Page 106 of Bad Medicine
Even if it killed me to do so.
“What do you mean?” Mia choked out. “You promised. I got you what you wanted, and you said you’d give him back.”
“I know what I said, Mia.” Gregor sneered, and I clenched my fucking fists. “But I’ve been thinking.” He looked at her, his gaze dragging up her body in a way that made me want to rip his goddamn eyeballs out. “We don’t have to be enemies, Mia. You and I? We had a good time together, didn’t we?” Fire raged through my veins at even the thought of that prick putting his hands on Mia. It took everything I had to stay put, but I had promised her that I wouldn’t interfere unless absolutely necessary.
She thought she could reason with a madman, but my patience only went so far.
“The election is next week,” Gregor continued, oblivious to the panic that was causing Mia’s entire body to shake.
Either that, or the sick fuck just didn’t give a shit, which I thought was much more likely.
“How much better would I look if the good citizens of Las Vegas could see me as a family man? A loving partner and father. I would be a man of the people. Someone just like them. It would pretty much guarantee me that city council seat.”
Leaning my head further around the base of the tree, I spied a clump of bamboo to one side, much closer to where Mia was currently standing. Moving at a measured pace, not wanting to spook him, I made my way to it, keeping my eyes and ears trained on the scene playing out in the back corner of the exhibit.
“A child is not a pawn, Greg,” Mia said, her voice pleading. “You can’t just take him out and show him off, then put him away when you’re finished with him. That’s not how being a parent works.”
“Well, I wouldn’t fucking know how it works, would I?” Greg spat, and I could see Jasper’s face go white with fear. Little buddy was holding up, for now, but it wouldn’t be long before he broke. “I don’t know anything becauseyoukept him from me. A boy should know his father, and you took that from me. You took that from both of us.” Gregor emphasized his point by yanking Jasper to him, but the force of it was more than Jasper’s little legs could compensate for, and he yelped as he was pulled off his feet, his small body dangling by the shoulder for a moment before he was able to right himself.
Behind him, where Gregor couldn’t see, the tiger that had previously been lying in a docile heap like any good cat, raised her head, ears pricking as she stared intently at Jasper.
And I’d had just about enough.
Moving quickly, I brought myself to Mia’s side, Gregor’s eyes going wide for a moment, then narrowing as he recognized me.
“Of course, you’re here.” Shaking his head, he scowled at Mia. “You were supposed to come alone.”
“Right,” I scoffed. “Like that goon hovering over by the gift shop doesn’t belong to you.” Shaking my head, I saw him frown, like he actually thought I wouldn’t immediately clock the giant hulking man with a face like a brainless cow standing by the gate. “The game works both ways, Gregor. Although, this one seems a lot less...perceptive than the last one of your thugs I had the pleasure of meeting.” I sighed with false drama. “Good help is so hard to find, isn’t it?”
“So,” Gregor mused. “You are the reason Alexi hasn’t been around. I assume he’s dead?” When I said nothing, Gregor huffed. “Serves him right for getting caught, the stupidsvoloch’.”
“I can’t imagine why you’re having staffing issues, when you value your men so highly.”
Gregor simply rolled his eyes like a fucking teenaged girl.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” he asked, completely dismissing my last comment. “Where is Enzo? He was so full of big words last time he and I spoke; I’m surprised you’re even allowed out to play without his permission.”
“Don’t worry about Enzo,” I said casually. “Worry about me. I’m the one who’s gonna be putting my hands on you if you don’t let go of the boy.”
Keeping my eyes on Gregor, I dipped my chin a little, looking at Jasper’s scared face.
“You alright, buddy?”
“Don’t talk to him!” Gregor snarled, but we all ignored him.
Sniffing, Jasper nodded pitifully, his little stuffed tiger still clutched in one hand.
“Yes.”
“I got you, alright? It’s gonna be okay.”
“Okay, Rocco.”
“I said stop talking to him. Both of you. Just stop it.”
“I’m sorry, Greg,” Mia cried, her voice wobbling. “Please. I’m sorry. Just don’t hurt him.”
“I told you I wouldn’t hurt him!” Gregor shouted, but in doing so, squeezed his little arm again, causing Jasper to cry out in pain.
