Keep Me (Broken Heroes 3)

I down a glass of whiskey, hoping it will calm the nervous anxiety running rampant throughout my body. When it doesn’t, I down another.

Fucking Christ, this is the longest fucking plane ride of my life. When we finally touch the ground, I all but run out to the car. I get in and tell the driver to floor it. I need to get to the fucking house right now before I go insane.

Every time I think about that guy touching what is mine, a little shred of my humanity fades away. After what seems like an eternity, we finally pull up to the house with squealing tires. I throw open the door before the car stops all the way and run up to the front door, slamming the door closed behind me. My feet pound across the floor, and I make my way through the house. I’m a man on a mission, and I don’t give one fucking fuck what anyone has to say about it.

When I finally get to the second floor and gaze down the hallway, I find two guards standing in front of my bedroom door. They straighten up when they see me marching toward them, most likely afraid that I’ll kill them.

“They’re both in there, sir,” one of them announces and opens the door for me, before taking a step back. I nod curtly and walk into the room, scanning it. When my eyes land on Mouse sitting on the bed holding Q in her arms, relief like I’ve never felt before washes over me slowly. My entire body seems to ease at the sight of them, and I slowly make my way to their sides.

Mouse’s eyes fill with tears when she spots me. I take both of them into my arms, holding them close to my body. I breathe in Mouse’s delicate female scent mixed with Q’s pure baby smell, and I know I’m home.

“I’m so sorry. I should have been here.” My fear of losing them is simmering now that I can see and hold them, but the anger inside me is just as strong as ever. One thought sticks out inside my mind over everything else now that I know Mouse and Q are safe.

Kill. Kill the bastard who tried to hurt your family…

“It’s okay, we are okay now,” Mouse whispers, trying to calm the storm beating against my insides. She has no idea how close to losing control I am. How much I want to kill, destroy, hurt…

“Good. I am glad you’re both okay.” I’m feeling conflicted. I want to stay here with Mouse and my son, but I know the job must get done. I cannot stand that this bastard is still alive. “I need to talk to this guy. I need to know how the fuck he got in here and then I need to kill him, send his head to whoever sent him our way.”

Mouse shivers in my arms. I know I’m scaring her but I’m not going to lie to her about what I plan to do next. I plant a kiss on her forehead and one on the top of Q’s head before I straighten and exit the room.

It’s been a long time since I felt this kind of darkness creep in, and I’m afraid of what it might do to me if I unleash it completely. I have to remind myself that I’m doing this for them… to keep them safe… and to put out the flames of anger torching my insides.

***

The next few hours go by in a blur. Blood covers my hands, and I’ve ripped my shirt off and thrown it to the ground. I’ve been working this guy over for I don’t know how long now. I stopped thinking about how long I’ve been down here a while ago. The only thing that really matters to me is vengeance.

I stare down at the fucking piece of shit, wishing fire would come from my eyes. He’s already admitted to knowing about Q and that my father is the one who sent him. He’s told me that there was a traitor in my house, which is where my fears laid all along. Now I just need to get the name out of him, and I can kill that bastard, too. I won’t rest until I’ve eliminated every single threat possible against my son and Mouse.

I will kill everybody who dares to get in my fucking way.

I crack my knuckles. There’s so much blood… I worry he may die before I get the answers I seek out of him.

“I don’t think you’ll like the answer to the question you seek, Mr. Rossi.”

I tilt my head sideways, examining his already bruised face. There is no way he is getting out of this alive, no fucking way, so I suppose I can offer him a quick death in return for his confession.