“I appreciate the offer, but it’s time.”
Sarge knowingly nodded. He’d been there through all of this. “I’ll never forget all the help you and Hampton gave me in finding Enrique Consuelo.”
I clenched my fists. Jasmine’s death had been about revenge … for things I’d done. Eye for an eye. Except they took my entire reason for living, not my fucking eye. Enrique Consuelo was a Columbian drug lord. I’d killed his father, Rodrigo Consuelo—kill number sixty-two for me. Rodrigo liked to capture American girls and sell them on the black market for large amounts. The kill only made the world a better place.
Sarge slapped my back. “Anytime. I’m sorry for what you had to go through. I wish I’d known about Eric. Sorry son of a bitch. You’re welcome back anytime.”
Eric fucking Thornhill, an operative within Black Division, was the insider help to Enrique Consuelo in exchange for a hefty sum. The trail of deceit ended with Eric—I was sure of it. I’d tortured Enrique for days and he stayed consistent that Eric was the only one involved. After how I nearly brought Enrique to the brink of death time and time again … anyone would have broken if there had been more information.
I took a deep breath to calm myself and cracked my neck to the side. After going through all of Enrique’s files while he was unconscious from all the pain, I’d found out Enrique had been keeping tabs on me through my last year of service at the Black Division. Pictures of Jasmine and me. The information regarding the house I’d bought. Miscellaneous identities I’d had. A picture of us declaring our love in our special spot. All of Jasmine’s information. The intel he had astonished me. Enrique even had a copy of Jasmine’s doctor reports. Fucking bastard knew she was pregnant.
“That motherfucker deserved what he got. I need to catch my plane to Atlanta. Thanks, Sarge.”
Truth was I needed to escape before I lost it and fell to the craving to wreak more destruction on something … anything.
“We’re here anytime you need us.”
“Thanks, man.”
I grabbed my bag and headed to my car, knowing I’d never forgive myself for what I’d done—leading him straight to Jasmine and Faith without knowing he was even looking for me. Straight to my family. I deserved to have this nonexistent life after causing their deaths. Still, looking back, I knew I’d been careful. But I’d missed something somewhere. I’d retraced my steps and memories numerous times and there was nothing out of place.
What had I missed?
The guilt would never leave me. Never. I had been wrong about deserving any happiness. The sins of my past were too great. As my mother mentioned time and time again, I am a bastard that didn’t deserve anything. For two days I’d been completely happy and that was more than I deserved.
I pumped my legs harder as I increased the speed on the belt and I pushed myself to the limits in a punishing manner.
After Enrique and Eric were disposed of, I eliminated everyone related to the crime—no stone was left unturned, including the man who sold the sniper the gun.
True to my word, I left as soon as the six missions were done, which was almost a year exactly after Jasmine died. Oh, the Black Division tried to keep me—unsuccessfully. They threw all sorts of money my way, but I wanted nothing more to do with them. Death’s door sometimes seemed like the better option. But I couldn’t bring myself to end my life, and somehow I managed to always pull through. Not killing myself was the only piece of humanity I had left inside.
Sweat poured down my face as I worked on trying to calm myself from the dream.
The treadmill beeped as I upped the speed even more.
I’d kept my name, Bane Bradley. If there were any other motherfuckers left that wanted a fight, I wanted them to be able to find me. There was nothing left to lose in this world. The itch to let the animal inside me out was strong. I welcomed any bastard who wanted to rumble.
I hit the off button, jolting the belt to a stop.
“Fuck.” My body was exhausted.
Making my way to the kitchen, I grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it. I lived in a scarcely decorated apartment in an upscale building for privacy reasons. Went in line with my motto—have nothing you couldn’t walk away from in your life at any time.
Only a few people, all within Black Division, knew what happened to me in regards to Jasmine. I didn’t want the pity stares from anyone else. Life dealt me a shitty hand … that was a fucking fact. As far as everyone was concerned, except my superiors, I’d missed the life when I came back to join.
My phone rang. It was Hampton. “Bane.”
After the Black Division, I did odd intel jobs for him. He now owned Security Branch, but had been part of the covert operation.
“Hey, man. I figured you’d be up.” The gruff voice from my old mentor brought back memories. He was the only one from the Black Division I’d stayed in touch with who knew about Jasmine. The only other two who knew were Sarge and Alex, Sarge’s superior.
It was five in the morning now after my hour run. “Yeah, I’m up. Why are you up so early?”
“Client shit. Came into the office early. I wanted to talk to you about a case. You free today?”
I dragged a hand down my face. “Yeah, I’m free.”
“How about the office? Does ten work?”