Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2) by Caitlyn Dare (top inspirational books TXT) 📗

"That's not for us to decide."

"Fuck me, Alex. You really are turning into his little fucking lapdog, aren't you?"

"No, I'm fucking not. What he did was wrong, but we have no fucking chance of convincing Kingsley of that. His word is law around here, and if you want an easy life, you just follow suit."

"Oh, that's what you're doing? When you flake on pulling the trigger or even punching that guy? You following fucking orders then?" I bellow in his face.

The second he pales, I back down slightly. Alex wasn't made for this kind of life. Hell, I suspect he's never even been in a real fight before, let alone held a gun.

Thankfully—or maybe not—my pretentious parents ensured we went shooting a few times a year with all their fucking annoying friends, so at least I know one end of a gun from the other.

"You need to man the fuck up if you're going to survive this, Rexford."

There's only a breath between us as we stare at each other. I've got a few inches on Alex and a hell of a lot of muscle, although I have noticed him starting to bulk up recently thanks to the gym downstairs.

"Go on, Rexford. Try out that right hook. Hit me."

"No."

"Fucking hit me," I bark, spittle flying from my mouth.

"Bex, I'm not going to—"

My hands lift, my palms slamming down on his chest, making him stumble back. "Hit me," I demand once more.

"You're fucking crazy."

"No, Kingsley is fucking crazy. I'm just fucking angry. You wanna learn how to do this? Now's your fucking chance."

He stands to his full height in front of me, his fists clenching at his sides.

Maybe he can follow orders after all.

"Go on. Make it hurt," I say, using Cade's words. Hell knows I need the pain right now.

Cocking his arm back, he plows it into my cheekbone. "Fuck, fuck," he barks, shaking his hand out like he just hit a brick wall. "Fuck."

"Again."

"Nah, you're done," he mutters, staring down at his inflamed knuckles.

"You're a fucking pussy, Rexford." Spinning on my heels, I march through to my bathroom to clean up my own hands.

I stand over the basin and stare into the mirror. My usually blue eyes are dark with anger and frustration, my cheek is burning red from Alex's attempt at a decent punch, and my shirt and arms covered in that poor guy's blood.

Hanging my head, I clench my fists and wince as my knuckles split open.

Turning on the faucet, I place my hands under the running water and watch it turn red before it swirls down the drain. Like my life. Resting my palms on the edge of the basin, I squeeze my eyes closed, but all I see is Cade's harsh grip on Mia, and my anger resurges.

We've got to find a way to get her out of this before the Coglio. There's no way I can let her attend that thing, knowing that Cade is going to claim her in all the ways he's been waiting for.

I do the best I can with my busted knuckles and dry them off before ripping my door open and walking back into my room. I expect to find it empty, so I startle a little when I find Alex sitting in my chair with his elbows on his knees and his head hung low.

"I'm sorry," he mutters without looking up.

"Nothing to be sorry for," I reply, dragging my shirt over my head and finding a clean one.

"There's plenty. If it weren't for you then…"

"It's fine, Alex. You're my friend, I'll do whatever I can to make this easier. Hell knows it fucking sucks ass at the best of times."

"Yeah, I hate it."

I think back to him off his head and balls deep in that girl the other night, but I refrain from saying anything. He's just trying to deal with the hand life has dealt him. I get that.

A bang from outside makes me dart toward the window, and when I look out, my heart drops into my stomach. "Mia," I breathe as Sasha and Channing carry her from the mausoleum.

She looks… broken.

What the fuck did that cunt do to her?

"Oh shit," Alex says, coming to look over my shoulder. "Bex, no. Don't, please," he begs, clearly sensing where my thoughts are at.

"I'm going to fucking kill him."

"Bexley," he cries as I march across the room.

"If he's laid a fucking finger on her, forced her to… I'm going to fucking kill him."

"You can't, Bex. She needs you. She needs you alive, for fuck's sake." His hand wraps around my upper arm in a pathetic attempt to stop me, but my strength is no match for his.

"Get the fuck off, Alex," I bark, ripping the door open and marching down the hall.

Voices filter up from the stairs, and when I round the corner, I find the three of them climbing up.

Seeing Mia up close only makes it worse.

She's got tears streaked down her cheeks, her body is limp as Sasha and Channing hold her up, her shirt is ripped, and she's got angry red marks around her throat.

"Motherfucker," I grunt, the beast within me ready to take Kingsley down once and for all.

Channing says something to Sasha, and somehow, she takes Mia's weight and continues walking with her toward her bedroom while Channing and Alex come to stand in front of me.

"Get out of my fucking way."

"No can do." Channing actually fucking smirks at me. "You’re not going down there."

"He needs to fucking die."

"Maybe so, but you don't need to go fucking with him. You knew this was going to happen. You promised to protect her."

"Fuck you, Rexford. Fuck you."

I take a step, ready to push past, but the pair of them overpower me and my back slams into the wall behind me, the force of the hit knocking all the air from my lungs.

"Mia will be fine. She's stronger than you think." Channing stands toe to toe with me, his forearm pressing lightly against my neck,