Page 23 of Brutal Boxer

“Thank you.” I slipped away from the insanity with my heart in my throat.

How could I get worked up over meeting Zach’s old lady? I didn’t dare look at her hand to see if she had a wedding ring. Jill was an old lady, and she wasn’t married to Timur.

I shook my head as I went down the stairs. His road name was Wolf, not Timur. What a weird world this was.

Closing the door, I leaned my back against it. Peace and quiet.

It’d been more than ten years since Zach and I last saw each other. A lifetime since our relationship ended. We’d both moved on. Had other people in our lives.

Why was I envious of Libby when I hated Zach with a burning passion?

Because she had what I’d always wanted. She had my one true love.

No, if he’d been my one true love, we’d be together. Zach Harrisburg wasn’t who I thought he was. He destroyed me. Shredded my dreams of a life with him.

I swallowed down the emotion bubbling in my chest. The first chance I got, I’d flee this place and leave the country, so I never had to see Zach or Casso again.

6

Casso

My gaze swept across my destroyed bedroom. Her clothes were everywhere, shredded to pieces after I’d lost my mind finding Aspen gone. I’d returned early, sensing something was amiss, and caught Tony in my private office.

When a flash of fear sparked in his eyes, I knew he’d betrayed me. But to what extent? I had my men take Tony to the basement and chain him to a chair while I went to check on my beloved.

Aspen wasn’t anywhere to be found. Most of her possessions had been left behind. Only a suitcase and tote bag were gone.

I went nuts, emptying her drawers and closet onto the bedroom floor. I ripped her clothes apart. Cursing her name in a fit of rage. Swearing on my life I’d find her, punish her and break her over and over until she knew who she belonged to.

ME.

Aspen Crosby belonged to me.

I lifted my tired body out of the chair I’d sat in all night, and splashed water on my face. My men had been torturing Tony to find out where Aspen had gone. The security cameras didn’t show her leaving. Of course, not. Tony had wiped them clean.

I’d kill him once I found my woman.

The elevator door opened to the concrete room. I glanced at my bodyguards, wondering if they could be trusted. If my top man couldn’t be, nobody could.

“What did you find out?” I muttered through clenched teeth.

“She went to Texas to meet him in San Antonio.” Larry had blood on his white button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His skin glistened with sweat, a sign Tony had made Larry work extra hard to get that bit of information.

I stepped in front of dear old Tony. “I should slice you into a million pieces. I will. Just not yet.”

Tony’s swollen, bleeding face hung down. He didn’t make a sound. If his bruised chest wasn’t moving as he struggled to breathe, I’d think he was dead. Death was too kind for someone who betrayed me. Aspen would soon beg to be put out of misery.

Maybe I’d grant her wish after she gave birth to my son.

Or not.

If I kept her around, fucking her day after day until she was pregnant a dozen times, I could form an army of sons to carry on my legacy.

Yes, I liked that idea much more than granting her the gift of death. Aspen might appear to be docile but I knew better. Her strength and determination rivaled mine. I always knew she’d try to escape. Biding her time until the perfect opportunity arose.

Stupidly, I’d thought I could trust Tony. Seemed he was easily swayed by Aspen’s charm and manipulation. A mistake I’d never make again.

I grabbed a fist of his hair, pulling his head back to see his mangled face. “You pathetic piece of shit. She gave you false hope. Aspen would never be with a weak man like you.” I spit in his face. “She’d never loveyou.”

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