“Well… shit.”
Carter’s truck was definitely back — or at least, a good-sized chunk of it. The doors and windows were gone, as were the tires, the hood, and everything that used to be under it. Theentire vehicle was nothing more than a skeletal chassis, dropped unceremoniously in front of the house.
Tacked to the steering wheel, with an icepick no less, was a single sheet of paper. Scrawled across it, was a single, chilling message:
You didn’t really think this was over, did you?”
~ 34 ~
HAYDEN
I drove.
It didn’t matter that I had to yank myself free from Carter and Sawyer, or that I had to pry my car keys free from Bodie’s clenched hand. In the end I’d screamed, and my scream was all that was needed. Their shoulders slumped. They stepped back, and relented.
And now here I was, driving eighty miles an hour, tears streaking down both sides of my face. Cole was right, I was foolish to think this whole thing was over. Stupid to think he’d just step back and walk away, after the hellish obsession I’d gone through the first time we’d done this.
As furious as I was at Cole, I was angry at the others, too, for underestimating him. I’d warned them, but they’d brushed it off. They didn’t know. They didn’t have a clue as to the full scope of things to come.
Most of all though, I was angry at myself for getting them into this.
My tired chirped as I slid into the parking lot and threw my car into park. The training center was alive with light, and heat, and noise — not to mention the living, breathing smell of fifty or so men, all sweating at once. I ignored all of it as I stomped in and grabbed the first guy I saw.
“Where’s Cole?” I growled.
The guy looked me up and down before answering. “Who?”
“Cole Kane.”
“You mean The Hammer?”
God, I hated that fucking name. He took a step back, as my eyes blazed with disdain.
“Yes,” I eventually seethed. “The Hammer.”
The guy jerked a thumb. “He’s up there. Kenny’s working him out.”
My eyes scanned left, past two other mats that were occupied with men actively pummeling each other. Beyond the second mat I saw the object of my search. Cole was on the floor, doing ground work. Even as I watched, he spun over his opponent and arched his tremendous body, throwing the unfortunate man into a deep arm bar.
The guy was in the process of tapping out when I got there.
“COLE!”
He looked up immediately at the sound of my voice. When his eyes found mine, they showed no shock or surprise. His mouth however, curled into the beginnings of an evil smile.
“Stop! Stop! Stop!”
One of the trainers was rushing over. Still staring at me, Cole hadn't let go of the man’s arm yet.
“COLE STOP!” the man yelled again. “That’s it!”
He finally let go, and Cole’s opponent slumped to the mat. The man immediately jerked his arm inward, wincing in pain.
“I’m taking five,” Cole grunted, without apology.
He stormed to the edge of the mat, peeling his glove straps off with his teeth. His very presence was revolting. I couldn’t believe I’d actually gone out with him.
“What do you need?” he snarled at me.
