Page 50 of Tainted Essence

“No, you can’t!” I snap before I stalk off, ignoring him calling out to me, I round the front of Uncle Bishop’s house and break out into a sprint. Maybe Taylan was onto something, if I keep running I might just be able to outrun the darkness of my past.

Taylan

Find em, feel, em, fuck em, forget em.

That was the motto that I have lived by for as long as I can remember, but somehow I feel like that doesn’t apply to me anymore. It’s been a month since I left Russia and yet I still don’t feel whole. Something is missing. I have been trying for weeks to convince myself that it’s because I lost my pride or ego or whatever the fuck you want to call it when I wasn’t able to save her, but the piece of myself I am missing is her!

Knox and Lake both tried to convince me not to move out but their pleas fell on deaf ears. I need my space to think and try to regroup. Don’t get me wrong, I like my new house, it’s big enough for me and has ample enough space but it’s… empty. Xander and Wave even flew over to spend a couple of days with me. Hanging out with them, Lake and Knox like the old times was great, but was bittersweet because River was missing… but it wasn't just that. Seeing them so in love and watching how the guys found any excuse to touch their girls, whether it was a simple brush of their fingers down their arms or running their fingers through their hair, it had a pang of longing hitting me in the chest.

Knox is worried that I will fuck up tomorrow at the meeting with the heads of the families, he’s an idiot. He should know better than anyone that I am a master at compartmentalizing shit. My phone rings and I roll my eyes at the sight of the devil himself calling.

“Yes, darling, I packed those panties that you like,” I say when I answer.

“Ha-ha fucker! We’ll swing by and pick you up in an hour.”

“Sweet. I’m packed,” I say before I end the call. I’m about to toss my phone back onto the sofa when it rings again, but this time it’s an unknown number. I debate letting it ring out but curiosity gets the better of me.

“Who dis?” I snap.

“So mature.” I tense at the sound of Gage’s voice.

“What can I do for you, Gage?” I clip out in a firm tone. I haven’t spoken to any of them since I landed in Canada and left Anya on the plane.

“Just so we are both fucking clear, I wouldn’t be making this call if I didn’t have to.”

“Then why are you?”

“Because my wife says you can help.” This piqued my interest.

“Well, please carry on then.”

“I don’t like you!”

I snort. “And I won’t lose sleep over how you feel about me, now either get to the point or I’m hanging up.”

“I’ll beat your fucking face in, you little punk!” he snarls.

I roll my eyes. “Kay, well nice chat?—”

“Train Destiny for the fight against Tiana and I won’t snap your neck when I see you tomorrow.”

I splutter. “Guy with all the threats, say what now?”

He growls and that gives me great satisfaction, knowing I’m working his last nerve. I enjoy pushing people's buttons. “She has three months to be ready.”

“And?” I press.

“With how she is training, she wouldn’t be ready in six months.”

“Tell her mother to jump in the ring with her and not to hold back, break her and she will break down all her walls and then you will both see the real beast your daughter hides from the world. Catch ya on the flip side, Gage.” I end the call and slouch back into the sofa scrubbing a hand down my face. “She’s haunting me without actually haunting,” I growl in frustration.

By the time Knox picks me up, I’m in a sour mood, I barely mutter two words to him on the flight to Switzerland. When we get to our hotel, I snatch my key from him and head straight for my room, needing to be alone. I decide to take a shower and try to calm myself before I go looking for a fight in the wrong place. Right now fighting is my only option because my cock seems to be broken. The fucker won’t get hard unless I’m thinking about a certain blonde who is a huge pain in my fucking ass.

I step out of the shower and wrap the towel around my waist, before walking out only to slam to a halt at the sight before me. “Don’t you fucking people have boundaries?” I snap. I’m fucking fuming right now and I don’t give a fuck who she is or who she is married to.

“She’s here, room 201. Go to her.” I stop digging through my duffle bag for some clothes and look at her in shock.

“Crazy woman who broke into my room, say what now?”