Chapter 23

Erik

I walked away from her knowing I was a dead man. My father hadn't let up on me since I walked into his house two weeks before, beating people's asses and screaming like a ten-year-old boy who got his feelings hurt.

Grace had no clue the pain I endured that night.

It was the way we operated. Had anyone else tried to swing their cock around my father, they'd have found it cut off. I just got a good reminder who was in charge.

The ride over to Nate's place was far too short, and I found myself tense and itching for a good fight as I walked up the stairs and banged on the door. I could pop the lock in a matter of seconds, but to find him and Jenna fucking on the couch would have darkened my mood even further.

I was going to get Nate's opinion and then head out to the mansion. Time to try my Dad one more time. I knew he loved me. Maybe if I reasoned with him instead of throwing punches and swinging my gun around he would hear me.

Doubtful, but then again, I was ready to hit the road. Even if it was just for a few months. I had to feel Grace in the bed beside me. Thoughts of her consumed me, and I was starving for her touch. It was a sickness I wasn't going to get over anytime soon. My old man had to understand that. Surely he felt that way about my mother when she was alive.

"Come in." Nate's voice lifted from under the door.

I walked in to find him and Cole on the couch, the sports news on and both of them drinking beer. What the fuck?

"I can come back another time." I turned on my heel to leave.

"Hey. Get in here, Erik. Fuck. Where you been?" He got up and popped me in the side playfully.

I yelped through I tried to stifle it. My old man had broken three of my ribs in the process of teaching me a lesson. "Keep your hands to yourself, bitch."

"What the fuck?" Cole leaned forward and studied me. "You alright?"

I flipped him off and walked to the kitchen to get myself a beer. Nate followed me, watching me closely. "What the hell happened? You just up and disappear for two weeks?"

"I was in the hospital for most of it." I popped the top. "And don't ask me anything else. I'm not talking with you around my father's favorite bitch."

"It's not like that." Cole walked around the corner. "Your father asked me to trail you because he was worried. I did, and maybe I was wrong for trying to take things into my own hands, okay?"

"No, fucker. Not okay." Anger boiled in my belly, and Nate moved between us again.

"Hey." He put his hand softly on my chest. "Cole's a good guy. He's not after you, man. I promise."

"He speaks the truth, Erik. You just remind me of my little brother, man. Excuse the fuck outta me for trying to help save you from heartache."

"I can take care of myself, mother fucker." I hit my chest hard and stifled a groan. "You're not my goddamn nanny. Got it?"

"Yep." He turned and walked back to the living room as I turned my attention on Nate.

"I'm going to talk to Lucien to see if he's reconsidered where Grace is concerned. If he won’t..." I wrapped an arm around Nate's shoulders and leaned close, pressing my forehead to his shoulder, "I'm leaving."

"No." He cupped the back of my head and held me in place. "You know that abandoning the syndicate is the wrong answer. Your father will come after you like hell opened up, Erik. You're all he has. And he won't stop until you and Grace pay for your bullshit."

"I can't do this without her. I dream about her, think about her." I pulled back and let out a long groan. "I'm losing my mind, dude."

"That's love," Cole called from the other room.

I walked around Nate and stopped at the edge of the room, watching the cocky bastard. "Stay outta my shit."

"I'm just saying. You're right to run away with her. It's not like you're going to sit around and watch her be with some other chump." He shrugged and took a sip of his beer as he watched me. "You might want to tell her about Thomas though, Erik. That hit’s coming soon."

"How do you know this?"

He moved to the edge of the couch. "If I trusted you, I would explain, but I don't, so take my word for it."

"That's it." I moved across the room and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him up and popping him in the face twice. I don't know why I hated the fucker so much, but I did.

"Erik. Fuck." Nate pulled me back as Cole popped me once in the side. I crumbled to the ground with a scream of agony.

"The hit is tonight. I heard your father talk about it with Kane. I'm a slick mother fucker, Erik, and when your turn comes to run the syndicate, I want one thing." He knelt beside me.

"What?" I barked and cupped my side. There was no way my father was calling out the hit on Grace's brother the night I was heading out of town.

"Freedom." He stood up and walked toward the kitchen.

"Didn't you ask for this, you idiot?" I rolled over as Nate helped me up.

"He needs to belong to someone powerful for a time, but that time will end soon." Nate moved back and reached out to pat the side of my face. "You alright? You look ill."

I pulled my gun from the back of my jeans and let a round off toward the kitchen. "You'll get nothing from me, Cole. Stay away from my family, or I'll put a bullet in your head."

"Not happening yet, but when my slate is clean... I'll disappear, and you'll never hear from me again." He walked back toward the living room, pausing. "You want me to prove my loyalty right now? I'll kill the frat boy for you."

"No. It's my fucking hit. I'll do it, and then I'm getting the hell out of here."

"No, you're not." Nate gripped my shoulder. "I'm not letting you make that mistake."

"Try and stop me." I turned and walked to the door, limping due to the pressure in my chest. My rib had to be poking into my lungs.

"Erik," Nate called after me as I walked out and slammed the door behind me. What the fuck was my best friend doing in bed with a cop? Was Cole a good guy or a bad guy? Did I care? No. I'd figure his shit out later. He was a mystery I didn't care to unravel just yet.