Chapter Seven #2
“A bad person, but you really are my friend.” He looked uncomfortable for the first time.
“I suppose there’s been a huge part of me that’s wanted to meet you in person and try for more than friendship.
” He stared at nothing, visibly turning inward.
“I guess that makes me no better than Zeus, but I already knew that about myself.” He shook his head slightly, as if shaking off whatever haunting thoughts had taken hold.
He focused on Tracker again. “Before yesterday, you’ve never treated me like I’m the horrible human I am.
Maybe I got a little addicted to that. I dug into your life, trying to learn everything about you.
It truly turned out to be the biggest of coincidences that Zeus is your best friend.
I never expected to see you in that place.
Getting coffee here wasn’t just us running into each other, though.
That was contrived. Like I said, terrible human. ”
Tracker didn’t know what to think. Everything had happened all at once, and now his brain didn’t want to work properly.
But Tracker knew one thing: Atticus wasn’t pathetic.
Tracker fully got it. “I guess I got a little addicted to talking to you too. So much has happened in the last few days that I was impatient when I talked to you yesterday. I didn’t mean half of what I said. ”
While Tracker looked on, a humorless smile appeared and disappeared.
“You did, and that’s okay. I probably was treating you exactly that way.
That’s who I am. Plus, since the night we met, I’ve looked forward to talking to you every night.
Like I said, addicted. When you kept going quiet the last few days, I thought I’d ruined this friendship too—the way I do with everyone.
It was like you’d finally seen the real me, and I was mad at myself for hurting you.
But wow. Zeus, huh? What a dick. Am I right? ”
A bark of laughter burst from Tracker. “There’s a fool born every minute, and I’m one of them, apparently.”
They shared a smile. Despite how crazy things were, Tracker was genuinely happy to finally meet Atlas…
Atticus. In his world, nothing looked as insane as he was.
Killing people, trying to find a footing in a world he hadn’t been trained to take part in, and failing at every turn, this felt like nothing.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t stalked people.
“At least I still have one friend.”
The way Atticus smiled lightened the weight on his chest and shoulders. It seemed he would go right back to waiting for their messages. As always, he had nothing else going on.
A calm mask fell over Atticus’ face as he took off his jacket and set it in the passenger seat of his hundred-thousand-dollar car.
He rolled the sleeves of his thousand-dollar dress shirt to his elbows before taking off his tie.
The thing about him was that everything everyone saw was a lie.
A facade. He had his kinks. In some areas of his life, he held all the power.
Atticus felt completely at ease with both sides of himself.
There was also a third side of Atticus people rarely saw.
It was led by training and skill from a life he had left behind. Today, he was that third person.
Atticus climbed from the car and headed for the door of Affinity.
Technically, the place didn’t open for ten more minutes.
That was exactly how Atticus planned it.
Despite not being open, the usual security guard stood outside the door.
He was a pretty guy named Bronx. Very disciplined.
Retired military. Nothing special or unique. A complete turnoff for Atticus.
Still, Atticus donned his most charming smile. “Hey, Bronx.”
Bronx smiled back. Fuck, he really was all boy scout and shit. Sickening. “Hey. You’re a little early.”
Atticus shrugged. “What can I say? If you’re not early, you’re late. I have an appointment.” He never let his smile slip. People rarely saw the insanity behind his eyes.
Bronx opened the door for him. “Since you’re headed for a private room, I don’t see why you can’t go ahead and get ready.”
Atticus winked as he passed. “Thanks.” He didn’t wait to see Bronx’s reaction.
Atticus jogged down the stairs, passing by the private rooms, and headed straight for the doors that led to the club.
He didn’t make a grand entrance. Atticus slipped inside.
Zeus sat with a brown-haired guy. They each had a beer.
Atticus hated the other guy on sight. Surely, this wasn’t who Zeus had his sights set on now.
He was big in a muscular way. That didn’t seem like Zeus’ usual prey.
Not that it mattered. Atticus wasn’t here for him.
The pair looked his way as Atticus neared.
Zeus looked confused. “We’re not open for the night yet.” His firm tone made Atticus laugh. Zeus wasn’t the one in control tonight.
“Good.” Without giving any warning, Atticus punched Zeus right in the eye.
