Page 15 of Under the Influence
“Gio? Please? Tell me what's really goingon?”
One last plea as the valet pulls open the yellow door, and I usher her inside. Her gaze never leaving mine while she drops into the backseat. Seeking to comprehend something that she never expected. Or deserved. “It was a great ride babe. But it’s overnow.”
With a smug ass smirk, I yank out my wallet and dig through the bills, tossing a few hundreds to the driver. “Take her anywhere she wants to go.” I wink like the bastard I am. “Except myplace.”
Stepping onto the sidewalk, I laugh. Loud and harsh and obnoxious. I nod to my bouncer, who joins in amusement he doesn’t understand but appreciates just the same. Too fearful to respond any other way except in support of my bastardantics.
“Good one Mr.Trivoli.”
I pat his thick shoulder and stride back inside, never glancing back. A big, fat, stupid, fake smile slapped on my face. Alone. Happy. Relaxed. Head bobs and chest thumps to all the witnesses. Pretending to be thrilled I'm finally free of her. Only surviving by consoling myself that she's finally free of the danger I put herin.
I also need to be free of my sobriety. Unable to deal with the crowd at the bar, I head straight toward my office for my personal stash. I need my best tequila. Lots of it. Especially when her gorgeous face flashes on my phone. I decline the call, my head bowing as I wait for the inevitable voice mail. My girl's...Fuck me. Better keep up the act. Outward and inward. My ex isresilient.
My eyes blink open when the sharp tone dings, and I tap the button, pressing the screen to myear.
“I don’t know why you’re doingthis..."
Because I'd rather be dead than let anything happen toyou.
"Can we please talk? I have something I need to tell you. I don't want us to endlike–”
Delete. I can't listen anymore. Can't take the bravado she's forcing in her tone like her heart isn't shattered. Can't handle the crack in her voice on the last twowords.
God fucking damn it. Agony radiates up my arm from my fist connecting with the drywall. I punch and punch until blood gushes from my knuckles. Until sweat stings my eyes. Until my best friend jerks my arm and slams me against the crumbled plaster. His forearm shoved into my throat. Furious eyes meetingmine.
"Enough!"
He cares even though he shouldn't. About my head. My hand. My plot. He hates my act as much as I fucking do, but if there's any hint I'm upset about breaking up with her, the whole scam isworthless.
I nod, defeated and spent, and let him drag my stupid ass into my now thankfully empty office. Only the musky scent of the earlier activities lingering in the blistering hotair.
Choosing the sofa instead of my desk chair, I collapse onto the leather cushion. Unable to get the bottle he hands me to my mouth fast enough. Gulping the honey liquid like the booze is fuckingoxygen.
"You did the rightthing."
Tucker finally pulls the rim of his whiskey away from his own lips. One of us has to be the sane one. Luckily that's always been him. No point in fucking up a successful system that's kept us alive thislong
"Yeah."
Twenty minutes pass before a text comes through. Which needs to be the last message she sends me because my willpower is fuckingshot.
“I’m sorry if I said or did something to hurt you. I love you and want to figure thisout.”
Fuck me. My throbbing fingers squeeze the bridge of my nose. The aching in my fists nothing compared to the torture burning in my chest. I type slow. Fucking killing me to hurt her so viciously. But I have no fucking choice. I have to end this. Absolute andcomplete.
“Nothing to figure out, babe. You’re just tooboring.”
Of course, I never heard from her again. After I got the most wasted I’ve ever been, Tucker ushered me back to my booth, where I spent the rest of the night drinking with a parade of nameless, faceless women. Until the sun rose, and we made a huge production of loading three of them into my SUV for a ride straight to their own doorsteps rather thanmine.
We battled Savage for the next five days. My head pounding and stomach lurching during the first twenty-four hours from the alcohol and guilt poisoning me. Finally killing the bastard with the same barbarity he exacted upon his victims. With absolutely zero fucks and absolutely zero enjoyment. The revenge unable to alleviate any of my misery from causinghers.
The frame squeals again when I push off the mattress and stride to the living room. Eager to see her stunning face. Hopefully get the chance to redeem myself and somehow find a way to put a smile back on her soft, lushlips.
A giggle bounces from the hallway. Her giggle. Fuck. I've missed her laugh. I've missed being the man to generate her happiness. I’ve missedher.
"You're so nice. I bet you even say you’re sorry when you cut people's headsoff."
Tucker's surprised chuckle funnels through the flimsy wood as the lock rattles. "I don't cut their heads off. Just their fingers and theircocks."
