Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Frank went tense, but then relaxed into the hug and patted Dex’s back. While not always socially aware enough to say the right thing, Dex tried, and did have a big heart for those he cared about.
“He’ll heal. But it pains me that he suffers so much. He won’t speak to me, but I’ve heard him cry after he saw all the stitching on his face. I don’t know how to help him. All I know is that he saw what I do and wants no part in it.”
Dex pulled away, rolling his eyes with a silly expression. “Oh, come on! If Ros and Dane can be okay with it, so can he. It’s not such a big deal. All this could have been avoided if he just announced himself instead of walking straight into the butchery. And as for his face, how does he expect it to look like? It’s all swollen now. People look terrible after plastic surgery, but a few months on, they have a better face.”
“He’s coming back with me because he’s still afraid of Paul, but I don’t see much future for us. He hates me.”
“Oh, my God! You’re so grim. Just give him some good D, and he’ll find his own excuses to stop caring about your job. He’ll be like ‘ooh, I’m so afraid of Paul, babe, I need your dick inside me to stop the nightmares’.” Dex wiped an invisible tear, and while Frank shoved at his chest for the disrespect, he still chuckled.
“Get the fuck out, and make sure my fridge is stocked with all the stuff he likes by the time we go back today.”
Dex saluted Frank and turned on his heel.
“And don’t park in disabled parking spots, asshole!” Frank yelled after him, but a weird feeling he couldn’t pinpoint settled in his chest.
Didn’t he know someone who drove a McLaren? An uncommon car.
He sped up on the stairs and headed down the hallway, nodding at the nice nurse who periodically checked on Ezra, but the sense of apprehension agitated his insides like tiny needles that couldn’t do any damage yet caused never-ending discomfort. Squeezing the handle of the bag, he walked a bit faster, heading to the very last room on the left.
He didn’t even knock, too agitated by the time he reached the door. His palms were sweaty, his heart beat faster, because it just hit him who owned such a car.
Paul sat in Frank’s armchair, and looked up with a blank expression.
“You’ve got something of mine,” he said in a cool voice, pointing a small handgun straight at Ezra.
Chapter 25
Frank
Frank’s heart stopped before dashing so fast he barely restrained himself from moving. Ezra did not seem hurt, but his hands were locked together with zip ties, and his eyes appeared bloodshot where they emerged from the bandages. Frank could only see some of it behind the big dressing protecting the healing nose, but even with the swelling, the change was stark enough to be noticed. Ezra’s fingertips trembled as he met Frank’s gaze, silently begging for help.
Don’t let him take me.
And Frank wouldn’t.
He would never. Even if Ezra chose to leave him behind like a bad dream. He wouldn’t be the first person to turn their back on Frank upon realizing that his heart was tar-black. But Frank loved him for real. Had for longer than he’d be willing to admit.
“Paul,” he said in a steady voice and shut the door behind him, placing the bag with food on the floor.
The reptile in human skin adjusted his position in the chair Frank had been sleeping in the last few nights, his pale eyes reminding Frank of water. It was as if there was no soul behind them. When the smooth-shaven head moved, it was like facing a Komodo dragon. And while time had marked Paul’s face with wrinkles and puffiness under the eyes, his hands were steady as if he were still the twenty-year-old stone-cold killer Frank met all those years ago.
“I could have taken him already but chose to wait for you to return, on account of the old days, but now that he lost his pretty face—”
“What the fuck do you want?” Frank asked, stepping closer, but his gaze kept drifting between all of Paul’s limbs, wary of what the bastard might do next. This man had the empathy of a crocodile, and he was just as efficient as a hunter. Frank knew better than to underestimate him.
Paul sighed and tapped the little gun against his thigh, making Ezra whine when the muzzle of the thing pointed at his head. “I had cameras in his apartment, Frank. I figured that maybe you wanted to keep him for a while, but enough’s enough. You’ve had your fun. He’s seen things he shouldn’t and needs to come with me. Remember who introduced you to him in the first place, old friend. I’m calling dibs,” he said with a smirk that showed all his teeth.