Page 17 of His Other Half

Chapter 7

Paco

The air pressed inon Paco. He strode toward his Harley, cutting through Priest and Curley talking.

"Hey," shouted Priest. "Aren't you going to stick around?"

"Nope." He threw his leg over the seat of his motorcycle.

Movements that came naturally seemed clumsy. His vision narrowed. There was something he was supposed to do? He bent at the waist, grabbing his head. He had to think.

Shaking the fog out of his head, he went through what he'd done.

Josie.

Cami.

Casino.

Killing.

He panted, getting on his Harley, seeking the familiarity of his bike. The women. He forgot to take care of Josie and Cami.

"Take the girls home, huh?" He wrenched on the handlebars, finding it locked, and reached down to turn the key.

His chest burned from lack of oxygen, and he fumbled to turn the sticky ignition. Rage filled him, and he punched the gas tank.

Priest appeared beside him. "Get off the bike."

"Nah, man. Leave me alone. I gotta get out of here." He reached for the key again but never made contact.

Curley grabbed him from behind, wrapping his arms around his chest, locking his arms to his sides. Penned up, adrenaline exploded as his body left the bike.

He struck out with his fist, connecting hard. Shouts filled his ears. He roared, kicked out at the binding around his legs.

Losing control, he was right back to fighting.

The men dumped Penny's fragile, limp body on the floor in front of him. Using his hands, he dragged his lower body forward across the concrete of the warehouse. The pain of his broken body replaced with rage by the devastating sight of his sister.

One of the guards moved forward, taking a running start, and kicked him in the ribs, sending him rolling farther away from Penny.

Blind fury filled him. Failing to get to his feet, he threw his upper body toward the man, hooking the man's calf with his arm to the laughter of the other men in the warehouse. In a blink, he was on top, pounding his fists into the guy's face.

Blood splattered his already bruised and bleeding body. He swung, over and over, but nothing brought Penny to her feet. Nothing returned her smile. Nothing returned her to him.

Long after the man stopped moving, Paco raised his head. Strengthened at killing the man, he crossed the ten feet, separating him from the other two men.

His vision blackened. Exerting every last ounce of strength, he fought. He fought for the fucked-up childhood he and Penny were given. He fought against everyone who had kept him apart from his sister. He fought against the supposed friends who'd led Penny down the wrong path and had taken advantage of her.

He fought.

He fought.

He fought until there were no more people alive in the warehouse.

Pulling himself over to Penny, he gathered her lifeless body in his arms and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry."