‘Home, but I’ve got company.’
‘Get rid of her.’
‘Right. Right. Got it,’ he stutters.
I kill the connection.
As I’m driving, my mind veers back to Tori. I can still smell her on me. Fuck, I was inside her pussy less than an hour ago. My hand slams into the steering wheel and the car swerves wildly. Someone behind me blows his horn. Asshole. I hit the button that brings the glass of my window down. Cool night air rushes in as I give him the middle finger and accelerate so fast my tires screech.
The security guard at his post nods and lets me through the gates. I stop the car at the front of the house and run up the steps. Before I can put my finger on the doorbell, Gavin’s butler, Jeremy, opens the door. He is so pale and still, he always reminds me of what you’d expect to find inside a satin lined coffin.
‘Good evening, Mr. Hunter,’ he greets formally.
I have no time for pleasantries. ‘Where is he?’
‘In the Blue room, Sir,’ he says, his eyes showing just the flicker of surprise. There is hope yet for him.
I stride towards the room and open the door without knocking. I stand at the doorway and stare at him. I’ve known him since I was fifteen, but it would seem I’ve never really known him at all.
He is standing nervously by the great marble fireplace. He has obviously heard me come in and is waiting for me. He has the expression of someone about to bolt. Fucking coward.
‘Why Britney?’ I ask, the fury in my voice barely leashed.
Gavin shrugs. ‘I was drunk, man. I didn’t know what I was doing. I would never have touched her otherwise. You have to believe me.’
I stare at him. Fucking liar.
‘I was drunk. It was dark. I didn’t even know it was her. I thought it was some chick. Come on. You must know I’d never do something like that.’
‘Tell me something I can believe,’ I tell him coldly.
His mouth quivers as he analyzes his next move. ‘It’s the truth, man. You gotta believe me. I swear it’s the God’s fucking truth.’ He takes a couple of steps forward, his voice pleading, his expression shifty. ‘We’re mates. You know me. I can get any girl I want.’
Look at him. How weak he is. I haven’t even swung a punch yet and he is shaking like a fucking leaf.
‘So why her? All the women in the world and you picked my sister. Did you think I wouldn’t find out or when I did, I’d stand back and watch my little sister be hurt by a little, coke snorting, acid licking, waste of skin like you? What do you think I am? A moron? A coward like you?’
‘Oh fuck, Cash. I was so wasted. What’d you want from me? She came on to me,’ he cries desperately.
Of all the things his twisting, turning devil tongue could have said. That was the worst. In the blink of an eye I had covered the distance between us and slammed my fist into his face. Pain blazes up my arm as my hand connects with his jaw. He stumbles back, blood flowing from his mouth and spilling down his chin. I don’t allow even a brief second for him to catch his breath. I drive back into him and he tries to throw a sloppy blow. I dodge it easily.
Blood hums in my veins as I grab his head in my hands and bring my kneecap to his nose. There is a blunt crack before he screams in pain. I release his head. Two streams of crimson are running from his nostrils and his nose is twisted. He grabs hold of my body in a kind of protective hug. I tilt my head back and smash it into his. Stars burst in my vision, but he sinks to the ground barely conscious.
His mouth moves, no words come out.
‘You tell anyone your version of what happened, call her name, or you come near her again and I swear I will fucking destroy you.’ I grab a handful of his hair. ‘Do you understand me?’
He nods weakly. I open my wrist and his head lands on the carpet with a soft thud. I stand over him watching his chest rise and fall with every shallow breath he takes, then I walk to the bottle of whiskey on the table and I pour myself a generous measure.
Jeremy enters the room. His face is impassive. ‘Should I pour, Sir?’ he asks.
‘I’m good, thanks.’
‘Should I perhaps call for a doctor?’ he asks as if he is asking me if he should bring in the tea.
‘That’s a damn good idea, Jeremy.’ I down the rest of the drink and walk away without looking back.
I get into my car and I fucking stamp on the accelerator. The car flies until I hear the sound of sirens. I look in the rear view mirror and see the blue flashing light. Fuck them. With the horsepower under me I could have outrun them, but I don’t.
Sometimes the future is written in the stars. I pick up my mobile and call my lawyer.