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Opening the double closet doors, I take in how her clothes are arranged by color. The level of neatness reminds me of my own closets.

I spot the case, and picking it up, I remove the glasses. While I walk back to where Annie is waiting, I make sure the lenses are clean.

Stopping in front of her, I carefully put them on her face.

Her eyes instantly dart to mine, and staring at me with interest, she whispers, “Thank you.”

Being around Annie is dangerous. If she keeps looking at me like that, I’m going to give in and fuck her senseless.

That can’t happen.

I nod, and knowing I have to shut down whatever’s between us, I step around her and leave the apartment so I can make the call to the marshal who’s in charge of me.

Heading down the stairs, I pull my phone out and notice dried blood on my knuckles and fingers. When I step out of the building, I press dial on Laufer’s number.

“Speak,” Laufer answers the call.

“I lost control.”

There’s silence for a beat. “How bad is it?”

I try to recall how many men I took down. “Six. Maybe eight. Miles stopped it.”

A sigh comes over the line. “Anyone still moving?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t attack to kill. I only wanted to keep them away from Annie.

“Good,” he says. “Did you put anyone in the hospital?”

“I don’t know.” I begin to walk toward the corner to see what’s going on in front of the bar, and when the sidewalk is empty, I add, “Everyone’s gone, so I assume they were able to drag themselves away after the fight.”

“Okay.” Laufer lets out another sigh. “Listen to me.”

I don’t reply and wait for him to continue.

“You’re wound tight. I get it. The new environment and people are an adjustment.” His voice hardens on the next part. “But you can’t lose control. You’re too dangerous.”

I glance around me as I reply, “I know.”

“You need to get through this phase without killing anyone. Things will get better.”

I begin to walk to the alley so I can go into the bar via the kitchen.

“Do you hear me?” Laufer asks, his tone tensing again.

“Yes.” The single word is clipped and filled with impatience.

“Go home and don’t interact with anyone else tonight. You’re too volatile right now.”

Just shy of the metal door, I stop dead in my tracks. “Okay.”

“And, Owen,” he adds, “next time you feel like you’re losing control, call me before it turns into a pile of bodies I have to clean up. There’s only so much I can make disappear.”

“I hear you.”

“Good.” His voice grows tense again. “Remember that I’m the only one standing between you and a very short list of options. None of which you’ll like.”