Page 64

I pulled up to Solomon’s place, pissed the fuck off, already on ten. Heart banging in my chest, rage sitting in my gut like fire, and no matter how many therapy techniques I tried, I couldn’t put it out. All I saw was Angel’s face—bruised, bloodied, her eyes full of fear—and Ekon crying. That shit was on me. And now, I had to handle it.

Silas was in the passenger seat, quiet, but I knew he was ready. He was always ready for this kind of shit. I didn’t even turn off the car. This wasn’t gonna take long.

I hit the steps, fist raised to knock, but the old bastard opened the door before I could. His lip was busted, and his nose was swollen and blue. Angel got her licks in, and that made me proud—at least she’d defended herself.

“I knew she’d call you,” he said, smug as fuck, shaking his head. “She’s weak." Without missing a beat, he pulled a gun on me.

I didn’t flinch. His hand wasn’t even steady. I pulled mine, aimed straight at his face.

We stood there, both of us holding steel like two men willing to die. But I could see it in his eyes—he wasn’t. He was all talk. His safety wasn’t even off. Mine was never on.

“Do something, bitch,” I said, my voice low, calm.

Before he could decide, Silas came up behind him like a ghost. One hit to the ribs, and Solomon folded like a lawn chair. That’s when I stepped in. I slammed the door behind me and cracked him across the face with my gun. He dropped, blood pouring from his nose, his eyes wide with shock.

“Get the fuck up,” I barked, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him into a chair.

He groaned, clutching his ribs, trying to catch his breath. I wasn’t giving him the chance.

I stood over him, rage boiling under my skin. “Why the fuck did you hit Angel?”

He wiped his face, blood smeared on his hand, sneering at me like he had something to say. “She hit me first,” he spat. “She went through my stuff.”

That wasn’t an excuse. Not by a long shot.

I leaned down, my gun still tight in my grip, trigger finger itching. “What the fuck are you hiding, Solomon? Why’d you snap on her?”

He tried to keep that tough-guy act, but I could see him crumbling. “I’m not hiding anything,” he said, his voice shaky. “My mom. She thought Angel was too young, thought she wouldn’t understand me. She thought I’d hurt her.”

He stopped talking, like he realized he’d said too much.

“Hurt her?” I demanded, shoving the gun under his chin.

His eyes darted to Silas, then back to me. He swallowed, hard. “Like I did with... my ex. We fought. I hurt her. She ran. My mom thought I’d do the same to Angel. But I didn’t mean to. I just—”I hit him again, this time with my fist. His mouth started leaking faster.

“So you’re just a fucking abuser, and you met me and chose my woman to prey on? You definitely don’t like breathing.” I growled.

He didn’t say shit. He just sat there, holding his ribs, blood dripping down his face.

I wanted to shoot him. Put a bullet between his eyes and be done with it. But Angel didn’t need that. Ekon didn’t need that. And I wasn’t going to be the man I used to be.

Instead, I leaned down, close enough to see the fear swimming in his bloodshot eyes. My voice dropped to a whisper. “Stay the fuck away from Angel. If I even think you’re near her, you’re done. Dead.”

He nodded, trembling now.

“You ain’t shit, old fuck,” I spat.

Silas stepped up and slammed his fist into Solomon’s gut one last time. I heard something crack, and I didn’t care what it was.

On the way out, I grabbed his phone and keys. His nearest neighbor was half a mile away, and Jonas had already disabled his security system. Solomon would have to crawl for help. He’d probably have to hurt himself even more just to get to it.

Back in the car, I couldn’t shake the anger. My hands were still shaking, adrenaline pumping through me like a drug.

Silas lit a blunt, taking a slow drag, making me want to smoke, I had to fight the urge.. “I’ll call Grady,” he said, his voice calm.

Grady was a friend from high school turned sheriff. Silas didn’t need me to say shit. He already knew the drill.

As we drove off, all I could think about was Angel. This was my fault. If I hadn’t fucked shit up with her, she wouldn’t have been with that weak-ass piece of shit in the first place.