Page 97 of Anger

“So, are we good? The deal is made and all that?”

Blue nods her head. “Yeah.”

I snatch my keys from the counter. “Then I’ll drive you home.”

Disappointment fills her expression. There and then gone again. She doesn’t say a word as she grabs her bag from the kitchen island and pulls the strap up her shoulder.

We’re quiet as we walk to the foyer, but a shadow falls across the frosted glass of the front door that has me grabbing Blue and pushing her behind me.

Fuck…

Ezra’s home.

This is exactly why I don’t want Blue here.

I turn to look back the way we came, thinking I can sneak Blue out through the kitchen, into the garage and come around the side of the house to get to my truck.

But there’s no time. I didn’t lock the door and Ezra—

The doorbell rings.

My body stiffens at the sound, my head whipping back to look at the door as tension spreads across my shoulders. I must have gripped down a touch too hard on Blue’s arm because she lets out a small yelp and attempts to pull away.

“Damn, Champ. What’s wrong?” she asks.

I release my grip on her but keep my eyes trained on the door. The doorbell rings again and my mind races through who the fuck it could be.

Any of the guys would try the knob first because none of us bother knocking when showing up at each other’s houses. And it’s too late at night for people trying to sell shit—not that they could get in the neighborhood anyway.

The third ring is quickly followed by a fourth until someone is pushing the button repeatedly.

“Are you going to answer it?”

Seven calls within an hour…

The thought floats through my head, but there is no fucking way.

“Turn around,” I say, grabbing Blue by the arm again without giving her the option to protest. “We’ll go out the garage.”

“Damon, stop dragging me.”

We’re halfway through the foyer when a heavy banging starts, the thump so hard it threatens to break the glass.

“Open the door you ungrateful piece of shit! If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even have this fucking house!”

The familiar voice stops me in my tracks while nightmares assault me.

Get off your knees, boy, and earn the money I’ve given you…

Stop fucking crying and learn to be a man…

I knew Ezra and you wouldn’t be worth a shit. You’re freeloaders just like your gold-digging whore of a mother..

Adrenaline pours through my veins, undiluted anger infecting my mind until all I can see is red.

The knob turns, then the front door opens.

The face I see in the nightmares that haunt me incessantly is staring directly at me with a sloppy grin on his face.

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