I wake up drowning in perspiration and twisted sheets and grasp at my heart as the tears flow down my face. Pain courses through my entire body, causing me to heave. I sprint to the bathroom down the hall to puke and return, collapsing on my bed.
Even though I haven’t seen him in weeks, his face appears in my dreams regularly. It haunts me to remember the hurt in his eyes, his face when I chose to fight with Keegan over him. But I didn’t choose it over him. I chose to fight for us, for my father. My mind twists, desiring to see him, yet I’m nervous he’ll hate me for everything.
The longing always seeps back in despite my attempts to keep busy. The longing for his face, his voice, and his body against mine. I retch in pain while remembering how he touched me. His hands caressed me here, and I touch my cheek. And here. I touch my lips.
I take the ring off my left finger and read the inscription again. “Dad, if you hear me, please, watch over Cole. There’s no way I’d overcome losing him,” I whisper.
“Morning! Hope you’re ready. We have a busy day. First, training, second, a meeting, and then lunch. Everyone’s expected to be punctual—including you! So no farting around,” Keegan says as he walks into my room unannounced.
“Would it kill you to knock?” I ask, sitting up in my bed. “Or is that too much to ask?”
“What’s it matter? Are you trying to hide something from me?” he asks with his arms folded across his chest.
“No, I just want some freaking privacy.”
He arches his eyebrow and evaluates me for a minute. “Whatever. Get up and let’s go.”
“Fine.” I stand up, pull on my boots, and draw my hair away from my face. When I finish, he rolls his eyes and exhales deeply, as if searching for an ounce of patience. Then I follow him down the hall as he enters a few other rooms to rouse people.
He leaves halfway through training and we continue on like good pupils.
Two hours race by. My brain spins from experimenting with pressure points. I see stars when they practice on me. One person passes out, and the medical personnel take him away.
Everyone rushes to shower and meet at the main conference room. I have no idea where to go, so I follow the crowd. They stand outside the heavy doors, waiting to go in. They all form their cliques, but I stand alone against the wall. The light above me keeps flickering, but no one seems to notice. It’s quiet except for the murmuring within their closed circles.
Keegan arrives, and everyone parts like the Red Sea. Several large, armed men follow him. I glance at his entourage and am surprised to see Sutton, Bruno, Zeus, and Cole following along. Sutton nods his head my direction but says nothing. Zeus lunges, jumping and licking my face.
I stumble backward into the wall, laughing. “Zeus! How’s my boy? I’ve missed you!” I wrap my hands around his big ears and scratch his head. The joy is short-lived when I notice everyone staring at me.
Keegan looks mortified. “Please get that stupid dog away from her,” he says.
Cole and Keegan’s men move toward Zeus, but he refuses to move. He plants himself in front of me and bares his canine teeth with ferocity. They try to grab his collar, but he growls and snaps at them.
“It’s fine. Just let him stay with me, unless you want someone to get hurt.” I put my hand through his collar and he doesn’t mind. When I look up, Cole’s eyes meet mine for the first time in weeks. I’m stunned like the first time I met him. He looks more appealing than ever. His hair is newly faded, the way I like it, and his short-sleeved T-shirt gives a glimpse of his well-muscled arms. Something like regret passes behind those familiar, dark eyes as he approaches me, and I want to dive into his skin.
“He needs to spend time with you. He’s been hurting since you’ve been gone,” Cole says. “But nowhere close to the hell I’ve been living without you.”
I’m unable to respond. My heart deflates, and I want to drop to my knees and beg him to forgive my brother for being a jerk. But his tall, masculine figure passes me as Keegan shouts for everyone to go in.
“What the hell? Are you trying to start a riot?” Keegan grabs my arm and shoves me through the doors. Zeus growls at him but stays closely by my side.
“Keep that dog under control or I’ll have no problem putting a bullet through his head.” The gruffness of his voice scares me and I don’t doubt he’d follow through, but if he harms Zeus, I’ll shoot him where the sun don’t shine.