Uncontrollable Temptations (Tempted #3)(8)

“What the fuck do you know about closure, Bianci? You ever lose someone you love? Don’t give me that shit about your girl because that shit was temporary. She didn’t drop dead never to be seen again,” I sneered, angrily.

“No I haven’t…but Jack, killing Jimmy isn’t going to bring back Danny. Sure, it might make you feel better, but that shit is temporary,” he said, throwing my words back in my face.

“Why you pleading Jimmy’s case?” I asked suspiciously.

“Only case I’m pleading is yours,” he said firmly. “I saw Vic lose control, become a fucking monster, all because he was trying to avenge Val’s death. In the end he lost everything that mattered and that cocksucker who ordered the hit is still living and breathing,” he argued. “Just don’t want to see you lose control.”

Anthony had no idea I was manic depressive. He didn’t understand how easily it was for me to lose control.

“There was a woman. I remember her being brought out of the house on a stretcher right before it blew,” he started.

The fucking girl.

Vic mentioned something about her, said there was an address in the envelope where I could find her. I didn’t give two fucks about the pussy my brother was fucking. He wasn’t married, didn’t have kids with her, she was probably just some prissy bitch he met in the bureau. The fact that my brother died and that bitch, whoever the fuck she was, didn’t call me to be at his funeral was bullshit.

“Your point?” I growled in frustration, running my fingers through my hair.

“You should reach out to her,” he stated.

“Why the fuck would I do that?” I asked, losing my patience with this conversation.

He raised an eyebrow and silently stared at me.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I snarled.

“All I’m saying is maybe she can clue you in on the last few years of your brother’s life, give you some insight on the shit you missed out on,” he countered.

“It don’t matter what I missed, Bianci. It won’t change that he’s gone—and making nice with the last piece of ass he had, won’t bring him back,” I said, making up my mind.

“Ever think she’s hurting just like you? Grieving for what she’s lost?” He suggested, while shrugging his shoulders. “I know it’s not the same but when I was away, Adrianna and my mother kept in touch. I didn’t find out until I came home but I was happy they had one another. Maybe she wasn’t just some broad, maybe she mattered to your brother and if she did I think he’d rest easy knowing someone was looking out for her,” he explained.

I stared at him blankly for a moment before shaking my head.

“You’re fucking whipped,” I stated. “Look at you, believing in fairytales and shit. You probably think fucking unicorns are real,” I continued, disgusted. “Glad you’re happy, brother, but stop pushing rainbows and all that good shit, this way.”

He chuckled, holding up his hands in mock defeat.

“Just my opinion,” he said.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t ask for it,” I responded, pulling my gloves out of my pocket and slipping my hands into them before grabbing my helmet from the counter. I pierced him with a steady glare. “We all good?”

“We’re good,” he confirmed, nodding his head.

“Good,” I said, fitting my helmet to my head. “I’ll be in touch,” I added as I turned to leave.

“She was hospitalized for a few weeks after the fire,” he whispered, from behind me causing me to freeze mid-stride. “Danny’s body wasn’t released to her due to the investigation,” he added.

I waited for him to continue, to pile more shit onto the plate he served up but he didn’t. I shook my head, dismissing the information and strode out of his gym.

Fucking Bianci.

Fucking faceless girl.

I straddled my bike, secured my helmet, and revved my engine. I gripped the handlebars of my bike and bit the inside of my cheek before mumbling a stream of curses and turning off my bike. There was no logical explanation why I turned my bike off and stormed back inside Anthony’s gym. No fucking reason other than I was a glutton for punishment.

He lifted an eyebrow as he stared at me.

“Talk,” I growled, dropping my helmet onto the counter and bracing my hands against it.

“What do you want to know?” He asked, evenly.

“Everything,” I muttered, turning around to meet his gaze.

Anthony blew out a breath, taking a seat on one of the bench press machines. “I went to see Vic. It was during the trial and he was still running things from inside. I told him everything, told him you were never going to kill the Fed because he was your brother. I admitted that I was going to turn the other cheek because your word was enough for me, as long as the investigation was dead, that was all that mattered,” he paused, running his fingers through his hair. “He sent me away,” he continued. “Thought for sure he would order a hit on me and a part of me felt like I deserved whatever it was he had in store for me. Not because I went behind his back but because I gave you my word, I would help you and I let you down. Vic was my last hope in getting the goods on Jimmy,” he said, holding my gaze. “I remembered the woman,” he sighed. “I figured since I couldn’t deliver the culprit, I could deliver Danny and at least you’d be able to give your brother a proper funeral.”