STUBBORN BRAT

CODY

"Dimitri's daughter has an interest in you, Ice," Antonio said, rubbing his hands over his bulldog, Nate's furry head.

My fingers scratched against my palm. It was already so bloody late, what if she got into an accident or got mobbed?

I knew how reckless she could be when she was upset.

"ICE!"

I jerked back to reality as Antonio slammed his fist on the metal table beside him.

"Father," I responded, grinding my jaw.

"Don't tell me you’re thinking about that girl you brought in here?" he barked. "You're lucky I didn’t punish you the last time you brought her, but don’t freaking tempt me!" Nate began to bark.

"Papa," Gabrielle called softly, massaging his shoulders. "You don’t need to raise your voice."

He grabbed his glass of whiskey and guzzled it down.

"Better not piss him off again," Russo whispered behind me.

Maybe one day I’d get him angry enough to finally put a bullet through my head. One mistake, one deal with the man who looked like an angel on that rainy night, dragged me into this place. Into these chains.

I could still see him in that sharp black suit, sitting in his car as I ran to him for help. My father’s voice had echoed in the distance, barking for me to come back and endure his torture.

Antonio let me in. There was a shooting star that night. He asked me what I wished for, promising he’d grant it. Stupid me—I actually believed it was free. There was nothing I wanted more than my father dead.

He pulled out his gun and aimed it at him. Just like that, the man who’d haunted my nightmares was gone. Maybe it wasn’t as satisfying as I thought it would be.

The next day Antonio showed up at my home. He threatened to kill my mother if I didn’t become part of his gang.

Ever since then, he never let go.

"You know how well Dimitri treats his daughter," Antonio continued. "He’s offering us four thousand dollars if you become her ‘chauffeur’ tomorrow. You understand what I mean?"

My eyes widened slightly. "I’m a biker, not a whore, Father."

He scoffed. "Don’t act like it’s your first time… She’ll be picking you up on her yacht tomorrow, so get ready and make sure tomorrow is a day she never forgets."

I had to visit Mother tomorrow evening. I’d promised her. But telling him that wouldn’t change his mind. Once it was a deal involving money and power, it was almost impossible to stop him.

He tossed a chip onto the table. "Make sure to get it all on camera."

"If you don’t enjoy it, you can call me and I’ll chip in," Gabrielle winked.

I took the chip, stuffed it into my pocket, and left the room. Dante followed behind me.

"You shouldn’t be upset," he said. "I mean, you get to have sex while I get to race with Germans."

I wouldn’t have given a damn if I didn’t have an appointment with my mother—or if I hadn’t decided to be celibate. The whole idea of sex had crashed for me the moment I was forced to sleep with a woman after murdering her boyfriend. I had done it solely for money and empty pleasure after that.

But as time went by, and I found out Med was still a virgin, part of me felt like I was cheating on her—even though it sounds so damn dumb now.

I knew she thought I’d fucked over a hundred girls this year, even though I’d told her I’d been clean for almost two years.

After tonight, I didn’t see any point in this anymore. I was pretty sure the only reason she lied to her parents about us was because she wanted to get back at William.

Since their breakup, she’d gone on three blind dates already, and her Snapchat was proof of them.

I might never get her out of my mind completely, but I’d decided to give up on whatever future I’d planned for us.

I rode back to my apartment. I grabbed the warning notice taped to my door and tore it off before going inside.

I headed for the bathroom and spent fifteen minutes under the steam before pulling on a grey sweatshirt and—

My gaze locked on the Pokémon pajamas sitting there. The matching pair Med had gotten for us, even though I told her I hated them.

What the hell was I doing?

I pulled off my grey pants and put the pajamas on before heading to my bedroom and crashing on the bed.

At least I needed to know if she was back home.

I sat up and grabbed my phone. It rang, but no response. She never missed my call except when she was mad at me.

I called again, and it went straight to voicemail.

Throwing my phone onto the table, I lay back on my bed. She had no right to be angry about anything. A pang of worry twisted in my stomach.

Shit. Cody, you are not going back to apologize for something that’s not your fault. Not again.