Kace and I step inside The Agency, both of us sweaty and hot from being out at the shooting range all morning. I’ve finally graduated to an elbow crutch, my range of movement getting better every single day. I can even move around a little without any support now, which my doctor says is good but only for a short amount of time.
I’m just happy to finally be getting some real work back in, some proper training. With not being able to exercise like I usually do, I swear I can feel my body getting chubby.
“That new ammo that Noah sourced us was fucking epic,” Kace praises as we move slowly, ready to head for the showers. Movement catches my eye and pulls my attention toward Jack’s office. I stop, reaching out with my free hand to grab Kace’s shoulder as he prattles on about the new ammunition we tested today. “What?” he asks, following my gaze, his face morphing into a frown that matches mine.
Jack’s sitting at his desk as usual, but it’s Eli standing on the other side, his body leaning forward in anger, as he yells at our Boss and throws his hands in the air that has Kace and I instantly heading for them.
Kace shoves the door open, not even bothering to knock, holding it as I hobble through after him, my eyes flicking suspiciously between the two men.
“Fucking hell,” Eli curses under his breath and takes a couple steps back while Jack pushes to his feet.
“You wanna tell us what the hell is going on?” Kace demands, looking at Eli first, knowing that Eli is one of his men, whereas Jack doesn’t have to tell him shit.
Eli folds his arms across his chest. “I’m filing a fucking complaint.”
“About who?” I ask, nervous at the way Eli refuses to look over at me. Instead, keeping his intense gaze locked on Jack.
“Brandon, from SO9.”
My body stills, the words are computing in my brain, most likely slower than everyone else’s, but they don’t speak as I process what my teammate has just said. “You mean the team that Everly is working with at the moment?” I can already feel the agitation rising, knowing with the way these guys are acting something’s gone wrong.
“I just put Everly in an ambulance,” Eli finally murmurs.
“You fucking what?” I growl, low and deadly, ready to rip someone’s fucking throat out. I take one step forward, and Kace steps in front of me, one hand on my chest.
“What’s going on? Are we missing a meeting or something?” Tanner asks as she plows through the doorway with the rest of our team behind her.
Eli finally sits down, scrubbing at his bare head, revealing his knuckles which are split open on one hand. “Brandon was meant to be training Everly. They had their first lesson today. It didn’t go well. That guy is a fucking mental case, man. How the hell they let him in here, I’ll never fucking know.”
“What the hell do you mean it didn’t go well?” I seethe, trying to keep my head focused, and not lose my mind to the emotion that’s bubbling up inside me. “Is Everly okay?” I finally manage to ask even though it scares the shit out of me to hear the actual answer. I’m finally sorting my shit out, coming to terms with losing my mom and having this new family. Everly and I still haven’t spoken, but I thought I was doing what was best, figuring out my own head and making sure I’m in a good place before I go back and beg for her to let us try again.
Jack moves from the other side of his desk, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Everly was alert when they took her away, but the EMT suspects she has a concussion and will need stitches in the back of her head,” Jack explains calmly, watching me, probably waiting for me to lose my shit. “Her mom is on shift, so she’ll be waiting for her at the hospital.”
I’m not far off losing my mind, he’s right to be concerned, but there is one thing that’s keeping me from tearing this fucking room apart, and I’m going to have it, whether Jack agrees to it or not. The fucking Agency can fire me for all I care, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to let this go. “You know I need to do something about this right? You know I can’t just let this shit fly.”
Jack doesn’t respond. Thankfully, he cares about Everly like she’s his own daughter. I’m almost sure if I wasn’t about to do what I’m about to do, Jack would take off his leg and beat Brandon to death with it. Or at the very least, that’s how I imagine it. He’d probably use a gun or some lame shit like that.
“Brandon’s in the gym,” Noah pipes up while looking at his tablet. His eyes look up and meet mine, the intensity in them an obvious understanding he knows what I need. “It’d be a shame if the security cameras went off for five minutes.”
