bChapter /b247

Author’s POVb: /b

bJade /bstood in the hospital parking lot, staring up at the fourth floor where Ss’s mother was recovering.

Chase leaned against his bcar/b, keys dangling from his fingers, “Jade, where to now? I’m starving”

She nced at her watch. bSs /bhad been unconscious for nearly a day. His mother’s condition had stabilized. Initially, Jade hadn’t nned to get involved in Ss’s family drama–It wasn’t her business. bBut /bknowing his mother bwas /balso Dusk’s mother changed things.

“Chase, do byou /bknow where we might find someone who gambles too much and drinks beven /bmore?” she asked, her voice deliberately casual.

p with understanding. “You want to find his father.” It wasn’t a question “Hell yes

yes, I know exactly where to look.”

Chase’s eyes lit up

She turned to him. “Then let’s go.”

The underground gambling

bling den was located beneath aundromat in one of Princetons seedier neighborhoods. They arrived just as amotion erupted at the back entrance. A middle–aged man with thinning hair and ba /bbeer bgut /bwas being forcibly removed by two burly security guards.

by out, Murphy!” one of the guards shouted. “Don’te back until you can bpay /bwhat you owe!”

“And stay

Ss’s father brushed off his dirty jacket band /bspat on the ground. “Fuck you! I was winning! You rigged those machines!”

They sat in the car, watching as he staggered down the alley, muttering curses. Chase’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. Jade said nothing, merely nodding when he turned on the headlights, illuminating Murphy in their harsh re.

The man turned, squinting binto /bthe light, band /bhad the audacity to spit toward their car. “The fuck you looking at?” he slurred,

Chase was out of the car before jade could stop him–not that she would bhave/b. “Hey! You!” be called out, his voice sharp in the night air.

Murphy turned, swaying slightly, “What do you want,

rich boy?”

bChase’s /bfirst punch bnded /bsquarely on Murphy’s jaw, sending him sprawling. Without hesitation, Chase grabbed the front of Murphy’s shirt and dragged him deeper into the alleyb, /bbaway /bfrom prying eyes. Jade followed bat /ba leisurely pace, watching as Chase mmed the older man against a brick wall.

“Look at meb, /byou piece of shit,” bChase /bgrowled,nding another punch to Murphy’s stomach. “Take a bgood /blook at who’s beating the crap out of byou/b. I’m Ss’s ssmate.”

Murphy’s eyes widened in recognition before another blow made him double bover/b.

“Your son is in the hospital, Chase continuedb, /bpunctuating each word with a blow, “Your wife is dying. And what are you doing? Cambling away what little money you have left.”

“Please,” Murphy whimpered, blood trickling from his split lip. “I won’t do it again, I swear.“

“You’re damn right you won’t.” Chase grabbed Murphy by the cor, forcing him to look up. “If I ever hear you fald a hand on either of them again, I’lle bback /band finish what I started. You understand me?

Murphy nodded frantically, tears mixing with the blond on his face.

“You’re garbage,” Chase spat. “No, you’re worse than garbage. You’re a monster who beats his wife and son. What kind of man does that?”

Jade watched the scene with detached interest, making no move to Intervene. Some lessons needed to be learned the hard way.

Back in the bcar/b, Chase flexed his bruised knuckles, a satisfied expression on his bface/b. “What a waste of human life,” that… that animal bhave /ba son like Ss? It must be some gic mutation.”

Jade smiled slightly. “My brother Max is kind of a gic mutation toob,/bb” /b

“Your brother?” Chase’s interest was immediately piqued. “When do I get to meet this mysterious sibling of yours?”

“When he gets into Princeton, she replied. “You’ll see him then.”

he muttered. “How bcan /b

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