A malicious smile spread across his lips as he got a second hit in before the shock passed.
The guy sitting with Zeus jumped to his feet.
Atticus got the perfect throat chop in before the man could make a move.
He hit the floor with a satisfying thud.
Zeus still hadn’t recovered, but he was on his feet.
Atticus landed another punch to the ribs. “So you think you’re someone, huh?” With Zeus bent at the waist, Atticus kneed him in the face. “You think you can play with Tracker’s feelings. God’s gift manipulating the friend who trusted him.”
Throat-punch guy gasped for air but still managed to talk as he rolled to his knees. “He did what to Tracker?” He gasped again. “I know you didn’t toy with my brother.”
Atticus’ evil smile grew. Ha, Zeus had two people to answer to.
Zeus held up his hand and sat. “Hold up. What? I saw the two of you on your little coffee date. How am I the one playing with someone’s feelings?”
Oh, the rage was growing. Zeus not only toyed with Tracker, but now he wanted to play victim.
“Fuck that shit, motherfucker. I’m not one of your little fuck buddies.
Your pretty face doesn’t manipulate me the way it would Tracker.
He trusted you. He obviously loves you. You did that.
” The words came out with so much venom, they surprised even him.
“But it took you all of two days to take him from best friend to just another conquest. You promised him he was special.” He fully intended to swing again, but he was snatched from behind.
Atticus didn’t hesitate. His training was in control.
He threw his head back and felt a satisfying crunch.
The vise around Atticus loosened. He would feel that shit later.
Now he was nothing but rage and adrenaline.
When he turned his attention back to Zeus, Zeus’ expression cut through the blind fury fueling him.
Even bleeding and with bruises already forming, he looked devastated.
“He really was just innocently drinking coffee, wasn’t he? ”
The question sounded rhetorical, but Atticus still responded. “Yeah, dumbass.”
Zeus shook his head. He probably still saw stars from the hits he had taken, even though he was oddly calm. “Shit.” He blinked and focused on Atticus. “Tracker really thinks I used him and walked away.”
Atticus rolled his eyes.
Zeus stood. Atticus readied himself to fight again.
“I need to talk to him. Goddamn it. The club is opening.”
Muscle dude crawled into a chair and sat, still holding his nose. “Go. I’ll stay. Don’t let my brother get hurt again. Fucking Kung Fu Hussle over here will be the least of your problems.”
Zeus didn’t seem bothered by the claim. He still looked gutted as he headed for the door without looking back.
Atticus sat and took a swig of Zeus’ unfinished beer. He eyed his bleeding new friend. “Who are you?”
“Foster.” The name came out sounding muffled.
Atticus gave him a sharp nod. “Atticus. Nice to meet you. Did you bleed on the back of my thousand-dollar shirt?”
Ice-blue eyes stared at him as if he were crazy. “I’ll buy you a new one.”
A smile exploded across Atticus’ face. “You’re Tracker’s brother, huh? I see a resemblance. In the face, anyhow. Well, when your nose isn’t broken.”
Foster snorted and then winced. “You’re one insane dude, aren’t you?”
Atticus shrugged and took another drink. He swallowed before responding. “I’ve been accused of worse.”
“By better,” Foster added.
Atticus eyed Foster’s body. “Now, I didn’t say that, did I?”
The way Foster looked at him nearly made Atticus cackle. Yeah. One more guy who knew he was totally batshit insane. Just another day.
Zeus couldn’t get to Tracker fast enough. He tried calling several times. Each time, it rang once and disconnected. It took Zeus a minute to realize Tracker wasn’t declining his calls. He was blocked.
“Shit.” Zeus punched the steering wheel.
He felt blood trickle down his face. Thankfully, he couldn’t feel a damn thing through his panic.
When he reached Beau’s property, Zeus regained enough sense to realize Tracker had likely also alerted security to keep him away.
He could hardly charm anyone with the way Atticus had handed his ass to him.
Zeus investigated everyone who applied for membership at his club.
He should have gone with his gut and blocked his application.
Atticus, aka Marty, had a terrifying background, but so did Zeus.
He had thought he wasn’t one to judge, and Marty always behaved.
Damn, he had made a ton of fucking life-altering mistakes lately.