Page 41 of Ache
“Ever!” I bang on the door impatiently. “Ever, it’s me. We need to talk.” I continue to pound. I won’t stop until she answers. Moments later, the hinges squeak as the door swings open.
“Tage, this isn’t a good time.” Her words vaporize as I look beyond where she’s standing and see Alec sitting on the couch.
My protective instincts kick into overdrive. Shoving Everly out of the way, I go after Alec like a raging bull. Pulling a Glock from the back holster of my waistband, I pounce on top of him, shoving the barrel of the gun into his mouth.
“Tell me who the fuck you are,” I snarl as I squeeze the trigger and his cheeks. “What the fuck do you want with Everly, and how do you know Vicki?”
Alec just shakes his head, muffled sounds spilling out of his mouth as Everly screams at me. It’s all a bit chaotic in the room, but the force is necessary.
Anger, rage, vigilance, and possessiveness flare inside me as I push the barrel farther down this motherfucker’s throat. He gags, and I find immense satisfaction from the reaction.
“TAGE!”Everly’s shrill voice cuts through my hysteria.“Get the fuck off him!”She pulls at my arm.“Please!”Her earnest tone reins me in.
With ragged breaths, I withdraw the gun, but I don’t move off Alec. I want answers, and I want them right fucking now.
He pants, catching his breath, then a shitstorm rages in his eyes. “Asshole.” He shoots off the couch, sending us both to the floor. We grapple, a punch thrown here and there. He lands a good one on my cheek. I retaliate by splitting his lip wide open.
“Stop!”Everly shrieks, and then the gun goes off. I’m on my feet in a split second, corralling her against the wall.
“Are you fucking crazy?” I slip the gun out of her hand before she kills someone.
“No, I’m fucking pissed,” she snaps.
“Not an excuse to fire a weapon.”
“You were about to blow my boyfriend’s fucking head off.” I wince at the word boyfriend.
“Only out of necessity.” I re-holster the gun and glance back at Alec to make sure he isn’t getting any funny ideas. We don’t need any more vigilante moves.
Pulling my cell phone out of my back pocket, I hit one button to dial the private number that so generously sent me the surveillance pics.
“Tage?”
“Simon. I need you to run some interference. Use my GPS location. Intercept any responses to shots fired at this location.” I glare into Everly’s eyes. “It was an accidental discharge.”
“Done.” I hear Simon typing away faster than lightning on the other end.
“Stay out of trouble and keep your gun in your pants.”Click.
“Who the fuck is Simon? Why do you have a gun? Actually, why don’t you just start with who the fuck you are,” Alec erupts.
“I should be the one interrogating you,” I bark.
“Stop!” Everly explodes. “Just stop. Both of you. We all just need to get on the same page.”
“Well, I would love to know what fucking page that is.” Alec agitatedly wipes some blood from his lip. His tan, pretty-boy suit is all messed up and splattered with red stains. My ego inflates from his disheveled appearance.Take that, pretty boy.
“Maybe if we can talk like civilized adults and not act like hormonal teenagers” — she is clearly directing that statement at me — “we can avoid any more bloodshed.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” I almost want to pout.
Ever rolls her eyes. I really am just an adolescent teen in a man’s body, and I’m secure enough to admit it. My impulsiveness is part of the reason I’m still alive.
My motto? Always be one step ahead — and have bigger gonads than Godzilla.
“You can’t come barging into my life whenever the fuck you feel like it, Tage,” Everly downright scolds me. “I have a life, and a person I care about. You need to accept that.” Something in her statement sounds so final.Is she choosing him over me?
Gritting my teeth, I focus on the issue at hand. I didn’t barge into her apartment because she was with another man, although after last night, I sure as fuck would. I’m not letting her go so easily.
