“Royce, stop! Dude, fucking stop! It’s done. It’s done.”
Air raking my throat, Richard hauled me off the bloodied heap of the prick who lay moaning on the ground. Face mangled and unrecognizable.
I thrashed, needing to get in one more hit.
“Cool it, dude,” Richard demanded. “Calm the fuck down.”
“Oh my god.” Emily’s mother rushed around the side of the house. “What happened?”
Her gaze moved around the scene, calculating, adding it up, and she dropped down to kneel at the side of the bastard like he deserved any grace or good.
Not when he was trying to wreck it.
Except she gripped him by the jaw, leaning over him, spitting the words, “I do not ever want to see you on my property again. Do you understand me, Nile?”
She stood. “Someone get this garbage off my lawn.”
Richard kept my arms pinned behind me as she moved for Emily, who was huddled with Rhys’s mother over by the side of the house.
Horror etched on her gorgeous face, fear in her eyes.
I wanted to feel it.
Regret.
Remorse for doing what I’d done.
But I couldn’t will it to come.
Because I was a monster. Just like I’d warned her from the beginning.
Retribution was coming.
And I’d only just begun.TwentyRoyceBlood-tinged water swirled in the tub where I stood under the steaming spray of the shower, the color fading to clear as I scrubbed away the evidence. Every inch of my body was on fucking fire, skin covered in bruises and scrapes and cuts that I was happy to wear like a brand.
One sleazebag down. Only a couple more to go.
After rinsing the last of the residue from my flesh, I turned off the shower, stepped out onto the rug, and grabbed the fresh towel Mrs. Ramsey had left me with when she’d told me I should get cleaned up. That was right before the woman had whispered a quiet, “Thank you,” under her breath and shut the door, leaving me alone with the disorder still rioting in my spirit.
I dried myself off, the steam of the room sticky on my skin, a clammy sensation coming up from the inside.
How the fuck had I let everything get so far out of control?
Slipping.
Royce Reilly was known for his discipline and restraint.
His ability to get a job done.
Which was why my stepfather had put so much trust and faith in me when I knew it was about the last thing he’d wanted to do.
I was valuable.
An asset.
And now I was one mistake away from blowing the whole thing. From missing the purpose.
Fuck.
I could still get my ass hauled away to jail for what just went down. With my record? I’d probably land back in prison for years.
But how could I not stand up for her?
A light tapping sounded at the door.
Heaving out a strained breath, I wrapped the towel around my waist, completely on edge when I cracked open the door to the darkened hallway, not sure who or what was going to be waiting for me on the other side.
Richard.
He narrowed his eyes and leaned up against the open doorway, eyes making a quick sweep to see what damage had been done. Taking in the cuts and the blossoming patches of blue and purple and red.
Letting loose a low whistle, he looked up to meet my face, arching a brow. “You good, man?”
I laughed out an incredulous sound. “Just perfect.”
He gave a tight nod. “You caused some mad destruction out there.”
“Fucker deserved it.”
“Yeah, he did.” I wasn’t sure if I was surprised by his response or not. “Kind of wished it was me who got to do the honors. But looking at you now? Have to say I’m glad I let you step up and take the fall.”
He had the nerve to grin.
Short laughter rumbled out. “Pussy.”
He chuckled. “Hey, just speaking the truth. You look a little rough for the wear.”
I raked a hand through my wet hair. “Feel a little rough, honestly.”
The second of lightness morphed, his brow knitting with worry.
“Don’t know you all that well, but it seems to me you short-circuited out there.”
Discomfort had me fidgeting, muscles rigid. “Some things are worth losing your mind over.”
Contemplation moved through his expression before he leaned back to glance both ways down the empty hall where we were on the second floor, making sure it was clear before he turned his focus back on me. “I’m not going to ask you why you went ballistic. I think it’s plenty obvious. Only thing I’m going to say is don’t play fucking games, man. My sister has been played enough.”
“Last thing I want to do is hurt her.”
Remorse drew his brow together. “And the last thing I want is to see her hurt.” He hesitated, casting his attention to the ground before he looked back at me, some kind of worried confession in his tone. “Listen . . . my sister . . . she implied she knows about some shit goin’ down in my life right now. Pretty sure you were implying it, too.”