Page 50 of Waste of Worth

“Soon,” Dino repeated.

He frowned at the sight of Karen’s back as she disappeared inside the restaurant.

She hadn’t even said goodbye.

Dino couldn’t blame her, really. How fun could it be to find yourself stuck in a relationship with someone like him who took a great deal from you, but rarely offered the same in return? It wasn’t that he meant to be like he was—distant and seemingly selfish—but he didn’t know how to be anything else.

And hadn’t he told her once that all she needed to do was tell him to leave and he would go?

Karen still hadn’t told him that yet.

Somewhere deep inside, covered by years of old scar tissue and buried beneath the memories of those wounds, Dino knew the truth was beating hard in his heart.

He seriously hoped she never told him that.

Even if it ended up killing him.

Dino considered going back inside the restaurant and apologizing to Karen before leaving for the strip club to finish business for the day, but he decided against it.

Why?

Because he was a fucking coward.

No other explanation was needed.

Strolling down the alleyway toward the mouth of the parking lot, Dino fished in his pocket for the car keys that should be in there. He pulled the keyring out, the jangling keys clamped tightly in his fist as he walked out of the alley.

And looked up to find the butt of a handgun coming straight for his face.

Dino didn’t even have time to react before the hard butt of the gun cracked him straight in the mouth, sending him sprawling to the ground with a shout. The taste of blood—tangy and metallic—bloomed in his mouth, making him gag.

It always did.

It reminded him of too many things.

The taste was like a hundred memories swarming his brain all at once.

Overwhelming him …

Choking him …

The second he froze was his biggest mistake. It gave his attacker the extra time he needed to hit again, a foot coming down hard on Dino’s rib as the gun slammed into his bloody face once more.

It was unlike Ben to send only one person.

Usually it was group of his uncle’s enforcers coming to do the dirty work.

It was only when Dino started fighting back did he realize there was more men, they had simply been waiting for him to actually do something before deciding whether or not they needed to jump in.

He was dragged back into the alley, hidden from view of the parking lot and the day light. Arms and hands barricaded his limbs, pinning him to the cold, wet ground as feet and fists pounded into him again and again.

Pain flared to life in old spots.

… and new ones.

A gloved hand covered his mouth as a fist drove into his eye, blurring his vision and muddying up his mind with the force of the hit.

The whack of something solid against his side made Dino lose his breath.