Page 35 of The Beast

“We can leave your car here,” I tell her. “Kevin locks the lot after everyone leaves, so it will be safe. And I have Kelly’s massive truck.”

Trinity giggles. “He must really like you. He doesn’t let anyone drive his truck.”

I press the button for the central locking and my phone starts to ring in my bag. Digging around to find it, I miss the man coming up behind me. I don’t miss the pain from the shot that takes me down to my knees.

“Fucking whore,” Gerald roars and I hear Trinity scream. As he rears back and kicks me in the ribs, my only thought is that she stays safe in the truck.

Gerald grabs me by my leather jacket and hauls me to my feet before hitting me again. I can feel the sticky heat of the blood from my split eyebrow dripping down my cheek. He pulls back to hit me again but doesn’t get the chance.

“Fucking asshole!” Trinity yells loudly before the smell of pepper surrounds me.

I can feel my chest constrict as the noxious scent only gets worse.

“Fucking bitch,” Gerald roars, releasing me. My knees give out and I crumble to the harsh asphalt. “You may get away from me this time, but I’ll be back.” It only takes a moment for him to disappear into his car and haul ass out of the lot.

“Oh my God,” Trinity gasps when she falls to her knees beside me. “Are you okay?”

I groan as I sit up, knowing I must look fucking terrible.

“I’ll be fine,” I say as I look at her through the eye that I’m not holding. “Can you drive this truck?”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Out Of the Loop

Beast

I’ve tried calling Irene twice and she hasn’t answered. She could be driving, which would explain not answering, but it’s half past two and I’m starting to get antsy. Pulling my cell from my pocket again I find the number to dial. But the frown on Justice’s face pulls my attention to him.

He says something to Bishop before leaving the bar and heading to the kitchen. I don’t know why I follow him, but I do. Standing outside the door I wait a moment, straining to hear what might be said.

“Fuck!” I hear something crash to the floor.

“Will you calm down?” I hear a feminine voice.

“Calm down. Look at her!” Justice roars. “I need to get Beast.”

“Don’t,” Irene says. “Just get Sparrow. Leave Kelly to enjoy his birthday.”

“That’s fucked up,” Justice says. “He’ll never forgive any of us for hiding this from him.”

“If Sparrow just answered his fucking phone, you wouldn’t even know about this,” she bites back. “I know he’s your brother, but I need your help.”

My heart is beating a mile a minute as I listen to them argue. I can’t just stand out here anymore but before I can push the door open, Sparrow is beside me.

“What’s going on?” He looks a little frantic. “Irene sent me a message saying to come to the kitchen 911.”

“No idea,” I rumble. “But I’m about to fucking find out.”

I wasn’t prepared for what was on the other side of the door. Justice has his hands in his hair, his face contorted in anger. Trinity is standing beside him, rubbing circles on his back, trying to calm him down. But the thing that nearly has my knees giving out is Irene. Sitting on the kitchen table with a bag of ice wrapped in a tea towel pressed to her face. Blood stains her lavender button-down shirt and even though she has it covered with the makeshift ice pack, I can see a bruise blooming on her face.

“What the fuck?” I mutter as I move to her.

I wedge myself between her thighs and gingerly lift the pack from her face. There’s a deep gash through her brow that’s going to need stitches and her cheek, jaw, and eye on the left side are already swollen and turning a mottled blue-black color.

“Who did this?”

My gaze is locked on Irene, but I can already see she’s not going to tell me. Silence envelops everyone in the kitchen.

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