Page 28 of Paid In Full

Benito: ??

Shit. That fucker is still pissed.

I knew I’d crossed the line. That truth had been written all over his face when I was in his office. And Benito was still punishing me for it.

That’s as good as I’m going to get. I stuffed the phone back into my pocket, cleaned my hammer on the dead man’s t-shirt, and turned on my heels.

Gotta get this blood off me.

I drove back to the motel I’d been occupying. There was a hell of a lot more privacy here than going to some upscale hotel. I parked, climbed out, and strolled to my room. Flipping on the light, I ignored how run down and dingy it was as I shuffled toward the bathroom. My clothes made asplatsound as they landed on the floor from a mixture of rain and blood. I turned on the shower as my phone jingled.

Enzo.

Sighing, I answered it. “What’s the job?”

“How long are you going to punish yourself?” Enzo asked.

“What are you talking about?” I shoved my hand into the water and yanked it right back out when the freezing cold made my hand ache.

“You know what I mean,” he said evenly. “Benito says you’re acting funny.”

“Acting funny?” I muttered.

“Working overtime without complaint, overkill on your assignments, not going back home. Do you need me to keep going?”

I groaned. “No. I’m fine.”

“Whatever you two fought about—”

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

“Gin…”

I swallowed thickly. Telling Enzo wouldn’t make my situation any better. Instead, I paced back and forth, praying the hot water would kick in so I could rinse the blood from my body.

“It’s nothing.”

No, it’s not nothing.

The shit I’d said to Benito was digging up old wounds neither of us wanted to face. From insulting him about Brycen, the ex who bound him and Enzo, to bringing up the past I never wanted to remember, I had taken every potshot I could at him. Working, keeping my head down, and shutting my mouth was the least I could do to make up for it.

I didn’t want to fuck up what we’d worked so hard to establish.

“He’s not angry,” Enzo said.

“You say that,” I muttered, biting at my thumb.

“I know it. Or else he wouldn’t be calling me asking if you’re alright. Go home, Gin. Don’t you have someone waiting for you?”

My chest constricted. Shit. I had been trying to avoid thinking about Ash for the past few days. From his ridiculous dick to his puppy dog eyes, he’d haunted me the whole time. I thought about going back to check on him, but I’d put it off every single time.

He’s practically a prisoner. I’m sure he’s left by now. If he hasn’t, then he gets a place to himself and doesn’t have to worry about seeing me.

I had to imagine that was better than him having to earn his release. If Ash wanted to disappear, I wouldn’t track him down. My stomach tightened at that thought, but I stood behind it. Ash was free to go. There was no reason for me to hold onto him. Right?

Shaking my head, I faced myself in the mirror. One long glance, and I quickly looked away.

“If your brother is so concerned about me, why the hell isn’t he saying anything? All I get are his dumbass thumbs-up texts.”

---