Page 45 of Dark Soul

He waited, in the dark, long after her shapely figure had waved at him from the top of the steps. Waited for that text message. And he’d thought things were complicated before, when it was just the mission to contend with. But now … now Alexia was caught in the middle as well. And Dark was beginning to imagine a future he had no right imagining, and no right wishing for.

14

* * *

Dark

"I hope you had a good time last night, boss,” Ash said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as Dark walked into the house after a morning run that’d done little to refresh him after a sleepless night.

Dark closed the large terrace door carefully and counted to five.

He could feel his control about to snap.

Ash continued calmly spreading butter onto a croissant.

And there was something in his gaze …

Disgust.

The fucking rapist was looking at him with an expression of disgust.

Dark’s control snapped.

“Shut the fuck up,” he said. “We’re going downstairs to the gym. Now”

Ash put the butter knife down. He calmly picked up the croissant he’d been buttering and took a bite, chewing and swallowing before replying.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Dark?”

“Drop that pastry before I shove it up your—“

“Don’t the rest of us get to play?” Griffin asked, a wolfish expression on his face.

The gym, located right next to the games room, was huge. They’d discovered that was something a lot of Gstaad houses shared—huge basements. Because building regulations were so strict, but underground rooms didn’t count towards the total built space, home owners often ended up building huge sprawling areas underground.

Rich people living like moles.

Dark was glad for the huge space now. He pointed to the blue mat.

“What’s this about?” Slate asked, poking his head in. “A sparring session?”

“Looks like it,” Rogue replied carefully.

Dark couldn’t have cared less about the audience. The other guys could watch, or not, as long as they didn’t try to stop him.

Ash took off his T-shirt, flexing his arm and shoulder muscles. And the man was ripped. Nobody said anything while they bandaged their hands and put on their gloves.

“I have to warn you, Dark, my specialty is close quarter combat, and I didn’t stop training in prison.”

“I imagine. I’ve heard your type of man has a shit time in prison,” Dark goaded, furious.

Griffin and Slate’s jaw went slack. Rogue’s expression didn’t change. He’d already known.

“Fuck you,” Ash said, launching into an attack. Dark moved sideways, narrowly avoiding the first punch. Ash’s second punch, however, connected firmly with Dark’s jaw, turning his head sideways.

Fuck, the man could hit.

He jumped backwards, looking for some space.