Page 19 of The Devious King (The Hale Mafia 1)

Sleep never came last night. I tossed and turned with pictures of Teddy floating through my mind. I should hate him, but the truth is, I don’t. I want more of what he almost gave me, but I’ll never admit it.

I throw my hair into a high ponytail and slip on my Nikes before leaving my room. Carl came in and told me this morning Lucas wants to train more. I could use the distraction and a target to take my frustration out on.

I step into the gym and take a deep breath. Lucas is nowhere to be seen, but that’s not going to stop me from starting. I walk to the punching bag hanging from the ceiling to the left and stare at it for a second. The red leather glistens in the bright fluorescent lights. I grip the sides of it and rest my head on the front. I hate feeling so angry over something so stupid.

If someone were to ask me how I pictured my life now a year ago, my answer definitely wouldn’t be what it is. I would have my dad here, I wouldn’t be mixed up with the Mafia, and I most definitely wouldn’t be aching to have the most dangerous one of them all touch me.

I lift my head, and all my anger and frustration bubbles out of me. I swing over and over, connecting with the bag every time, sending it swaying after every hit.

“Damn, girl. What has you so agitated?”

I don’t need to turn to know whose voice that is. “Don’t start with me today, Lucas. I’m not in the mood for your sarcastic comments and bullshit.”

He chuckles. “Not in the mood? Funny, I heard you were in the mood last night.”

I turn quickly and see him standing tall in basketball shorts and no shirt with Julius to his side in matching clothes. Colorful ink paints their exposed skin, and if I wasn’t so pissed, I feel I could maybe appreciate their allure, but instead, I’m completely mortified. Why would Teddy tell them what happened?

He spreads his legs wider, like he’s ready for the fight I’m about to give. “What’s the matter, Flower? Did you really think anything that happens behind closed doors stays that way around here?”

I charge toward him, ready to arrange his pretty face into a Picasso painting. Before I can close the gap between us, Julius throws up his big arm directly to his side, protecting his brother. My neck is the only thing that touches him, but it sends me crumbling to the floor.

I cough, trying to clear my airway, but it does nothing. After a few seconds I can finally speak again and take in small breaths of air. “Did you seriously just clothesline me? What is this, WWE?” I question with a gasp.

Julius laughs while Lucas stares down on me with a matching smile. He shrugs. “Boss said do whatever it takes to get you mad. Truth be told, he didn’t tell us anything. But I’m sure everyone in the house heard how you screamed, and a scream like that can only mean one thing.”

I stumble to my feet. “Fuck this place. I’m done.” I turn and walk away with my hand on my throat.

When I don’t hear footsteps behind me, I hurry my pace. I know it won’t be long before they tell Teddy, and I’ll be damned if he tries to get me to stay. I don’t even want to see his face.

I sprint back to my room and close the door softly behind me. I grab my comb from the bathroom, then make my way toward the closet. I slip my T shirt I wore here off the hanger, then dig through the drawer to find my sweats. Once everything is in my hands, I pull open my door and start down the hall. Making it to the front door, I stop and take one last look behind me. I wish they never took my gun from me last night. It’s the only thing of mine I’ll be leaving here. I shake my head and pull open the door. At the end of the steps, Carl is waiting by the SUV.

I try not to make eye contact with him, but I fail. The warm smile he always seems to wear is there, and he’s looking directly at me. “Get in, Charlotte. I was instructed to take you home.”

My jaw goes slack as I look around for any sign of Teddy or the twins. “They’re just letting me go?”

He nods. “If it is what you want.”

I bite my lip and quickly let it fall from my teeth as Teddy’s words echo in my mind. “Okay” is all I can manage to say.

I slide into the car and throw my things onto the floor as Carl gets in and starts the engine.

“Are you sure you want to go?” he asks, putting it into drive but not moving.

I look to the front door and study all its features one last time. “I’m sure.” I owe nothing to anyone here, and I refuse to be their puppet anymore.

Carl nods and starts down the long drive. Once we reach the guard shack, I take one last look behind me. I want him to be there, to be watching, begging me with his eyes not to go, but he isn’t. It was stupid of me to ever think he would care about me. Hell, I don’t even care about him. I wanted to use him the same way he planned to use me.

I turn back around as the car creeps forward and out the gate. Resting my head on the back of the seat, I close my eyes and picture everything that happened last night. Anger floods me again, but I don’t let it get to me. He is nothing, I tell myself.

The rest of the ride is the same as any other time I’ve been in the car. Quiet. Normally it wouldn’t bother me, but something about it just irks me. That seems to happen a lot lately. Being in my own mind kills me. I have so many unanswered questions and no leads, and it’s frustrating. With sound, I can drown out my own thoughts. I’m not left to fester on the what-ifs.

Finally, Carl pulls up to the curb next to my apartment. He looks over his shoulder and smiles.

“Thank you, Carl. It was nice meeting you,” I say, opening the door.

“Until next time, Charlotte.” He nods.

I let out a small laugh. “I don’t think there will be a next time.”

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