East Bound by Nana Malone (big ebook reader txt) 📕

Lynn's. I'd only been in places like this once or twice. I wasn't really one for poker. I'd wager on buildings, commerce, things like that. I might even wager my mates for a car or something frivolous. But I didn’t wager money over things that weren’t important.

At the doorway, I nodded to the bouncer, pressed my hundred quid into his palm, and kept on walking as if he wasn't there.

I found that it was easier to let money do the talking for the most part. No one ever asked any questions if you let money do the talking.

I found Jack just where I'd expected to. It took him a moment before he noticed me. When he did, he stood up from his table as nonchalantly as possible. And then ran.

I shook my head. Fucking hell, I hated it when they ran.

But apparently the bouncer was grateful for the hundred quid, and he told someone on the radio to stop him. I nodded my thanks and proceeded with a smile as the man at the back of the room handed him off.

With my hands on his lapels, I shoved him out the back door where the bracing fall chill greeted us. "Mate, I thought we had a deal."

"I'm not your fucking mate." He struggled against my hold.

"It’s odd that you say that, because I have noticed my mates don't like to hit women. That's kind of a rule we have. Overall, don't be a twat."

He tried to shake loose of my grip, but I just tightened it and threw him against the wall. "Now, now. We have discussed Belinda. I told you not to put your hands on her. But you can't seem to help yourself."

He struggled in my hold, but I let some of that fury out. The rage I’d been holding so tightly. I let just enough of it loose to let him know that I could kill him right there and not give a fuck. “She’s lying. I haven’t touched her.”

"I told you, I don't like you putting your hands on women. My assistant in particular. You don't listen. So I'm going to teach you a lesson."

His eyes went wide.

"You see, I've been feeling very frustrated in the last several days, so you're going to help me work some of that out."

"You can't do that. I haven't done anything to you."

"Yeah, see my assistant comes into my office every bloody day looking haunted. No woman should have that look. And she's constantly in fear. But she does her job with a smile. She's really excellent you know. My life would be a lot easier if I was shagging her. But alas, she seems to prefer losers. Like you. So we're going to try this again. It's called aversion therapy." His eyes went wide. "Every time you think about hitting something, I'm going to knee you in the nuts. How's that work for you?"

He coughed and struggled some more.

"Oh, good. I do want you to struggle. It'll make this much more worthwhile."

I hit him then, relishing the sting in my hand. The reminder that despite how I felt, I was, in fact, still alive.

I didn't relish kneeing another man in the nuts, making his eyes water as he bent over, weeping. I didn't get my rocks off like that. But seeing as I didn't consider him a man, I did it.

I hauled him back against the wall. And he still cupped himself. "See? You don't like that.”

“Y-y-you don’t know anything.”

“I read the police report."

"B-b-but they told me those were sealed since she didn’t press charges."

"Not sealed from my people. I know what you did to her. One time you hit her so hard in the stomach that she went into shock. The report said blunt force trauma to the reproductive organs. Did you kick her?"

I kneed him again. All my disgust, my loathing coming out with force. And this time all he did was wheeze as he sank to his knees. That’s when the sobbing began.

"You’re filth. Disgusting. You don't deserve to walk this earth. People like you, the bullies who torture and torment women. God, if I could eradicate you, I would find the most painfully long, excruciating way to do it. People like you practically ruined my sister. People like you roam around thinking you're God's fucking gift and loving it. But I like hurting you."

He writhed on the ground, but I hauled him up easily. This time I left his nuts alone and went for his face. "You see, I read the report." Pop. I didn't even feel the hit on my knuckles as I broke skin. "She told the police that she made the mistake of picking a handsome man." I popped him again. "So perhaps if I make you less handsome, she'll make different choices." Pop.

"Stop. God, please, don’t kill me."

I blinked down at him. "Oh no. Did you think I was going to kill you?"

“Y-you’re not?” His brow furrowed in confusion as he looked up at me.

"Oh no, no. I'm going to leave you in a heap. And then, I'm going to go inside and tell those blokes in there that you're a nonce. After that I'm going to walk out the front door.”

He struggled and tried to scramble away. “N-no. It’s not true. Why would you do that?”

“What do you think that lot will do to you for diddling children?" My smile was more than a little evil.

"But I'm not. I've never touched my kids."

"Yeah, well, I don't care. You told Belinda if she reported you to the police you’d take the children. That was a mistake. By the time I'm done with you, you won't be allowed within a hundred feet of them."

He let the mask of simpering fear slip and spat, "I hate you. "

I smiled at him. "Yes. Excellent. That's how you should feel. That's how I wish Belinda felt, but mostly she's afraid of you. I'd like to change that paradigm. I want you to be afraid every