My shoulders pull back, and I stand a little taller. I’m ready to toss this stupid elbow crutch that I’m using to help me get around across the damn room. I could get fired for this shit, or worse if Brandon decides to be an asshole about it. I could get hurt and reverse all the work I’ve done to heal over the past few weeks.
“Let me do it,” Kace murmurs, placing his hand on my shoulder. I eye my best friend, he knows that this is a risk, but I shake my head.
“No, he touched Everly. Someone did this to Lily would you let me beat the shit out of them while you watched?” I ask, already knowing the answer. He purses his lips, his fingers tightening on my shoulder.
“I just don’t need you to be out of order for much longer, you’re finally getting better.”
I nod in understanding, but as far as I’m concerned, Brandon is about to feel a shit load of pain. He’s not only hurt someone who means a fucking lot to me, but he’s gone after a woman like she was a sure fire enemy. Someone who works for The Agency needs to know when to stop. We spar with Tanner all the time, and we never go easy on her, but I’m also not going to actually beat the fucking life out of her because she’s my teammate, she’s my friend.
Brandon needs to be taught a lesson, and I’m just the teacher to do it.
“Is this going to be an issue?” I ask, rubbing my hands together and looking at Jack. He leans back against the front on his desk and folds his arms.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replies with a casual shrug and a small smile in the corner of his mouth. “Unfortunately, I have work to do. So, if you could all get the hell out now.”
He really doesn’t, but he needs an alibi. He needs to be seen in here doing paperwork, so he isn’t accused of having anything to do with the shitstorm that’s ahead.
We file out the door, one after another. My body is hot, it’s burning and ready for a fight. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Tanner enquires as she falls into step beside me. “You’re not exactly in your prime, and Brandon is… well…” I see the small shudder move through her, and for a second I wonder why the hell Brandon has been allowed to continue within The Agency if so many of the woman around here know what he’s like. I make a mental note to figure that point out later as we reach the gym door.
“You’ve got seven minutes, that’s all I can give you before the system will override me,” Noah explains.
I nod and pass Kace my crutch. “That’s all I’ll need.”
Kace, Tanner, and Eli walk in with me, while Axel, Noah, and Blair stay outside the gym to keep guard, and make sure no one enters while I’m… busy. The moment I see him, the minute his stupid face enters my vision, everything stops. I had a plan. It was a good one. A typical Luca plan. Walk up to him, make some quick-witted remark about him beating up a woman and take him by surprise, maybe even slap him like the bitch he is for starters. But the instant I see him a rage ignites inside of me. All I can see is him punching away on that punching bag, and the thought of his hands touching my girl, my Everly, and hurting her, is enough to burn the hatred inside of me so scorching hot I can’t control myself.
My feet move before I even think about what I’m doing. I run. I haven’t run since the accident. I didn’t even know I was capable of it yet. Fuck! I still walk with a fucking crutch, but I run anyway. The pain sears through my hip, but I keep going.
Brandon turns just in time to see my fist move out, it connects with his jaw, the sting piercing through my knuckles as his jaw reflects to the side, his head snapping sideways with the force knocking him to his knees. I don’t stop as he lets out a grunt with a half chuckle. I bend down grabbing at his collar and yank him up to look at me, a bruise forming on his jaw already from my knock, and he laughs in my face.
The fucker actually laughs as he looks into my eyes.
“I was wondering when you’d show up,” he sneers and then brings his arms up thrusting my hands loose from his shirt as he slams his head forward head-butting me right in the forehead. The pain sears through my scalp as I take a step back. Kace takes a step forward, but all it does is egg me on.
Lunging forward again, I jab my right hand into Brandon’s ribcage. He lets out a huff as I swing my left hand aiming for his nose, but he ducks out of the way weaving under my arm and darting behind me swiftly. I turn, but I’m not quick enough as he runs his arm up and under my throat taking me in a headlock. I reach up grabbing at his arm as Kace looks at me raising his brow in question of whether to come and rescue me or not, and I shake my head. This is gonna hurt.
