Page 107 of Crave

Crunch.

Blood came…and so did the shadows as his buddy stumbled forward. I swung around and rushed forward, driving my elbow into his face, and felt the cartilage snap under my weight. He let out a strangled yell, clutching his nose and stumbled backwards, but I wasn’t done.

I grabbed the back of his head and yanked down as I bought my knee up.

Bone met bone.

His body went limp before he even hit the ground.

The other guy was still coughing behind me as I turned around and set my sights on his once more. Somewhere in the alleyway that bitch screamed. But I didn’t care about her now as I advanced slowly, then grabbed his collar and shoved him backwards, the back of his head slamming against the wall.

“You thought this was a good idea?” My voice was low, slurred at the edges, but my grip was steady as steel.

He gagged, clawing at my arm.

I tightened my grip.

“You ever steal from me again, I’ll rip out yourfuckingthroat.”

His eyes bulged.

I shoved harder. “Do you hear me?”

He nodded, his eyes glassy with tears.

“My keys.” I demanded.

“H-here.” The bitch from the club stammered.

I jerked my gaze toward her, watching her advance with what was left of my wallet and my keys in her hand.

I let go of the asshole, watching in the corner of my eye as he dropped like a fucking ragdoll, gasping, clutching at his throat.

I stepped over him, spitting onto the pavement before rolling my shoulders, flexing my bruised knuckles.

Pain.

Good.

I fucking needed it.

I snatched my belongings from her, glaring at the greedy fucking whore as I walked past her and headed for the street.

My body was shaking by the time I slid into the driver's seat and yanked the door closed behind me.

It was late…really fucking late.

I blinked and leaned forward, holding my ribs and started the engine. Headlights blinded me as I pulled the car out onto thestreet. The drive home nothing more than a neon blur. A red, pulsing haze of blood and rage and drugs.

You will be on your knees. Do you understand?

I couldn’t get that fucking video out of my head even as I pulled into my street and headed for the driveway. A blur of movement came before headlights blinded me. Gabe’s Jeep Wrangler shot forward, barely missing me as he took off out of the driveway. I unleashed something unholy and wrenched the wheel to the side, narrowly missing him. My brother’s face was barely human, filled with rage before he was gone, leaving me pulling up in the parking space he left behind.

I barely remembered getting through the door, but I was there, shoving it closed behind me, pressing my back against it as I forced myself to breathe.

The house was too fucking quiet.

Too still.