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Every instinct screams at me to go after her. My body’s already leaning that way, muscles coiled like they could outrun the mess I just made. But my feet stay planted.

The look on her face is seared behind my eyes. Anger I could handle.

But she didn’t look angry.

She looked devastated.

Beside me, Maverick lets out a wet, bitter laugh. He’s still holding his nose, blood leaking through his fingers and down the front of his shirt, but somehow he manages to look smug through it. That takes talent. Or a lifetime of being a prick.

One more hit would feel good. My hand flexes at my side. Then I see Theo standing near the gym doors, watching us.

I unclench my fist.

Maverick’s eyes track the movement. He sees the restraint and mistakes it for weakness, because men like him always do.

“This is what happens when you give a dog access to the house,” Maverick says thickly. “Eventually, it thinks it owns the furniture.”

I step closer, keeping my voice low. “Listen to me, you little prick. The only reason my boot isn’t on your fucking neck right now is because there’s a kid watching. So get in your car and drive away before I forget that.”

“You don’t give me orders,” he says, straightening as much as a man with a broken nose can. “What’s Ray going to say about that?”

I grin.

So that’s what he’s been holding on to.

“Ray isn’t happy with you.” I let a second pass, because I want to watch it land. “He told me to pay you a visit. Show you what happens when people hang up on him.”

The parts of Maverick’s face not already covered in blood go pale.

“You want to see?”

The confidence drains from his expression so cleanly it’s almost satisfying. Funny how quickly men like Maverick remember fear when money isn’t enough.

He glances toward the gym doors, then back at me, searching for one last cutting remark. He doesn’t find it. Instead, he wipes the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and heads for his car faster than he probably intended.

I stand there until Maverick’s taillights disappear into the night. Then I turn and walk toward Theo, who is still standing near the gym doors, small and wide-eyed.

“Why was he bleeding?” he asks.

“He walked into a door,” I say. “Fucking idiot. I was just making sure he was all right.”

Theo’s shoulders loosen.

He believes me.

That sits wrong in my stomach. Lying to him never used to bother me much. But now it feels like one more dirty thing stuck to my skin.

“Where’s Carmen?” he asks.

“She had to go.”

“Why? Is Fifi okay?”

“Yeah, she’s fine.” I glance toward the lot, even though Carmen is long gone. “Her son came to see her. That’s all.”

Theo nods slowly, still not completely satisfied, but willing to take what I give him. “Okay.”

“Go play with your friends.”