by LC Lehesaho
He ignores all the warning signs, but I'm not the babysitter, so if he wants to hang out with me, I’ll let him.
29
The leather sofa creaks underneath me as I change my position, but nothing feels right. The same unnerving tension stays, making my skin prickle and my chest ache. I focus on the painting on the wall, the one I made for Leo years ago. The jungle with animals that don't quite fit into the jungle, but there they are—all seven animals in perfect harmony.
Leo sits behind his desk, whiskey glass in his hand, and a wooden bracelet in the other, which he fiddles with using his fingers. Cobra has told me what it means. I recheck my phone, knowing that there aren't any new messages, but I still do it.
Puma sits in the armchair, arranging his cap and giving me appraising looks now and then. Bear is in the opposite chair typing on his phone with a stupid smirk on his face. There are three spots open; Wolf and Falcon are meeting with Havoc, and Cobra... fuck, I just want to snatch Leo's phone and run. Locate her with the GPS I know Leo has on Cobra's phone, and find her. Kill the Aussie and drag her back home with me. It's where she belongs, by my side and no one else's.
"Even though we have an issue with this Hunter, there are still the regular businesses we need to handle," Leo states, taking a gulp from his whiskey. "Bear, can you handle the checkout with the Russians?"
Bear lifts his eyes from the phone, nodding. "Yeah, do I make a new order?"
He speaks six different languages fluently, and Russian is one of them. That is why he handles the deals outside of the borders with Leo. I don't know much about the Russians, but I know most guns come from them.
"Yes, the usual amount," Leo tells him, still fiddling with the bracelet. Something is really eating at him, and I have a hunch. It's the uncertainty. We've faced a lot, but this? Someone is playing the game straight from the shadows, without revealing themselves. All we’ve got so far is that the name Hunter, which is clearly made up, and the fact that he is trying to mess up local businesses and burn down our clubs. And what the fuck is with the skull? Who does that?
"Anything else?" Puma asks, moving to the edge of his seat like he’s ready to leave. He's in a hurry to get high, I know that for a fact.
"You two can pay a visit to Leone tomorrow. Just check things out."
Puma claps his hands together. "Good, I'll be going then."
I keep my eyes on Leo.
I want to rage at him for letting her see that piece of shit. She wouldn't if Leo would say no, and he could. I wasn't shitting when I said that he is a risk. Not that we couldn't handle it as Leo said, but why take the risk? It's a bonus that then he wouldn't be sticking his dick into my girl.
"When is she coming back?" I can't keep my mouth shut anymore. Everyone turns to look at me, probably because I've been maintaining radio silence for an hour already.
"Cobra, I assume?" Leo tilts his head to the side, observing me.
Puma froze from the edge of his seat, no longer in a hurry to go anywhere.
"You're really bothered about this guy, aren't you, bro?" Bear snickers, enjoying the anger that leaked out of my tone.
I glare at him. "He's a fucking cocksucker, so yeah, I'm bothered, bro."
"Calm down, Tiger," Leo sighs and waves his hand toward the door. "Bear and Puma, go. I want to have a chat with this hothead."
Oh, fuck me.
Puma shoots me daggers through his eyes as he walks by, and Bear grins as if he’s won a battle. What an ass.
Leo gulps the rest of his drink when the door slams shut behind them before looking at me. "Talk."
"About what?" I ask, playing stupid.
"Don't try. Why shouldn't she see this boy?"
I lean back, crossing my arms on my chest. The rage inside me is trying to seep out of my pores. "He's older than she is."
"By a year." Leo gives me a blank look which I know I deserve. Worst explanation ever. "You can do better than that."
"What do we know about this guy anyways?"
"Almost everything. You think I would let her go out with him if I didn't know his mother's sister's dog's name." Leo pours himself another drink. "And if you want to know, it's Bubbles."
I might survive this. "Who the fuck names their dog Bubbles?" I ask, trying to catch the lighter mood he offers.