Grabbing Brandon’s arm, I use all my force and flip him over my back. The pain sears through my hip making me yelp as he lands on the floor with a huff, and I wince feeling my hip crunch with the pressure. I take a second to breathe as Brandon doesn’t miss a beat sliding around on the floor, jolting his leg out under my bad one and taking my legs out from under me. I collapse onto the floor as he climbs on top of me. The pain in my hip is becoming unbearable, but as Brandon moves on top of me, his hands shifting to my throat...
I think to Everly and how he hurt her.
It’s all the motivation I need.
Tightening my hands into fists, I bring my right fist up and slam it into the side of his temple. He falls to the floor beside me shaking his head as I climb on top of him. He looks dazed like the hit has frazzled him. Good!
Bringing my fist back, I force it forward and slam it down hard and fast, getting in a good hit finally straight into his nose. A resounding crack echoes through the gym as blood spirts out all over my pants, and he moans loudly as his head flops to the side. But it’s not enough.
Anger surges through me.
He hurt her.
Another punch, in the nose again. Blood coats my knuckles, it pours down his face, his skin turning black and blue and yet it doesn’t satisfy me.
I punch again, and again until he starts to gurgle. I’m in a haze, red is all I see.
A flash of him hurting her.
A flash of him touching her.
Red.
So much red.
“Luca! Stop.” Hands grab me under my arms and hoist me from where I straddle Brandon. They drag me off him, as I continue to try to get to him in a rage. “Luca. Take a breath,” Kace hisses, his face now coming into my view rather than the bloodied body of Brandon.
I let out a long drawn out breath and flop to the floor.
My body aches.
So bad.
But I feel lighter.
He hurt her.
How could he do that?
“Luca, you with me?” Kace asks, and I let out a long puff of air.
I nod. “Yeah… I’m with you.”
The door to the gym opens, and Noah sticks his head in. “You’ve got about ninety seconds before the cameras kick back on,” he exclaims then slides back out.
Kace hoists me up from the ground handing me my elbow crutch. Man, have I never been happier to see that piece of shit walking stick. I limp taking it in my hand, and walk over to Brandon who’s coming to and looks up at me through puffed red eyes. “If you ever… and I mean ever… go near Everly or any other woman in this Agency again... I swear, next time, I won’t stop. And just remember, you got your ass handed to you by a cripple when you think you’re top shit,” I jab and then slap his side with my crutch hard making him wince from where I punched him in his ribs. He moans as Kace chuckles at me and we go to walk out.
“Hey, little lady… you want to help me up?” Brandon murmurs through a blood-soaked mouth, and Tanner turns shaking her head.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” She reaches for her gun in her holster and pulls it out aiming it at Brandon, flicking off the safety. Kace rushes over to her, dragging the gun down to face the floor.
“Tanner, not today.”
“Fuck, please? It would be so worth it, Kace,” she begs, and I raise my brow with a slight smirk as Brandon clenches his jaw in what looks like fear. Good, little fucker should be scared, because Tanner wouldn’t hold back if she was serious.
“No. That’s an order. Holster your weapon,” Kace demands, and Tanner pouts placing her gun in her holster and shrugs.
“Next time, Brandon. Next time,” she warns and strides over to him, his eyes open wide as she steps in between his legs and proceeds to kick him right in the balls. He yelps out in agony making Kace, Eli and I laugh as we turn and head for the gym doors.
“I’ll get you for that, you little bitch,” Brandon calls out.
“I think it’s you cowering on the floor holding your balls who is the little bitch, Brandon,” Tanner calls back as we head out of the gym.
My hip is aching like a motherfucker, and I wait for the door to fully close before I bend over and take a breath. I didn’t want Brandon to see how that utterly fucked me up.
Kace rushes in grabbing hold to steady me while shaking his head. “Fuck Luca, that was stupid.”
