Done with our facials, and having watched two episodes, I’m about to doze off when there’s a knock at the door. Jade gets up to answer, and then I hear her say, “Tristan!”
My head pops up from where I was lying on the couch, and then I scramble to my feet and run to my room so he won’t see me in my ratty sweatpants and t-shirt.
I change into a pair of jeans and a sweater, and after slipping on my shoes, I walk back to the living room.
“You settled?” Tristan asks Mila.
I wasn’t happy when I heard she was just going to let Justin walk away with some community service as punishment.
“I just want to forget it happened,” Mila says with a smile on her face. “I got closure.”
Tristan stares at her for a moment before he turns to me. He gives me a quick kiss, then says, “I’ve come to kidnap you.”
I can feel the girls watching us and taking hold of his hand, I pull him out the front door while saying, “See you all later.”
“Enjoy,” Fallon calls after me.
When we’re in the car, Tristan asks, “Green. What do you know about him?”
I let out a huff. “Not much. We all thought he was a decent guy.” Needing to get it off my chest, I add, “He’s getting away with a slap on his wrist. It’s not fair.”
Tristan steers the car away from campus. “His time will come.”
I look at Tristan and taking in the harsh pull of his mouth and the anger simmering in his eyes, I ask, “Will you take care of it?”
He nods once. “I will.”
I place my hand on his thigh and relax against the seat. “Thank you.”
I’m not going to ask how he’ll take care of Justin. I just want justice to be served.
Chapter 18
TRISTAN
Alexei and I watched Justin Green for a month while he lived his life as a free man.
While Mila had to deal with the pain and the nightmares.
While my cousin had to watch his girlfriend suffer.
While my friend had to stand with his hands tied because there was nothing he could do to avenge his sister.
No more.
Demitri comes out of the building where Justin’s father works and nods in our direction to show that Justin is on his way out.
Demitri moves to the side of the entrance while I get out of the SUV.
Since Justin was thrown out of Trinity, he’s been working with his father.
He comes out, glancing down at his phone. I fall in next to him and throw my arm around his shoulder.
“Justin,” I mutter.
His eyes widen as his eyes focus on me. “Tristan?” he asks. “What are you doing here?”
I tighten my hold on him and yank him to a stop as Alexei pulls the SUV next to us.
I open the back door and nod my head toward it. “Get in.”
Justin hesitates, and it has me slowly shaking my head while I move my jacket enough for him to see the Glock, then I growl, “Get in.”
A mixture of nerves and fear tightens Justin’s features as he climbs into the back. Demitri slides in next to him while I get into the passenger seat.
Driving away, silence fills the car until Alexei starts to whistle something that sounds eerie as fuck. I stare at Alexei until he’s done, then he grins at me. “Russian Lullaby.”
I begin to chuckle. “Didn’t sound like one.”
He adjusts the rearview mirror and looks at Justin, then he murmurs, “It’s about death.”
“Where are we going?” Justin asks, his voice tight.
“Somewhere we can talk in private,” I reply. “You’ll be home for dinner.” Whether he’ll be able to eat is a whole different story.
My mouth curves up as we pull up to the warehouse. Demitri goes to open the door to the building, and then we pull the SUV inside.
I get out and open the back door of the SUV. “Get out.”
Justin cautiously climbs out, and then he takes a couple of steps away from me while trying to keep an eye on Alexei and Demitri as well.
I take off my jacket and place it on the passenger seat. Rolling up the sleeves of my button-up shirt, I walk to the middle of the warehouse, then call out, “I don’t have all day. Get your ass over here.”
Demitri gives Justin a shove to make him walk.
Alexei leans back against the car, and gesturing between Demitri and me, he says, “I got you a gift.”
Demitri hands me two knuckle rings. Grinning at Alexei, I slide them onto my fingers. “You know me so well.”
I take a deep breath then my eyes lock on Justin. “Do you know why you’re here?”
Justin begins to shake his head but then nods. “Because of what I did?”
I nod slowly.
“I already apologized to –”
I shake my head and let out a dark chuckle. “Mila’s like a sister to me.”
“I’m sorry,” he begins to ramble, and again I shake my head.
“It’s too late for apologies,” I murmur. I stare at Justin as he swallows hard, then I say, “If you need to take a leak, you better do it now because once I start and you wet yourself, I won’t stop.”
Demitri gestures to a bucket, and while Justin empties his bladder, I say, “You gave Mila two cracked ribs, soft tissue damage, a concussion, and you really did a number on her face.” I watch as he slowly walks back to me.
Justin seems to have made peace with the fact that he’s about to get his ass handed to him because he nods, saying, “I deserve this.”
I shake my head. “No.” His eyes flit to mine before they lower back to the ground. “You deserve death, but because of who your father is, I have to settle for this.”
Justin nods, actually looking a little relieved.
I close the distance between us, and placing my hand on his shoulder, I lean in and grumble, “You’re allowed to fight back.”
I take two steps back, and tilting my head, I open my arms wide. “I’ll even give you the first shot. You have ten seconds.”
“Let the fight begin,” Alexei laughs darkly.
Seven.
Eight.
Justin shakes his head. “I don’t want to hit you.”
Nine.
Ten.
My body shoots forward as I pull my arm back, and then my fist connects with his jaw. Satisfaction courses through my veins as I watch his head snap back.
Justin drops to the ground, and shaking his head, he spits out blood and a tooth.
“Tsk…” Alexei shakes his head. “Weak.”
“Get up,” I growl, running out of patience.
Justin climbs to his knees, and taking too long, I let out a growl as I kick him in the ribs, and then I snap, “Get the fuck up!”
Instead of listening, the fucker holds his side while he gasps for air.
I remember the distraught look on Ryker’s face.
The pain in Mila’s eyes.
Just like before, it rips the gorge in my soul wide open. The hellish mass rears up, craving blood, destruction, and pain.
My body surges forward, and straddling the piece of shit, I rest a knee on the concrete to keep myself raised above him. Grabbing hold of his shirt, I begin to deliver punches to his face.
Justin makes a gargling sound then slurs, “Stop.”