“That stupid bitch. I used my inheritance money to put a roof over her head, clothes on her back and food in her belly. What does she fucking do? Fall in love with another man.” He pauses for a beat. “She didn’t know that I put a tracker on her phone and that’s how I knew she went to your graduation party. Later that night, she came home looking like a tramp and reeking of alcohol. And do you know what she said when I asked her where she’d been, just to see how loyal she was?” He pauses, balling up his fists. “She lied and told me that she went to play board games with her whorish-ass friend Izzy. When I told her that I tracked her phone she finally admitted that she went to a party. I asked her if she went to see you or look for you. She twirled her hair and denied it. That’s her tell when she’s fucking lying. Dumb bitch.”

I don’t remember Gia ever coming to that party, but then again so many people were there, and I got so drunk I wouldn’t know who showed up. I glance around the room to see what kind of object I can hit this motherfucker with.

“She swore that she didn’t like you. But I knew, I fucking knew. You want to know how I knew, you piece of shit?” He pauses, not giving me a chance to respond. “When I said your name, she got that glint in her fucking eyes like she used to do with me when we first met. I was pissed and jealous that she had the audacity to fall in love with another guy while she was with me. So I fucked her in the ass to remind her who she belonged to.” His lips curl up into a smirk.

I snap. My fist connects with his jaw. I push him to the floor and pound on his face. I’ve had enough of his shit.

He tries to cover his face, but I move his hand and crush his nose with my knuckles. My hand stings, but I keep punching as I see red. Then blood filters through my nostrils as memories of that night in the basement when Ellis blew his head off barges into my mind.

My hands tremble and bile tickles my stomach as my heart seizes in my chest.

No, no, no, no, this is not happening right now.

Shaking my head, I yell, “Don’t you ever talk about Gia like that! You beating on a woman doesn’t make you a fucking man. You pussy!”

He spits blood mixed with spit on my cheek, and I stand, using my shirt to wipe my face.

“Fuck you, Gunner!”