another day?”
His voice is impatient, and his tone is sharp. I grit my teeth together and say nothing more, even though there are so many things I’d love to let slip off my tongue right now. Many names, a whole lot of curse words, and a heck of a lot of blame. Blame that should fall entirely on his shoulders, but he’s refusing to let it touch him.
He wants no part in my pain.
Even though he’s the one who pushed me straight into fucking hell.
“What do you need from me? I’ve given Alarick everything I know.”
“Wrong, you haven’t,” he mutters, staring at his phone where he opens up something on the screen. “Looked into your fuckin’ Benedict and the locations. Can’t find a single thing on him, but the locations are certainly remote and maps shows me that there are houses in the locations you’ve provided. Gotta know that I don’t trust you, Aviana, so I want more information.”
I tense and cross my arms. “I’ve told you the truth.”
“Have you?” he challenges, looking up to meet my eyes. “You think I’m fuckin’ stupid, don’t you? Do you honestly believe I’ll let you lead my club into a fuckin’ ambush? You want revenge, it’s written all over your face. I’m not lettin’ you take away the only family I have.”
“You mean the same way you took the only family I had?”
He slams his fist onto the table. “The father and brothers who couldn’t give a fuck about you? Is that who you’re talkin’ about? The ones who couldn’t care less if you lived or died? Don’t push your fuckin’ anger onto me. You’re lookin’ for a reason to hate me, but the only one you have is that I sent you away—I’ll take that. Don’t even fuckin’ tell me you’re angry because I rid the world of the scum that you called family.”
I stand and slam my hands onto the table, rage burning deep in my chest, exploding forth as I cry, “Fuck you, Cohen. Because of you I’m left with nothing! Nothing!”
“They gave you fuckin’ nothin’,” he roars, standing too. “All they did was act like you didn’t fuckin’ exist. Stop actin’ like you actually fuckin’ care that they’re gone. You don’t. You’re so fuckin’ bitter. I thought I knew you, but this version of you is as evil as the people I put in the fuckin’ ground.”
I lunge across the table like a mad woman, my body sliding across the timber as I go for him. My hands reach out, and I scramble to get closer as I scurry across the table like a fucking crazy person. When I reach him, I get to my knees and slam my fists into his chest. Big angry punches that hurt, god do they hurt. I scream with frustration and rage and so much pain I can hardly breathe through it.
Cohen takes my wrists, never once stepping away or back down.
He’s not scared of me.
Why should he be?
“Let me go!” I scream, jerking as hard as I can but it only makes his hands tighten around my wrists.
He pulls me forward and, with a snarl, he says, “Whatever you’re fuckin’ plannin’ here, Aviana. I suggest you back down. You hurt even one hair on anyone here's head and I promise you, I’ll put you with the rest of your family.”
With that, he lets me go with a shove. I topple backward and roll off the table, landing on the floor with a thud. For a moment, I’m winded. I can’t breathe through the pain as I lie on my side on the floor. I’m not sure if it’s the pain from the fall or the pain from my pride because his words cut me so fucking deep it burns. I bite my lip to stop it from trembling, refusing to release years of pent-up tears.
I won’t cry for them.
For anyone.
Get up, Aviana.
Do not stay down.
“What the fuck is goin’ on in here?”
Alarick’s angry voice can be heard from the door.
I don’t move.
“Aviana?”
He moves to me and reaches down, taking my arm and hauling me up. I’m clenching my jaw so tightly it burns, but I don’t look to Cohen. I don’t say all the foul and horrible things sitting on the end of my tongue. I’m afraid if I open my mouth all the pain that’s rising to the surface will unleash too. They’ll see how truly broken I am. How utterly pathetic I have become.
“I’m done.”
I shove Alarick so he’ll let