"The same woman who owns eight cats and a pony." Leo winks at me but then gets serious. "I know this is hard for you, but I want you to understand this from her side. Most girls, sorry women, have the phase when they want to settle down, the clock inside them telling them that they need to find something stable."
But that’s not it. It's not a fucking phase. I let my eyes roam around the room, reining myself in so I don't say what I’m thinking.
"Why didn't you ask her what time she's coming back?" he asks me, voice calm and collected like always.
I rub my face and run my fingers through my hair, cursing myself for not keeping my mouth shut. "We had a fight."
Might as well admit that.
"About her dating?"
"Yeah. Luke is not worthy of her, and she is dating him just so she is dating someone," I murmur under my breath, but I know he can hear me. "He is just some nobody she bumped into."
"Who do you think would be worthy of her? Be honest."
"No one."
Not even me. But that's the fact I don't give a shit about. She is mine.
Leo nods in approval. "Good answer, son. And you're right; no one is worthy of her. But I know my daughter, and even though she doesn't say it, I know she wants to have her own family. She's always been the nursing kind, and I don't want to deny her if she wants to try for something with this guy."
It takes every fucking ounce of my self-control not to destroy this entire room. Cobra doesn't fucking want anything with him. She just wants payback because I fucked that chick last night. What Puma said about her still loving me, it's obvious: she is messing with my head. And succeeding.
Yeah, I know she wants a family because she told me that years ago. Whenever we've met a baby or a tiny kiddo at the store or wherever, she goes into this aww-mode. Look at how cute the baby is, aww, so adorable and all that, but no, I'm not looking at other people's children. I'm always looking at her because she is fucking cute when she sees them.
But if someone is going to put a baby in her, it's going to be me.
Clearly, Leo senses my hidden rage because he sighs. "Listen, I know you two have grown up together basically glued to each other but let her breathe. Maybe you'll find someone too if you give it a shot."
I've already found her.
"Sure," I retort, clenching my jaw and clapping my hands to my knees, starting to make my way out, whether he is ready to stop his lecture or not. "So, you're not going to tell me?"
Leo slides the bracelet back on his wrist, without saying a word, eyes on me, his expression is unreadable like usual. I keep myself from saying fuck you and get up to leave. I jerk the office door open, but his words stop me before I step out.
"Cobra's reminder training is at eight."
I spin around to face him. "What? Why does she have—"
Leo lifts one hand, cutting me off. "She asked for it herself. Don't talk to her before then, let her focus."
My mind is spinning with questions. "When did she ask for it?"
"Yesterday, before she went on that date."
Oh, fuck me.
"Can I come? Just this once?" I ask, even though I already know the answer.
Leo leans back in his chair, cocking his head to the side. "You know better than that."
I drop my head down, staring at the checker print on my sneakers. The anger has morphed into worry, and I can't shake the bad vibe I have about this. "Can you at least tell me what you're going to make her do?"
"And why would I do that?" The sound of his voice is a straight challenge like I've been nice, but don't you fucking dare.
And I don't. I nod slowly, eyes down. "Sorry, I'm just on edge. I'll get myself toge
ther."
"That sounds good, son. I know you're a smart kid."
At that, I turn and leave. Yeah, I'm so fucking smart.
30
After getting back home, just in time for my reminder training, I'm glad I don't bump into anyone on my way to the gym. When I get there and rush inside, I see Pietro sitting on the floor, leaning on his knees. He lifts his head up, and the look on his face tells me enough. That and the fact he is wearing camo colored MMA shorts and sparring gloves, without being sweaty is enough information.
"You gotta be kidding me," I huff out, placing my hands on my hips as I drop my head down and take a deep breath.
"I don't want to do this," he says quietly.
"He actually wants us to..." I let it hang, hoping that he won't say what I think this means.
Pietro nods, rubbing his palms together in an anxious manner. "Yes." He shakes his head, wiping his hand over his face. "Goddammit, kid. This is fucked-up. I'm not okay with..."
"Hitting women?" I end for him.
"No, not if someone's life isn't depending on it."
"Where is Dad?"
