Page 25 of His Playmate
* * *
One month later
Diego fireduntil he ran out of bullets. The head printed on the target board had holes through it. Smoke puffed out from the cigarette tucked between his lips and the muzzle of his heavy pistol.
A whistle from behind made Diego lower his weapon and turn around. Rex stood by the back door to the mechanic garage. He wore a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and had his hands deep in the pockets of his slacks.
If Rex was here, that meant that Wolf knew where Diego was.
“Why did Wolf send you?” Diego asked.
“He wants you to come back.”
Diego narrowed his eyes, setting the handgun on the table. He took a long draw from his cigarette before pulling it away from his lips and exhaling slowly. “How the fuck did you get back here anyway?”
“Your friend let me through,” Rex said. He nodded at Ander, who stood by the frame of the back door, watching them.
Diego had expected Wolf to visit him. He didn’t like that Wolf had sent Rex to retrieve him; it felt impersonal, like Diego wasn’t anything to him.
“If Wolf wants me back, he can come and get me himself, not send you over.” Diego hated how much Wolf affected him, even when he wasn’t present. He couldn’t escape Wolf. Even his mind wasn’t safe.
Without a word, Rex turned and left. Diego was glad he didn’t have to deal with Wolf’s right-hand man anymore. Even so, it left him shaking.
Diego crushed the cigarette into a plastic ashtray, watching as the smoke twirled into the air. He sensed Ander standing by and without looking at him, said, “If Wolf comes, let him in.”
* * *
The next day,Diego was in his office, twirling a butterfly knife between his fingers. Music played low in the garage, his men speaking with each other until there was a sudden silence.
There didn’t seem to be any kind of confrontation going on in the other room. Diego held the knife as he waited. Whoever it was, they were here for him.
Wolf walked into the office and closed the door. Rex stood on the other side, waiting. Diego stayed seated in his leather chair. Out of all the times Wolf could have come for him, it was when Diego was high, topless, and wearing jeans stained with grease.
It was silent as they took the time to look at each other. The clanging of tools and chatter from the gang members resumed.
“Wow, look who it is. The big bad Wolf Lone. I didn’t think you’d actually come to get me,” Diego said, smirking.
“Why would you run from me like that?” Wolf asked.
“I don’t run,” Diego said, setting the butterfly knife on the chipped desk in front of him.
“You left without telling me.”
“Why should I tell you where I’m going? I have my own shit to take care of.”
“You’ve been gone for a month.”
“So? You should have expected me to leave. Don’t treat this like it’s some type of breakup.”
“You agreed to be with me, Diego. Don’t forget that you were the one who said you wouldn’t betray me. Iexpectedyour loyalty.”
With a heavy breath, Diego looked away. It didn’t matter how hardheaded Diego wanted to be. For as long as he breathed, Wolf wasn’t going to leave him alone. He belonged to Wolf, and as much as Diego wanted to challenge that, he knew deep down that he couldn’t fight it.
“How did you find me?” Diego asked.
“I put a tracker in your phone.”
“You what?” Diego stood from his chair, glaring. Wolf must have messed with his phone when he was sleeping. “Then why didn’t you come for me sooner?”
