My brain felt clouded, and I tried to shake it off. What the fuck was wrong with me? My limbs weighed close to a thousand pounds.
“What’s wrong with me?” Those four words were the last thing I remembered before closing my lids. I thought, maybe, just maybe, I saw Dex’s bright blue eyes shining down at me.
***
Seconds, maybe minutes later, I awoke. My head pounded. I scanned the empty parking lot of the club and tried to place where I was. Definitely not minutes, I would guess hours, judging by the empty parking spaces.
My lip felt huge, and I pressed my finger to it and brought back blood. My head split down the middle. I wanted to die.
Laughter behind me, a kick to the ribs, and I thought maybe I just might. Still unsure as to what the fuck was going on, I held my ribs as my attacker kept kicking. Disoriented, I tried to grab at the force behind my pain.
The gravel from the pavement pierced my cheek, as I curled along the pavement. Another blow to my face and pain erupted everywhere. There was nothing I could do to stop the onslaught of blows.
My left eye was swollen shut and out of my right I could see both attackers. Dex and Xavier.
Fucking shit.
I struggled to fight back but failed miserably. My body was weighed down by the alcohol or drugs they must have slipped me.
“Stay away from Penny,” a voice said, sounding like Dex.
I felt as if I was under water as the kicks continued against my back rendering me helpless. I needed to get up. Get to my feet.
Trying once, twice, and a third time, I failed. Nothing worked.
What the fuck was Xavier doing in on this?
The warm metallic taste of blood burned my mouth, and I leaned over spitting it out. When I stared up to Dex, he laughed.
“Theo, man, just stop and give it up.” Xavier moved to where I could see him clearly.
I tried to choke out some words, but nothing came out. Drugged and beaten to a bloody pulp by my brother and best friend. Could life get any worse?
“Why?” I shouted to Xavier.
“Fuck you, do you really think he’s your friend?” Dex laughed like a hyena. It really was quite annoying. Even bloodied and bruised, I still wanted to bitch slap him.
“Why?” I repeated for Xavier.
“Pardo just pays better. They hit me up while you were buying the Goat.”
“The P.I.?” I had to know if he was for real.
Xavier laughed. “Who Stephen? Yeah, that fucker is a janitor at a high school.”
Fuck. My mind couldn’t process what I was hearing. I’d been set up. From the very beginning. Was Penny a plant? She dated Dex before. Before I could even complete the thought in my brain, Dex kicked again. “Just stay away from her.”
They both left as I lie there, hurting. A good ten minutes went by before I tried to sit up. Not a soul around to even help.
I needed a hospital or something. I couldn’t even comprehend what I needed.
Managing to call a cab, I went to the only place where I would be able to assess my wounds.
“Blair, thanks for letting me come here.”
“Holy shit, Theo. I think you need a doctor,” she said as she led me into her two-bedroom house.
“I just need a minute, and then I’ll explain everything.”