I curse under my breath and pull away. Usually, I ignore anyone who interrupts me, but I can’t risk it since I’m already on thin ice with Clyde.
Almost as if she’s pulled out of a daze, Lily looks at me with glassy eyes as I jerk the phone from my pocket. She blinks a few times before the same look of anger is back on her face. She slips off the counter and plants her hands on my chest before pushing me away.
“Fuck you.”
I scoff as I hold the still ringing phone in my hand. “I almost did and I plan to be back to finish this.”
Her jaw tics as she shakes her head and pushes past me roughly, then returns to the living room.
Taking a deep breath, I hit the answer button and bring the phone to my ear. “What?”
“I’m not sure why you think you’re able to bark orders at my men, but you need to get back to the warehouse. There is another job waiting for you.” I can hear the annoyance in Clyde’s voice.
“What is it?” I reply, not bothering to hide my annoyance. He just cock blocked me without even trying.
“CJ.” That’s all he says before hanging up.
6
ERIC
Pulling back up to the warehouse, my anger is no longer simmering. It’s full-blown boiling. I tried to tell Clyde CJ wasn’t ready for this shit months ago, but it didn’t do any good. Before, Clyde would listen to me—take my thoughts into consideration—but he’s gotten to the point where the power he wants is blinding. It’s too bad all he’s done will be pointless because I plan to take it all.
I just need to bide my time, do my job, and hit him when he doesn’t expect it. Which means dealing with CJ. Yes, he ran under my watch, but I’m not a fucking babysitter. Even though I knew he wasn’t ready, I didn’t think he would pussy out this way. So, if Clyde wants to use him as an example, fine, but I refuse to let him get the upper hand on me.
When Alfredo stops the car, I step out and make my way to the entrance. The same guy from earlier is lingering around the front, smoking a cigarette, and staring at me down the bridge of his nose. He’s probably pissed I got him in hot water with Clyde, but I don’t give a fuck. Other people’s feelings aren’t my problem.
He opens his mouth as I walk by, but I disappear inside before he can mumble a word. I look around the bare warehouse, trying to see if anything seems out of place. Since Clyde is questioning me, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is some sort of set-up. Everything seems normal enough. The floor is damp from the cleanup of the guy before, and dusty wooden boxes line the walls, leaving the vast center bare other than a single metal chair, with a bloody CJ tied to it.
His head is drooping low with crusty blood clinging to his ashy blonde hair. Clearly, whoever found him already did a number on him. As I step closer and my shoes come into his view, he lifts his head.
I can barely recognize the kid sitting in front of me. His face is swollen in numerous spots, with various shades of purple and blue painting his skin, along with blood still trickling from his nose and mouth. I know I should feel bad— or maybe even sad— but I was never programmed that way. Fear, blood, corruption. All it means to me is power.
This is a consequence of his actions and nothing else. I have no pity for him. And with that thought, I get angry all over again.
Not because of him necessarily, but the fact I can look at him in the state he’s in and feel nothing, but when I think of Lily, I feel all the shit I shouldn’t. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be in this position. I wouldn’t have to position myself in her life to fix the mistakehemade.
Without a word, I ball my hand into a fist and send it into his ribs. I can already feel the broken bones, detached from their spots, floating under his skin, and all it does is make me want to do it again, but I refrain.
“Eric… Please…” His pleas are weak and gurgled.
“Please? Please what, CJ?” I seethe.
“Don— don’t do this.” His once vibrant eyes are hollow and vacant.
I shake my head as I remove my suit jacket and fold it neatly before placing it on the ground a few feet away. “You know why I have to do this.”
He shimmies weakly against his restraints. “You don’t.”
I’m sure I see a tear slip from his swollen eye socket, and again, it makes me feel nothing. “Even if I didn’t,” I start, pacing in front of him. “That doesn’t change the fact that I want to.”
His eyes follow me as I pace. A look of horror and realization mixed in his features. “You want to kill me?”
I’m not sure why he asks because he already knows the answer. It has to be noticeable. “I do.”
“Why?”
I stop and tip my head as I hike the sleeves of my dress shirt up. “Why does anyone do anything in this world, CJ? Power? Money? Simply because it’s an urge?”