"Coming." Pietro gets up, and I take in his massive body. The devil tattoo on his ripped stomach and his forearms, which are the size of my thighs, has never looked so sinister as it does now. Only the depressed look on his face eases my anxiety, just a little.
"Oh, my God," I huff, walking to the women's locker room to change. I was expecting something special, the look on Dad's face when he stared at me beside the hospital bed said it all, but this? Dragging Pietro into this? Fuck me sideways.
After changing into a sports bra and tight shorts, I tighten the gloves on my wrists while preparing myself for what's about to come. I don't want to hurt Pietro, and he clearly is not okay with doing it to me either. If dad would've picked Corey, one of the guards, who is actually human trash, I wouldn't have a problem. The guy is the biggest asshole in the world, but Pietro? He once went to pick up tampons from the store for me because I ran out, and I was bleeding onto my thighs. Pietro is a definition of a good guy, just like Luke.
Yet again, my fuck-ups have caused harm to innocent people who have nothing to do with me and my problems.
A hard knock on the door almost makes me flinch. "Cobra, are you ready?"
I can do this. I can. This will be the last time. By taking a quick Zen-moment, I get my headspace ready and step out to meet Dad, who knocked, and Pietro, who still looks like he's going to be sick.
"Did you have a nice day with Luke?" Dad asks all casual while leaning on the wall, arms folded across his chest, and one leg resting over the other. His slacks and button-up shirt tells me that he has been in a meeting with someone because otherwise, he would wear something more casual like sweatpants or something. We are used to his youthful appearance, but people who meet him for the first time are usually shocked by it.
Right now, I'm shocked about the fact that he picked Pietro, knowing how we would feel about it. Though it shouldn't surprise me, when we piss him off, he knows how to play mind games with us.
And Dad always wins.
I answer his stare and nod. "Yeah, I had fun. But I won’t have fun anymore." I nod toward Pietro. "Why him?"
Dad gives me a challenging smirk. "Oh, you want someone else, then?"
"Fuck, yes. This has nothing to do with him," I retort, and watch him pull his phone from his pocket.
"Let's call Tiger then; he was eager to come earlier, so he probably wouldn’t mind."
My eyes widen from shock. "No, what the hell? No!"
Slowly Dad raises his eyes from the phone to me, cocking his head to the side. "No? So, you're okay with Pietro, after all?"
I turn my gaze to Pietro, who nods in approval. "Fuck." I let out a sigh. "Yeah, we're good." Then his earlier words sink into my brain. "Wait. What? What about Tiger? He wanted to come here?"
Dad slides the phone back into his slacks. "Oh, yes. He's not happy about you dating, not at all. He looked like he was ready to raise hell in my office, and after he heard that you have this training, he was almost begging me to let him come. It looks like you two have some unfinished business, so maybe it would've been a good idea to take him instead of Pietro. Clear some air."
I squint at him, ignoring the urge to find Tiger and strangle him for letting his feelings show, "What exactly do you want us to do?"
"Nice that you asked." Dad nods toward the tatami. "KO."
I can hear Pietro cursing under his breath at the same time as my eyes bulge out from the horror. "Dad, you can't be serious!"
"Yes, of course I am. It's up to you two how long this will take, but you'll fight until one of you is out," he says in a smooth voice like he's telling me to make pizza for dinner and put oregano on his.
"Oh, my fucking God." I can't believe he's making us do this. Anxiousness starts to linger in my veins like poison. This situation is even worse than I had thought. Knock out? Dad is out of his fucking mind.
"Why?" I ask, unable to comprehend.
"Because you have no idea how much you scared me, no, all of us while pulling a stunt like that, letting someone beat you senseless." His tone lowers as anger starts to shine from his eyes. "You could've died, Cobra." He pushes himself off the wall, glaring at me. "So, now, you're going to knock out Pietro, or you'll watch me do it, and I promise you, I'm not as gentle as you are. After this, every time you let your guard down on the field, whatever the reason is, you will do the same to someone you care about. You let someone knock you out, then you will knock someone else out, and right now it's Pietro."