I snort as I stumble slightly on the spot while Kace loops my arm around his neck for support, hoisting me against him as we all head away from the gym. “Yep… it was in regards to me, but he needed to be shown he can’t fuck around with my girl, Kace…” I pause looking up at him, and he nods knowing my thoughts before I even have to say them.
“I know, I need to take you to the hospital anyway to get you checked you out. You’ve probably fucked yourself up, you fucking idiot.”
“It was great to watch, though. Seeing Brandon having his ass handed to him. Gotta give you props for that, Luca,” Tanner chimes in, bringing her hand up and giving my arm a slight squeeze.
I look at Eli and wince. “Thanks for looking out for her man.”
He shakes his head and exhales. “Sorry, I couldn’t have gotten there sooner to stop him from hurting her. I heard the commotion, and I hesitated… I should have gotten in there quicker.”
“You got her out of there, that’s the main thing. Thank you, Eli, I owe you,” I tell him, and he waves it off as we enter the back hall toward the elevator.
“What you owe me is to get to the fucking hospital and get checked out. Don’t fuck about, Luca, this team needs you. And if your hip is out of action, so are you. Get back to health, brother. Okay?” Eli asks, and I nod as Kace presses for the elevator.
“Kace, do you want any of us to come to the hospital with you?” Axel asks.
He shakes his head. “No, you all stay here and deal with the drama that will undoubtedly unfold with Brandon. I’ll sort out Luca and touch base with you all once I know how he and Everly are doing.”
They all nod, and I look back at my team, the people who always have my back. “Thanks, guys, for having my back in there. I know this could come back to bite us, but you all were there for Everly and me. That means a lot.”
Tanner smiles and shrugs. “We’re not just a team, Luca. We’re a family. We stick together. No matter what. If one of us falls, we all fall. Remember that.”
Warmth floods through me, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like even though I’m in immense pain right now, that even though I grew up without a family, these people right here are my family, and will be with me through thick and thin. No matter what.
“Right, let’s get you checked out,” Kace announces as the elevator arrives and we walk inside. “Tell Jack where we’re headed, and I’ll give him a report as soon as I’m able,” Kace instructs to the rest of our team. They all nod as the doors close, and I take a deep breath leaning against Kace.
He looks down at me and shakes his head. “You really had to go that hardcore on the guy, dip shit?”
I slump into him taking his strength to support me. “He deserved it.”
Kace chuckles. “He did, no doubt. But you don’t deserve the pain you’re going to go through now trying to recover again.”
Exhaling, I wince trying to move my leg into a more comfortable position. “Hopefully, it’s just a sprain. And anyway my recovery will just have to wait. I need to see Everly first before I do anything.”
Kace groans as the elevator pulls to a stop, the doors opening and he leads me into the underground parking garage. “There’s nothing I can say that’s going to make you get checked out first is there?”
Shaking my head, I chuckle. “Would you get checked out first, or tend to Lily?”
He huffs and leads me to his car. “Fuck, okay. But as soon as we know she’s fine, you get checked out. No arguments.”
“You’re so bossy, you know that?”
Kace smirks dropping his arm from around me and leaning me against his truck. “Lily likes my bossy side.”
I shudder and shake my head. “I don’t wanna know, man.”
Kace smiles pressing the button to unlock the truck and yanks open the door. “Get in, invalid.”
I slide into the truck, thoughts of Everly in the hospital running back through my mind. My jaw clenches as Kace gets in starting the car, and I grit my teeth hating that Brandon hurt her.
The fucking bastard.
“Get there quickly, Kace,” I tell him.
He looks to me, his humor gone, and he simply nods in understanding as he pulls out of the park and takes off fast toward the hospital.
Toward my girl.
Toward the moment where I will finally talk to Everly again, and tell her how I feel.
I need to stop being a fucking pussy about this shit. She means too much to me for me to let what we have, go to waste now.
I can’t let this go.
I can’t let her go.
And I’m going to tell her.