me Perfect Love

I sniff and nod. “Yeah. Psychotic motherfucker likes to beat on women. Don’t let him back in your gym.”

“Wow,” Ronnie says, looking disgusted. “You bet.”

__________

With my gray hoodie on and black leather coat, I leave the gym with a mix of anger and worry. I’ve got to warn the girls, but I also need to meet with Ben and ask him why the fuck Bones and his crew failed at their job. I quickly run back to my apartment to grab my car.

Once inside, I grab my keys from the counter, deciding not to change out of my gray sweats and sweaty T-shirt until I get to my loft at Red. I feel like I need to get this under control as soon as possible. This Cain guy is unpredictable, and him being back in town can’t be a good thing.

I hit dial on K’s number as I head down to my car. She doesn’t answer, so I leave a voicemail telling her what’s going on and to be careful.

I usually work out in the mornings, but here lately I’ve been going twice a day. It helps with my stress. I swear this girl is going to drive me to an early grave, and now I’m having to deal with shit I paid someone to take care of. All of my anger goes toward Danny O’Brien, the one they call Bones. And I don’t care what he’s mixed up with. I want to beat the shit out of him.

Too bad he’s all the way up in New Jersey.

I park my car in the alleyway and jog up the iron stairs that lead up to my loft. Music thumps below my feet, letting me know the club is in full swing. The night air is painfully cold, nearly freezing the sweat on my back.

The enormous wall window presents a picturesque view as the city of Atlanta shows off its beauty. I head over to my dresser, grabbing a new white T-shirt before removing my coat and hoodie. I switch shirts and head over to the door that leads to the private lounge.

No one is up here, so either Jace is down in the basement or at the ranch still. Looking down at my phone as the door shuts behind me, I walk down the few steps and call Ben.

He answers on the second ring. “Yes, boss?”

“Where are you?”

“Basement,” he says. “Your brother’s down here.”

When Ben is not with me, he watches over Jace. Not because Jace needs a whole lot of protecting, but because Jace is also unpredictable and has a tendency to let things get out of hand. His drinking, drug use, women. You name it—he overindulges.

“Come up to the lounge.”

“Be there in a minute,” he says.

I hang up and walk over to the bar. Grabbing a bottle of bourbon, I pour a drink and call Kat again.

No answer.

Jesus, why the fuck doesn’t she pick up her phone? What the hell does she have it for? I toss my phone onto the bar; it slides over cocaine dust and spilled beer.

Why hasn’t anyone cleaned this shit up? Throwing back the amber liquid, I wince slightly at the smoky taste.

I rub a hand over my head, anxious and pissed off. I know we aren’t together right now—well, according to her—but still she could answer the goddamn phone.

I pick up the bottle and pour another round just as Ben walks in the door.

He looks over the room before his eyes land on me. “Boss, everything okay?”

“Nah,” I say. “Look at this fucking mess. Get someone up here to clean it.” I move from the bar with my drink. Walking over to the two-way window, I slide one hand into my pocket while the other holds on to the bourbon.

Red is packed tonight, filled with people who have no idea what goes on beneath this place.

The police could come in any minute and raid it and they would all be clueless. I shake my head at the thought. That would suck.

My mind wanders and I think about the first time I saw K here. Right from this very spot. I was bored that night. Behind me everyone was partying and carrying on, but I was in my head, thinking I’d rather be at the ranch, in the quiet of my barn house.

But that thought also made me feel lonely, and at the time I didn’t know why.

Now I do.

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