Page 146 of A Little Jaded
“Because if you don’t, I’ll slam this baseball bat into both of your knees, and you’ll never walk again. I considered only shattering one, but…why half-ass this, right?” I chuckle. “Goodbye, hockey career. Goodbye, gym. Goodbye, driving. Goodbye, life.”
“You know, it’s not a bad idea,” Maverick interjects. “If he never walks again, he won’t be able to chase Raine anymore. Maybe we should skip confession time and go straight to crippling.”
“That’s a good point,” I muse dryly. “What do you think, Haitt?”
The bastard’s Adam’s apple bobs as his attention falls to the baseball bat in my hand. “Are you threatening me?”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
“Try it,” he dares me. “See what happens. My career won’t be the only one up in flames, motherfucker. I’ll tell the cops you attacked me and?—”
“How?” I ask. “I’m at my cabin with my girlfriend. You see, she didn’t want to be left alone after you attacked her, so I stayed up all night watchingBrooklyn 99with her. In fact, her brother came up to the cabin, too, because he was so worried, and we wound up chatting all night after Raine fell asleep on my chest.” I tap the edge of the bat against the outside of his left knee.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
“It’s a shame you fell on the ice outside your apartment, though. Kind of ironic and all, but hey. Sometimes, karma’s a bitch.”
His shoulders heave as he glares up at me. “You really think this will work?”
I nod. “Yeah. I really do.”
“What about your mess with the police?” he scoffs. “They’re not gonna believe you over me.”
Tucking my hands into my pockets, I shrug. “I’m willing to take my chances. I think the real question is…are you?” My head shifts to the baseball bat resting against his outer thigh, and he blanches.
“Look. I’ll leave her alone, all right?”
“Yeah, but you really won’t?—”
“I will!”
“Nah, you won’t. Not unless you face actual repercussions for once in your sorry existence.” I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “Now, here’s how it’s gonna go.” Istand to my full height and cock my arm back, hitting him in his already broken nose. My split knuckles scream in protest, but I revel in it, letting the pain beneath my gloves ground me as blood pours from Drake’s wound. He curses in agony.
“Fuck!” His expression twists, and he spits in my face. The crimson dribble catches on my mask, and I smile wider beneath it.
Leaning closer, I whisper, “I’m gonna beat the shit out of you, so when you finally hobble your way to the police station, every twinge of pain will be a reminder of exactly how much restraint I showed. Because if you don’t hold up your end of the deal—if you don’t walk your sorry ass into the police station and confess to everything you were going to do Raine tonight if I hadn’t intervened—I’ll hunt you down and shatter both your knees so you never walk again. We clear?”
I don’t wait for his response. Instead, I let the bat fall to our feet. As it rolls on the ground, I flex my hand, then grab his wet shirt collar.
Because this? This is between me and Drake, and I’m about to make shit very clear. Hell, by the time I’m done with him? It’ll be fucking crystal, and he’ll beg to confess.
If he’s lucky, I just might let him.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
RAINE
Iawake with a start, rolling over and feeling the cool covers against my palm. I fell asleep on the couch, didn’t I? My brows crease as I sit up and search the empty room, then go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and pad into the kitchen. A shirtless Everett is at the stove, and I breathe in deeply, smelling the bacon and coffee. My mouth waters.
When he notices me, he smiles. And it’s full and genuine and, honestly, a little surprising considering last night’s events.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my Everett?” I ask.
“They caught Drake.”
I stop short. “What?”
“Yeah. He turned himself in. Gave a full confession.”