Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
CREED
T y's gaze bores into me from across the room, his barely restrained anger evident in his furrowed brow and tense jaw. That has always been my once best friend’s tell since we were kids. But we aren't kids anymore and his opinion doesn't matter. At least, that's what I keep telling myself as I fight the urge to look away, to hide from the disappointment in his eyes. We were like brothers once, so even though I pretend not to give a fuck, even though when it comes to Ty, I always will.
His gaze sweeps around my office, taking it all in. His lips press into a thin line. I can practically hear the judgment in his silence, and it makes my jaw tick. I grip the arms of my leather chair, feeling the cool, smooth surface beneath my fingers. After twelve years of unjust incarceration, I am going to do whatever it takes to provide for myself and maybe destroy the woman who put me there before taking back what is mine.
“What brings you here, Ty?”
“Heard you were out. Wanted to see how you were doing. And I guess this is what you're doing now, huh?” Ty shakes his head slowly. “You used to look down on Linc and those guys who made money this way. Now, I hear my cousin is one of your associates.”
I chuckle darkly at the irony of his observation, but the sound feels hollow in my chest. “People change. Priorities change. Especially when you’ve been robbed of nearly a decade of your life,” I reply dryly, my throat tightening around the words.
My words linger in the air between us like a fog, and after a long moment of silence, Ty sighs heavily. His face softens slightly when he speaks again, and for a second, I see a flash of the friend I once knew. The friend I refused to see while behind bars. “I get that, brother. I really do. But this... this lifestyle is dangerous. You could end up back behind bars - or worse.”
I sigh, fighting to maintain my composure as memories of cold cells and endless dark nights threaten to overwhelm me. I fought to get to where I am now and I won’t be judged for my choices. “I know the risks,” I say firmly, but my heart races at the thought of going back. We sit in silence for a few moments, the tension thick between us.
Ty crosses the room and takes a seat in the chair opposite me. “This isn't you, man.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. For a moment, I'm tempted to agree, to confess that I don't recognize myself anymore. Instead, I lash out. “What really brings you here? I didn't peg you for an addict or maybe you're looking for something sweeter than what you got at home? How is Veronica anyway?”
My best friend glares at me, and I see the hurt flash in his eyes. Guilt tries to gnaw at me, but I push it down. I can't afford to feel, not anymore.
“You're better than that,” Ty says softly. “And if you must know, I'm here because I missed you. We were brothers.”
His words hang in the air, and for a moment, I'm back in our old neighborhood, two kids with big dreams and unshakeable loyalty. Later, we were two young men starting an auto shop from the ground up. The memories ache like an old wound.
“How about you worry about yours, and I worry about mine, T,” I say, but the words taste bitter on my tongue. As Ty's shoulders slump, I wonder if I've finally managed to push away the last person who ever believed in me.
Ty looks at me with disappointment. He can try all he wants to deter me, but there is no turning back now. His voice cracks as he speaks, “I'm just trying to look out for you, Creed. We've been through so much together, and it breaks my heart to see how far you’ve fallen.”
I sit silent. Despite his pleas, I refuse to back down on my decision. This is my life now and Ty has no right to tell me differently.
“I appreciate your concern, Ty. But it’s not necessary.”
Ty stands, “If you ever need me, you know where to find me.”
I should feel like shit for the way I treated him, but I know what I need to do for myself and nothing, not even our friendship, will get in the way of that.
“See you around, old friend,” I say, and Ty leaves my office hopefully understanding that there is no room for negotiation.
* * *
The doors fly open and three of my men storm in, faces pale under a sheen of sweat, eyes wide with alarm.”
I’m on my feet in seconds, “What’s wrong?”
“Boss, we don’t have much time,” Carlo shouts.
“Fire!” Linc adds, “The club is on fire. We need to evacuate. Now!”
It doesn’t take me a second to react. “Fuck!” I walk toward them. “We need to get everyone out safely.”
“You’ve got to get to the emergency exit, now!” Linc shouts. “We got this covered.”
“There is no way I’m not helping out there,” I push past them and toward the club. Linc grabs me by the arm, and I whirl on him. “We need you alive, Boss!”
I glare at him, as I spit, “Fuck that! I’m not leaving my men behind.”
“The men are already getting people out, Creed, we’ve gotta get out of here.”
I hesitate, torn between my duty to my men and customers and self-preservation. “Fine,” I growl.
We’re halfway down the stairs when the fire alarm starts blaring, so much for an early warning system, and smoke starts to filter down the stairwell.
“Go! Go!” I yell, and the four of us bolt toward the exit.
The smoke follows us, like a malevolent presence, growing thicker with every step.
Linc, who’s leading the charge, skids to a stop in front of the doorway, it won’t open. “Fuck,” he curses, and I don’t blink before I shove past him, shouldering my way through the door and into the alley behind my club. I gulp down a desperate breath of fresh air as the others spill out behind me, coughing and hacking.
“How the fuck did this happen?” My voice is a hoarse croak. “Let’s go out front.”
“No time for that, Boss,” Carlo says, his expression grim as he jerks his head toward the smoking building behind us. “We need to get you to the car. Now.”
“No. I have to make sure everyone gets out,” I say, staggering forward.
My legs feel weak as I push forward, determined that no one is left behind. As I round the corner, my eyes sting from the thick black smoke billowing out of the warehouse. A crowd of people are rushing away from the building, coughing and gasping for air, likely grateful to have escaped the inferno.
My heart hammers in my chest, and I frantically search the crowd for any familiar faces.
“Creed!” a raspy voice calls out, and I turn to see one of my bartenders, Joe, doubled over coughing into his sleeve. Relief floods through me to see him safe and sound.
“Jesus Christ, Joe,” I exhale, my hands shaking as I support his trembling form. "What the hell happened?"
His eyes are wild with terror as he looks over at the burning remains of our club. “I-I don't know, Boss. It was just...BOOM!” He gestures wildly with his hands, unable to finish the sentence.
“It's okay, it's okay,” I say calmly, glancing around at the gathered crowd.
Our fire Marshall, Billy, jogs up to us.
“Is everyone here? Is anyone missing?” I ask.
Billy coughs, then nods. “Seems like everyone got out, Boss.” He looks down at his clipboard with the list of patrons. “But... this doesn’t seem like it was an accident? People heard an explosion go off.”
“Oh, I’m fucking sure it wasn't.”
I grind my teeth together, my fists clenching. Whoever did this underestimated me. I'll tear this city apart until I find out who that is.
A sudden chill runs down my spine, and I turn to see Mackenzie through the crowd. Our eyes meet across the chaos of the burning ruins of my club, and the people, and the bitch smirks. I glare at her, and she winks before turning on her heels.
If she thinks this is the end, she’s got another thing coming. If I hated her before, now I was going to make her fucking regret ever crossing me.