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Chapter Thirty-Eight

Vinny

S avage rage has me pushing the little punk up against the community center office door. “P-p-please sir, I d-don’t know anything, I swear.” The smell of urine fills my nostrils, but it’s not my own, so of course my dick doesn’t twitch as I stare him down, and disgust rolls off me.

“You fucked my girl, don’t act dumb, you sad sack little fucker. I’m about to destroy every inch of you.” He pales even more than before, if that’s humanly possible.

“I-I didn’t,” he cries, literal tears streaming down his face.

“I swear. It wasn’t me.” He splutters between swiping at the snot dripping from his nose.

My lip curls in distaste. Did she really fuck this kid?

I scratch my head with the handgun I’m holding.

It makes no sense, none at all. I glance toward Massio, and he gives his head a shake. He doesn’t believe it either.

“I-I’m a Christian, sir. I’m saving myself for marriage.” My eyes widen at his admission, and Massio chokes on a laugh. Then the little punk lifts his hand. “I-it’s my purity ring, it symbolizes—”

“I know what the fuck a purity ring is,” I bellow, causing him to shrink back.

Massio pinches the bridge of his nose. “Jesus fucking Christ. A purity ring?” His wide eyes meet mine, and we stare at one another with confusion.

“Sir, Gracie’s father kept her locked up in the house, she was never allowed out. I didn’t even know she had a baby until I saw her here. I was truly shocked, sir.”

I stroke over my lip, contemplating his words.

“Sir, I don’t think the kid is the father. Do you?” Massio eyes me with uncertainty and rolls his lips, probably unsure whether to speak or not, and in this moment, I’m grateful for his silence. I allow the kid to fall to the floor.

Pieces of the puzzle are slowly slipping into place.

“He said he wanted leverage.”

Massio nods.

“He said he wanted leverage, Massio!” I say louder as the clouds of jealousy that have consumed me clear, allowing me to think straight. “She’s mine.”

“Sir?”

A deep-seated agony pulsates in the pit of my stomach as I keel over, and with my fists planted on the wall, I take deep breaths. “Holy fuck. Bonnie. She’s mine.”

My heart sinks to my feet as her betrayal slices through me.

“Holy shit,” Massio chokes out .

The kid’s hand rests on my arm. “Sir, congratulations on becoming a daddy.” Congratulations? On becoming a fucking daddy? I shake my head, the kid can’t know the meaning behind his words, but fuck me do they hurt anyhow.

She stole her from me.

“Please bring them home safely. I’ll pray for their return.” I want to scoff at this kid’s ignorance, but there’s something about his words that I pick up on.

Striding toward the door, I rip it open, Massio hot on my heels. “I know where she is!” I shout.

We bypass a sobbing Hazel and head outside toward the SUV.

“Care to share?” Massio asks.

I stop on the steps of the community center to face my right-hand man. “She’s gone home, Massio.” His brow furrows as he thinks over my words. “Her old home.”

“Why the fuck?”

“The one she grew up in,” I clarify. “The ranch.”

My little pet has returned home, but when I find her, I’ll be sure to keep her on a tighter leash. Her owner is coming to collect her, and when I do, I’ll punish her for every betrayal, starting with why the fuck she kept my baby from me.