Page 82 of Bad Medicine

“You think very highly of yourself, don’t you, you cocky fuck?” he asked, and I moved, staying crouched behind the car as I made my way around the back end, trying to put myself behind Ivan.

“I mean, confidence is important,” I said, not taking my eyes off of him. “But it’s not cocky if I can back it up.”

With that, I stood, firing off one shot and nailing Ivan in the shoulder, causing him to spin around before he tumbled to the ground, his gun flying out of his hands and across the parking lot, disappearing into the shadows. Marching to him, I stood over him, watching as he writhed on the ground, one hand on his wounded shoulder, cursing and spitting at me.

“Shut up,” I growled, leveling my gun at him. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t end you right now?” I asked, knowing killing a man so publicly was a big fucking mistake. “After all, we already thought you’ve been dead for months.” I grinned, but there was no humor in it. “An easy death would be more than you deserve.”

Ivan laughed, a caustic sound that I immediately hated.

“You think it matters?” he asked, and I cocked my head at him, confused. “It doesn’t matter if you kill me, it will already be too late.”

“Too late for what?” I asked, hating that I was letting him draw me into his bullshit.

This time, when Ivan smiled, I could tell he was enjoying himself, that whatever he was about to say would change my life forever.

I clenched my jaw as cold dread slithered into my veins, my fingers going numb even as my heart rate skyrocketed.

“Too late to save your bitch,” he spat and before I could think better of it, I fired, the sound of my gunshot barely audible over the roaring in my ears, Ivan’s surprised eyes staring back at me sightlessly.

Mia.

That was the only thought in my head.

Where was Mia right now? Was she still at the hospital?

Was she safe?

Glancing at my phone, I saw it was past the time for her shift to be over, meaning she was probably already home.

I turned from the sight of Ivan’s eerie stare, running as fast as I could around the back of the building and racing for my car.

Before I could enter the alley, another vehicle pulled up, the sleek gray Camaro instantly recognizable as Benny’s sliding into the lot, blocking my way. When he exited the car and approached me, I tried to go around him, but he grabbed me by the shoulders, his gaze running over me for any damage.

“Get the fuck outta my way, Benny,” I snarled, my hands clenched into fists, unsure of what I would do if he didn’t release me.

I had never fought my friends; I wasn’t a hot head like Enzo or a mouthpiece like Trick. I was typically laid back, a real go with the flow kinda guy.

But right now, I would have plowed my fist right into Benny’s pretty boy face if it meant getting to Mia faster.

Ihadto get to Mia.

“What the hell, Rock?” Benny asked, clearly confused as to what the actual fuck was happening. “I got the text. Got here as fast as I could.” He stared around the parking lot, finally noticing the carnage surrounding us. “Is...is that Anton?” he sputtered, looking at me, his face etched with shock. Letting out a whistle, Benny shook his head. “You killed Anton Belikov?”

“No,” I breathed. “I killed the man who killed him.”

Now Benny was really fuckin’ confused, but I didn’t have time to walk him through every nuance of a double homicide.

“Listen, Ben. I’ll fill you in when I get the chance, but for now, just clean the scene, will ya?” Benny frowned, but nodded. “Cameras too, alright?”

Then I was gone, and this time nothing was going to stop me from reaching my woman.

My family.

I didn’t even take the time to turn off the car; simply launching myself out the door and up the steps, bursting through the front door like a hurricane.

“Mia!”

I could hear voices coming from upstairs, so I headed that way, my boots crunching over the broken glass that littered the entryway, but I didn’t stop.