Page 61 of King

His handsitchedto grab her, to shake the truth out of her, but he forced himself to stay still. Barely.

“Don’t play games with me, Janelle,” he barked. “Where’s Ella?”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Why do youcare? You had me once, and now you’re wasting your time onher?” She took a step closer, lifting a manicured hand to touch his arm. “She’s not your type, King. Newsflash, she belongs in City Hall, and you’re a biker.”

Kingjerkedaway from her touch, his glare turning ice-cold. “Jesus Christ. You’re the one who slashed my tire, aren’t you? I don’t know how I didn’t put that together at the time. I should have known.”

“You can’t prove anything, King.”

He took a threatening step toward her. “Youhavethree seconds to tell me where she is.”

Janelle scoffed, tilting her head arrogantly. “And if I don’t?”

King took a slow, deliberate step toward her, towering over her with barely restrained fury. “Then I stop askingnicely.”

Janelle’s glare faltered, but she crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

King let out a sharp breath through his nose, his temper flaring hotter. “Last chance, Janelle.”

Janelle squared her shoulders. “Or what? You’re going to threaten me? Hurt me?”

“Idon’thurt women,” he growled, his voice deadly quiet. “But Iswearto God, if something happens to Ella because of you, Iwillmake an exception.”

Janelle let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You’re sopathetic,” she spat. “Losing your damn mind over some needy?—”

King snapped.

His voiceboomedthrough the night. “Where the fuck is she, Janelle?”

Janellejumped, eyes wide for a split second before she masked it with an evil grin that made him want to vomit.

“So testy. You’re kind of hot when you get all angry like this.”

Just as he was about to truly lose it on her, a commotion coming toward them caught his attention, and his heart nearly pounded right out of his chest at the sight of it.

TWENTY-SEVEN

ELLA

Ella’s voice was hoarse from yelling, but sherefusedto stop.

She pounded on the locked door, her palms stinging, her breath coming in fast, ragged gasps. “Somebody!” she screamed. “Help! Please!”

Her ankle throbbed painfully, but she didn’t care. Fear clawed at her chest. She had no phone, no way to get out, and no idea ifanyonecould hear her.

But as panic threatened to swallow her whole, thelock clicked.

The door swung open so fast she nearly stumbled.

Kade stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze scanning her frantically before stepping inside and reaching for her.

Remi, wide-eyed, stood behind him. “Oh my gosh, are you okay?”

Ella sucked in a deep, shuddering breath andlimpedforward, clutching the doorframe. Her body ached, but none of that mattered.

She searchedpast them wildly, looking for one person and one person only.

Janelle.

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