“In the face?”
“Yes,” he mutters, rubbing the left side of his cheek.
“Damn. Why would she do that? She must have had a good reason.”
Creed slips his hands into his pants pockets and stares at his feet. “I may have said something that insulted her.”
“What did you say?”
“I think I called her dick-whipped.”
“Wow.”
“Pathetically dick-whipped. Oh, and desperate for a fuck that you finally gave her.”
“Fuck, Creed.” I scrub my hand over my face, wincing when the move pulls at the ache in my right arm and upper back. “You have to go apologize to her.”
“I don’t have to do shit,” he replies. “She should apologize for slapping me!”
Dropping my hands, I stare at him. “Is that what you think? That you don’t owe her an apology.”
“I don’t.”
“So, you wouldn’t care if I told Zara she was pathetic, dick-whipped, and desperate. Is that what you said?”
“Fine. I’ll apologize. But if she hits me again —”
“It’ll be because you deserve it, and you know it. Jesus, for her to lose control, to assault you in public, knowing anyone could be getting a video of it, she must have been pissed.”
“She’s worried about you.”
“She thinks she owes me for saving her life.”
“Doesn’t she?”
“No. She didn’t ask me to jump in front of bullets for her. I did it because I’d rather die than let her be hurt. And even when I was trying to protect her, I smashed her head into the sidewalk. Is she okay? Has she been examined?”
“I don’t know.”
“She probably has a concussion. Another explanation for why she hit you.”
“It’s funny watching you make excuses for her, but it’s not funny to see you in here with bullet wounds. You could’ve been killed because of her!”
“But I wasn’t.”
“Well, now we’re sure as shit going after Bowen because he’s fucked up and hurt my family.”
“So, you didn’t care before that he wanted to kill the DA, but because I caught a few slugs, you’re ready to string his ass up?”
“Yes. I don’t know her. That woman tried to send me to prison!”
“We broke the law. Yes, the raid at the club was bullshit, and it never should’ve happened. Carmine would still be here if those cops hadn’t snuck up on us.”
Creed turns away at the mention of his dead brother.
“But despite how it all went down, we still committed a crime by carrying the guns, knowing they’re illegal in the city.”
“Your DA said she could’ve killed you when she woke up the first time with you in her apartment.”
