Page 171 of Brutal Knight

Rose's voice finally captured my attention, her eyes on my hand. The two cops we'd taken down were handcuffed and being led from the room. Everyone was grouped between the cops and the Kings, with the nurses in between.

Except, Bourbon was now standing between me and Rose. Coulter had pulled Aster close, holding her hand, but they were both staring, blinking at me. In fact, everyone was looking at me. Including the cops.

"Knight," Rose didn't look afraidofme, butforme as she gestured with her head towards my hand. "Put it away."

I suddenly realized that I was the only one with a gun still in my hand.

"Shit, sorry." I quickly put it away, and the tension in the room visibly lowered.

"Bourbon, quit being a bully and move out of the way," Rose gently pushed him to the side, handing off the baby." I need to talk to Knight."

Bourbon carefully took the small form in his hands, rocking him gently, while still keeping an eye on me as he, hesitatingly, stepped aside.

The rage still filling me quickly shifted, weaving with shame. "Rose," I choked out through the knot in my throat, "I'm sorry," I began, unable to keep the pain from my voice. "I..." I didn't know how to start, what to say. The realization of what had just happened, whatcouldhave happened...

"Knight," she grabbed hold of my hand, her face pale, her fingers trembling. I clasped it, wishing I could take her fear from her. Her voice was soft, her expression kind, "You jumped in front of that bullet for me." I only now registered the pain. Glancing down, I realized that it had nicked my arm. One of the cops was pulling it from the wall.

"Of course. That's my..." I didn't finish the sentence. I was going to say, 'job', but I hadn't done it because I felt obligated to do it. I did it because I would give my life for thefamily. I loved these people.

"Tell me, what happened?" Rose soothed. "Where is Tatiana, really?"

"The truth is--I don't know."

"Do you think she's hurt?"

"I don't think so." I held out my hands. "But. I don't know for sure."

"Knight," Rose's voice was firm. "You need to figure this out."

"But what about you? The cartel could try again , and--"

"No," she shook her head. "Now that we know what's going on, we'll be fine. You need to go get your woman."

"We need to talk," Bourbon interrupted, his expression dark and serious. Coulter stood behind him, looking guilty.Shit. Fuck.Coulter had told him everything.

"Everyone else stay here," Bourbon led the way from the room and down the hallway. "Coulter told me what happened. What you did to that cartel guy." He was fuming. Furious. "You killed one of their men. Disobeying a direct order." For the first time in a long time, I felt very small as Bourbon dressed me down. "I don't ask for much. Especially compared to my father. Fuck, Knight! They could've killed my--" he choked on his next words, "my family!"

"I know," I admitted, shame crawling through me like an animal tearing my insides out.

"I just wanted a few months of peace. I needed Rose to not have the baby while in the middle of a war, and look at what's happened!" he roared.

"I know." I couldn't look him in the eyes.

"How could you not trust me!" He continued, not letting me answer. "We treated you like family. Took care of you. You could have come to us. You had every right to ask for retribution for what they did to Tatiana - used official means. But instead, you acted on your own, without thinking of the consequences."

He was wrong. I had thought of the consequences. I just didn't give a shit at the time.

But I hadn't thought they would come for Rose or the baby.

"You know they want Vegas. Theywantthis war." I said.

"You think I don't know that?"

"They don't live by the old code," I insisted. "We need to--"

"No." Bourbon's face was hard. "Not we, Knight.I."

I stilled, my insides freezing. "What do you mean?"

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