A Whole New Crowd(29)

I prepared myself. He was working. I had known that the second I saw he wasn’t happy to see me. That meant I had about two minutes until he would kick me out. He’d done it countless times to Brian over the years. Jace never liked us showing up on his territory, and this was the second time I had broken that rule.

Jace kept the room dark and my eyes strained to adjust themselves. He didn’t say anything. He brushed past me and disappeared inside his bathroom. Emerging a second later, he pulled off his shirt and grabbed another one that had been laying on the chair. Pulling it over his head, I diverted my eyes when I saw his stomach muscles ripple from the movement.

Here I went. “Jace,” I started.

“What are you doing here?” His tone was all-business. There was no family warmth, and I shivered, missing it.

“I came for a friend.” My heart was pounding in my ears. “My friend, Gray—”

“You’re here about his dad.”

“Yeah.”

“You want to know if he’s working for me?”

“Yeah.” I willed myself to look up and hold his gaze. Even in the darkness, his eyes could pierce their way through me. “Is he?”

“Why should I tell you?”

I flinched. He was so harsh. “Because I’m family.”

“You’re not, Taryn. Not anymore.”

Another slap across my face; his coldness hurt. “Why are you being like this?”

A hollow laugh came from him. “Don’t fool yourself, Taryn. I’m not you. Brian’s not you either. You’re out. Why do you keep coming back?” He strode towards me and I was unsure what he’d do. “I told you to stay away the last time you were here.”

“Yeah.” I rolled my shoulders back, ready for whatever was about to happen. “Then your brother showed up in my town—”

“Your town.”

I heard the mocking from him. “Yes,” I clipped out. “My town. You’ve made that abundantly clear. My town. My life. My future. You want the lines drawn and you want me on the other side, don’t you?” I sneered. “Screw you. I came back for one thing. Gray. Is his dad working for you or not?”

There was silence for a beat. Then a soft laugh came from him and the cold from it sent chills through my body. This was the gang leader Jace. This was the mastermind behind the Panthers who kept them from being touched by the police. Cunning. Ruthless.

He said, “Leave, Taryn. You were given an out and if you don’t take it, it might not be there anymore.”

I snapped to attention. “Is that a threat?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation from him. “Stay out or I will fix things so there’s no longer an out for you to go.”

“Jace.” My family member was gone. He had been gentle with me, but that was gone as well. “I’m here for a friend. How can you be mad at me for that?”

“Because this isn’t your life. He’s not your friend. Stay out, Taryn. I mean it.”

I shook my head, pushing past the lump in my throat. “Stop. Please.”

“Get out.”

“I take care of my friends and family.” He started coming for me, and my voice rose. I didn’t have much longer. “It’s the same quality in me that loved Brian.” He took my arm and we were going towards the door. “Please, Jace. Please.” He didn’t have the cement hold like earlier, but his hand would still leave bruises.

He wasn’t being gentle anymore.

I shook my head, clearing that thought as he opened the door. “Please, Jace. I know his dad must be working for you. Cut him loose. Send him away. Gray always gets hurt.” He was taking me out into the hallway. I slammed a hand against the door to stop us and lowered my voice, “He abuses him.”

Jace stopped.

“He hurts him. Please get rid of him. I don’t want my friend hurt. That’s all. That’s the only reason I’m here.”

A guard straightened from the wall. He’d been waiting. “Boss?”

Jace held my arm out and the guard took it.

“Jace.” I strained against the hold. “Please.”

The small light in the hallway cast his face in shadows. He was unmoving, a cold stranger He said, “Go home. This is no longer your home. These people here are no longer your concern. Get out and stay out. This is my last warning.”

I frowned. My heart leapt into my chest. It was pounding with fear. What did that mean? “Jace—”

“STOP!” He gestured to the guard. “Get her out. If you see her again, shoot her in the goddamn leg. I don’t want to deal with her again.” He stepped close to me. His eyes were primal as he stared into mine. “Do you hear that? I don’t want to deal with you again. I gave the order, Taryn. They will follow it. Come back again and you’ll lose a leg. Keep coming, I’ll have them shoot every fucking limb. It’s your decision. Get lost.”