He planned to talk to her. To end things once and for all. He was tired of the threats, the manipulation, the games. He needed her to hear it from him directly, without messages twisting his words. If he didn’t settle this face-to-face, she’d keep pushing her way back into his life.
He showered, dressed in gray sweatpants and a black compression shirt, and left the apartment. The warm May air brushed against his skin as he walked.
He put his earbuds in and made his way to the park. The first bench was empty, so he sat and waited, his music still playing.
Minutes ticked by. No sign of Stella. He took out his phone to message her, when a shadow moved behind him. Before he could react, a violent blow to the back of his skull sent him crashing into darkness.
“Hurry up,” a voice hissed. “Check if anyone is coming.” Hands grabbed him, dragging him away.
When consciousness crept back, pain exploded through his skull. He groaned and touched the tender spot. Cold stone pressed against his back. He sat up slowly and blinked. Six guys stood in front of him. Three familiar faces. Two gripping bats.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Kash said from the middle of the group.
Mano scanned their faces with narrowed eyes. He’d been cornered like this before. It hadn’t ended well.
“Nice bike you have. Shame about the tires,” Kash mocked.
Mano chuckled under his breath and slowly pushed himself to his feet.
“Did I say something funny?” Kash snarled.
Mano met his eyes. “I see you brought the whole crew. Smart. You know I can handle the three of you with a single punch.”
Hostility rippled through the group. Only then did Mano notice where he was. A deserted schoolyard. His thoughts snapped to Stella. “What did you do to her?”
“Who?” Kash tilted his head.
“Stella.”
“I don’t know any Stella. Do you guys know a Stella?” he asked, and the others shook their heads.
It made no sense. She was supposed to meet him. How did they know where he’d be?
“Don’t stress yourself,” Kash said. “Let me help.” He took out a phone and read aloud. “Someone slashed my bike tires. I’m not in the mood to go out. Don’t tell me you got into a fight. I’ll wait for you at the first bench.” He lifted his head with a sly grin.
Mano’s eyes widened. He recognized the phone instantly. “That’s Stella’s phone.”
“Bingo.”
“Why do you have it?”
Kash stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto Mano’s. “I thought you were smarter than this. You still don’t get it?”
Mano searched his memory, trying to piece together the connection.
Kash smirked and waited.
Mano’s face shifted in shock as the realization finally hit him.
“Oh yeah, you remember now.” Kash leaned in, voice dripping with satisfaction. “I’m the jealous ex.”
Chapter 11
Mano’s gaze snapped back to Kash as it clicked. Stella’s ex. The one she kept mentioning. His thoughts barely had time to settle before he noticed two guys tapping bats against their palms while the others cracked their knuckles.
He took a couple of steps back. This was bad. He’d been in situations like this before and knew exactly where it would go. Six against one. They had weapons. He had nothing.
Run? They wouldn’t let him. And running wasn’t his style. He wasn’t dumb enough to stand still and wait for a beating, but he had no real choices left.