I bend down, resting my hands on my knees and trying to breathe.
"And may I remind you that if either one of you tries to go easy on each other, I'll shoot him in the head." At this, I spin my head around to stare at him wide-eyed and mouth open, but Dad nods like he’s saying yes, you heard me right. "Just to teach you a lesson, Angel. Never let anyone get you."
One last time. One last time. Straightening myself, I face Pietro. "Don't you fucking dare go easy on me."
He gives me a sad smile. "I would never force you to live with that, and for that, I'm sorry. Hit me with your best shot, kid."
Dad claps his hands together. "Okay, then. The rule is that there are no rules. Fight."
31
Maybe I should get high.
I glance at Puma's door, really considering the option, but no. The only reason for not doing it is that it makes me sleepy, and it's not the time for sleeping. I've been counting the minutes after the clock hit eight p.m.
Twenty-three minutes ago.
This might take hours, but I don't care. I'll sit here, against Cobra's door, until she comes up. I'm determined to work this out, I even admit it, I fucked-up. Truthfully that's all I've come up with so far, but it's a start. I'll just wing it when the time comes.
Rechecking the time from my phone again, I conclude that I might need some medication after all. It's been only a minute since I last checked it. I'm happy that Puma left for the store after getting high because now he's not here to nag at me. The lecture he gave me after I finished with Leo... I didn't know if I should kill him or myself.
Puma had a point, though, I have to give him that. I need to keep myself calm around Leo. It's not only me who’ll get into trouble if someone else finds out about Cobra and me, and that's the only reason why I haven't come clean about this. I'm not going to let anyone hurt her, because I'm the only fucking one who's allowed to do so.
The slow and heavy steps echo from the staircase, and I jump up from the floor, knowing who it is. Cobra steps into my line of sight, taking support from the wall, her head dropped down like she's drunk, but I know she's not.
She is fucking exhausted.
"Hey, you okay?" I walk toward her, roaming my eyes over her body to detect any injuries. There are bruises on her arms and thighs, especially on her inner thighs like she's been squeezing something as if her life depended on it. Her head pops up when she hears me.
> "Oh, fuck me," Cobra curses, and waves her hand toward my apartment. "Go to Hell, Tiger."
"Wrong direction, baby girl, that's not where Hell is. I can assure you." I stop her by stepping right in her path. "What was it?"
"None of your business." She gives me a murderous glare and shoves past me. I grab her arm and jerk her back to face me, but before I can say anything, she slaps me across my face. My head spins to the side, and my ears ring like fucking church bells.
My cheek burns from the hit as I turn my gaze back to her, clenching my jaw. "That's the second time today, and I'm warning you, baby girl, don't make a habit of it, or I'll get fucking pissed."
Cobra sneers. "Jeez, you'll be pissed? Gimme a fucking break, shitface, this is how pissed I am." Again, I'm too slow, and my nose feels like it’s exploding. This time, she didn't slap me, no, now she really fucking hit me.
Blood drains from my nose, my eyes water from the punch, and I have to wipe my face to see clearly. Cobra tries to jerk her hand away from my grip, but I'm not letting her go, not after this.
"You're such a bitch," I snarl at her, and before she can react, I throw her to my shoulder, locking her legs against me so she can't kick me.
"Let me down, you piece of shit!" Cobra sticks her fingers into my sides, which feels like she's carving my liver out as I walk to my door. I don't fucking care.
"Shut up."
"I'll kill you!"
"Be my fucking guest." I jerk my door open, and after getting us in, I carry her to the bathroom.
Cobra has gone quiet, but because I know my girl, it's just the calm before the storm. I swing her down onto the toilet seat, and just like I thought, she’s almost shaking from the anger.
Now, in the better light, I see that her lip is split again, and there's a lot of bruises on her. Bloodstains on her perfect skin. My feelings go in a fucking carousel, from anger to worry to rage again.
"What was it?" I ask, trying to find some inner peace. I keep my place in front of her, so she can't run from me, but I reach to take a towel and wet it under the faucet.
