CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Endings aren't all fairytales.
Chase
I clenched and unclenched my fists as I made my way into the back room of the restaurant where we were meeting. Blood pounded through every vein, every vessel in my body, demanding vengeance. Almost as much as it demanded I rip Trace from Nixon's hands and run away with her.
I loved her.
And she didn't even know it.
I loved her.
And I'd almost lost her, yet I wasn't allowed to comfort her. I couldn't kiss away the pain, the tears, the shame — no, that was all my best friend. I hated him for it, almost as much as I hated myself for not being there when she'd needed me the most.
I sighed and leaned against the wall. Phoenix was sitting in the middle of the room, his ass strapped to a metal chair and zip ties keeping his hands firmly in front of him. We'd called a small commission. I say small because we hadn't had a big commission in over thirty years. Shit always went down at those, and we didn't want the drama.
A rep from each family was present, making their interest known. After all, we couldn't just wipe out his line — as much as I wanted to.
When Trace and Nixon walked in, Phoenix smirked, but it wasn't one of those smirks that said, "Ha ha, fooled you all." It was fake, forced, like he knew he was screwed and wanted me to shoot him in the face and ask questions later.
I was about to say something when Trace lunged for him and smacked him hard across the cheek.
He cursed and fell to the cement ground.
Well, that's a fun way to quiet up the room. The men sitting around immediately stopped drinking wine and stared.
"Is that it?" Phoenix taunted from the ground.
Trace lunged again, but Nixon grabbed her before her toe collide with the bastard's front tooth.
Frank cleared his throat. "Will all members of the commission please stand?"
"Commission?" Trace asked quietly.
Nixon pulled her close.
I had to look away.
"Each family is represented by one person. It's kind of how we hold court. Each person has a representative, and each representative gets a vote."
"Are you one?" Her voice quivered with fear.
"Unfortunately, no. Since I'm one of the bosses, I elected someone else from my family."
"Who?"
It was me. I heard him say my name, and I looked up to make eye contact with her. I would do right by her; it was the only thing I could do in this situation, other than kill him.
"Chase."
"Oh." She nodded, sagging against him. "That's good then."
"Great," Nixon said dryly as he glanced at me.
I'd been standing at the door for the past few minutes, observing.
"Everyone's present," Frank announced. "Each representative of the commission is allowed to speak on behalf of their family. I'll go last, considering the subject matter."
Several men nodded.
"I'll go first." Faust stepped forward. I'd hated that kid ever since he'd stole my toy truck when I was five. He was a made man for Nicolasi. "Trace, is it?"
Faust was a coldhearted bastard. Swear, when God created him, He'd forgotten to add a soul. He had dark coloring and brown hair. I'd always thought his eyes were soulless holes of nothingness, like he was possessed.
Nixon tensed next to Trace as the guy approached.
"Faust Assante, at your service." He gave a wide smile and bent over her hand.
Nixon grunted.
"Now." Faust stood to his full height and nodded to Trace. "Your side of the story, if you don't mind." He nodded. "When you're ready… Trace."
"My side?" she squeaked. "Does that mean even he gets to have a say?" She pointed a shaky finger at Phoenix. "After what he did to me? Well, Faust…" She damn-near hissed his name. "…my side is pretty much summed up in one word. Rape. That guy sitting over there beat me, bruised me, and then tried to rip my clothes off. When I said no, he said yes, when I pushed, he pushed back, so yeah, that's basically my side. He would have killed me had Chase and Nixon not intervened."
"You don't know that." Faust's eyes flashed. "After all, if what you're wearing now is any indication of what you wear on a day-to-day basis, I'd say you were a tease."
Holy shit! I was going to rip that prick's head from his body and use it as a kickball.
Nixon pushed Trace behind him and stood in front of Faust. "You've got to be kidding me. Who the hell do you think you are?"
Faust smirked. "I am merely stating a fact. If a woman is asking for something and not careful, well, she will get exactly what she deserves."
Nixon swung hard and hit Faust across the jaw, sending him sailing to the ground.
Good thing he did because I was just about to.
"Anyone else care to tell Trace what she deserves? Be my guest." Nixon's breathing was ragged as he stood there and waited for someone to speak.
Frank and I moved to stand next to him. The rest of the men in the room shifted on their feet and looked at Trace.
Her hands started to shake. Damn it.
I moved behind her and put my arms around her body, much to Nixon's irritation, but he was busy. And I was done standing on the outside looking in. My girl needed me, and I sure as hell wasn't going to be silent about it. She relaxed in my arms immediately.
"I have something to say," I said slowly.
Every eye in the room was on me.
"I should have killed that bastard the minute I saw him on top of Trace. To be honest, the only reason I didn't was because I was saving the honor for her. So if anyone else has anything to say, say it now. We're just wasting time, and every breath that asshole breathes offends me so much that I want to crush his windpipe."
The rest of the commission whispered to one another and nodded their vote.
A man stepped forward. "We do not need to hear anything else. Mr. Alfero?"
Frank moved to stand in front of Phoenix. "You've hurt this family for the last time."
Phoenix smirked. "I seriously doubt that. After all, it's only a matter of time before they figure out who she is. And when they do, there won't be anything that can save you. Not your power, not your money, and not your name. They will come for you all. And I'll be smiling from hell."
Nixon handed Frank a bat.
Trace tensed beneath my arms.
He swung hard and hit Phoenix in the head, sending him to the ground with a grunt.
Frank turned, his eyes calm. "Your choice, Trace. Make the call."
Slowly, she pried herself free and approached Phoenix's limp form. Her booted foot connected between his legs. The bastard was already passed out, but he'd have a hell of a fun time when he woke up, if he woke up.
"He lives," she whispered, turning to Nixon. "Remember what you said about the whole setting him up thing?"
Nixon nodded once at her then at me. "Done."
Great. So basically I was going to have to set up Phoenix. Awesome. Just what I'd been wanting to do.
I held open my arms. Trace walked in to them and laid her head against my chest. I couldn't control my racing heart. I felt better just knowing she was in my arms, knowing right then I was doing my best to protect her from the world. "You should have let me kill him," I whispered.
"Sorry to ruin your fun," she mumbled.
I sighed. "Not fun. Just pleasure."