Page 38 of Diverge

Chapter Twelve

Nathan

Iam taking a big swigof my water when I notice the front door to the gym open and close, letting in the cool night breeze. Riley enters and makes a beeline for the locker room without even taking a glance around the gym. I know he’s still pissed with me, and I feel like a total dick about how things went down. Heading to the locker room, I enter to find Riley already in his gear, wrapping his hands.

“Riley, can we talk?” I say in the calmest tone I can muster.

He stares at me for a moment then shoulder barges straight passed me without saying a word. I knew I fucked up, but man, is it that bad?

Yes, you fucking idiot, of course it’s that bad! You’re working for the underbelly of Melbourne, and you’re fucking his sister.

Sighing, I turn around and block the exit so he’s forced to speak with me.

“Get out of my way, Rizzo.” Yep, he’sdefinitelymad if he’s surnaming me.

“Can we just talk like adults?” I try to reason with him.

He folds his arms across his chest. “Talk then, go ahead.”

“Billie asked me not to say anything to you when I asked for her number. I couldn’t go against her wishes,” I confess.

“Nate, I don’t care about that petty shit. Have you told her about yourside hustleor not?” He cuts to the chase, and once again, a pang of guilt rises like acid in my throat. I clench my jaw, unable to say anything.

“That’s what I thought.”

I move out of his way as he walks out. Turning back, he gives me a look of warning.

“Tell her, before she finds out from someone else.”

I can’t tell if he’s threatening me. I know I must tell her, and I need to do it real soon. The window of opportunity is closing fast.

My phone starts to ring inside my gym bag in the locker room. Rummaging through the bag, I answer, putting the phone to my ear.

“Don’t you dare turn this job down. This is your last warning, Nate.” Joe’s voice comes through stern, and I know he’s angry from all the jobs I’ve been recently turning down.

“Fine. What’s the job?” I begin to unwrap my hands as I hold the phone between my cheek and my shoulder.

“Corporate lad. Owes me a lot of money. He’s chewed up over two hundred thousand dollars in gambling debt.” He pauses for a moment.

“I want you to bring him within an inch of his life, until he submits to working for me.”

Disgust piles up like bricks inside my chest at his words. This is what they do and how they steal people’s lives. Make you owe them money, then when you can’t pay, work you like a dog on their every whim.

“When?” My mouth forcibly opens.

“Next week, he should be alone in his office. I’ve had Kieran watch him for a few days, and his routine is the same. He goes from his home to the office and works until the early hours of the morning, then returns home. I want him scared, Nate. I want you to go down to his office to let him know we know everything about his life.”

“Anything else?” I try my best to keep the sarcasm from my tone.

“Don’t fucking kill him. I need him.”

––––––––

BILLIE

I’m looking forwardto Grace’s birthday. It’s been a hot minute since we all gathered our things and headed up to the cabin. I miss it.

---