Conceited (Crimson Elite 3)

“Enough, you made your point.”

Creed and Echo walk in. It’s late, they should have been gone already. Darby never leaves so I knew he would be here.

“I don’t think I have.”

Darby blocks me this time and manages to dodge my fists. “Enough,” he roars.

I charge him again just because I fucking can. I hit him and smash his back into the wall, then my fists slam into his side. I hear him grunt, then I’m being pulled backward.

“Calm the fuck down,” Creed says behind me, holding me still.

I should kill him, too. He knew, and more than likely organized for Ariel to be taken. After all, it is a part of what he does. But as I look up at Darby, anger radiates from me and I know it was all him. He stopped caring about everyone and anyone a long time ago, and if they messed with the business they weren’t for him. I grab my keys to this place and throw them at him. He looks down not understanding as Creed lets go of me.

Echo stands at the door silently observing.

“I quit.”

They all stop, eyes zooming in on me.

“No,” Echo says stepping into the room and shaking his head. “You just need time to cool off.”

“I quit,” I say again.

It hits me in the gut, hard. I built this place with all three of them, but looking around now, I wonder how we got to where we are. How our relationships have changed us. How some have grown meaner and others not care at all.

I’m fucking done. I didn’t sign up for this. I signed up to make money and for the sex. Doing it with three of my best friends was merely a bonus.

“Calm down, no one is quitting,” Darby says wiping at his jaw.

I want to hit him the fuck again, this time even harder. I want to make him bleed and see how he likes it. Maybe I should cut him down to size, his head’s gotten too damn big.

“You’re wrong, I just did.” Darby shakes his head. Creed doesn’t say anything, just stares at me as Echo opens and closes his mouth with his words unable to leave.

“So, you’re pissed, get over it. You think Creed didn’t want to kick my ass as well?” He points to Creed who doesn’t say anything, he never fucking does.

“Do I look like I give a fuck what Creed wants to do? Kicking your ass is already done. I’m done. I don’t want to fucking see your face again.” I turn to leave, but Echo blocks my way by standing in front of the door.

“Just think about it. Don’t make decisions yet, you need time to calm down.”

I laugh at him and lean in close. “No, Echo, when I’m done, I’m done. Now fucking move before I fucking move you myself.” I see him contemplating not shifting. It swirls in his eyes then he sighs and steps to the side letting me go.

“If you walk out, you won’t be allowed back in, Falcon.” I flip Darby off and keep going all the way to the front door. Turning and looking back one last time, I see them all up in his office looking down at me.

I smile, then wave a sarcastic goodbye.

Fuck them.

I make it to my car fast. The steering wheel feels almost breakable under my hands and I have to be careful I don’t shatter it into a million pieces like I want to. I go straight to Ariel’s house, but her car isn’t there, and when I knock, Chad answers and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Can I help you?”

Oh fuck, she must have said something.

“Where is she?”

He shrugs and I push past him to her room. Chad yells at me about calling the police, but I don’t listen until I open her door. She isn’t there. Actually, nothing is there at all, it’s empty apart from the bed we once shared.

As I spin around, Chad stands close, his cell gripped tightly in his hand.

“She left?” I ask him.

He nods his head. “Don’t ask me where. Now leave.”

I do, knowing that even if he did know, he wouldn’t tell me anyway. Why would he, his loyalty is to her, and I broke that into a million pieces.

My hands bang hard on the steering wheel as I try to call her and it goes straight to voicemail, so I ring Tracey.

“What’s wrong?” Tracey says into the cell.

“Have you heard from Ariel?”

“No, why?”

“Darby did some fucked-up shit, and now she packed her shit and ran away,” I say into the cell. I don’t need to describe to Tracey what ‘some fucked-up shit’ is, she more than likely can work that out on her own. Tracey hangs up, and I know she’s going to call Ariel, but I’m afraid she won’t get an answer. I wait patiently, driving home and staring at my cell waiting for Tracey to call me back. When she does, I almost jump from my skin.