Page 83 of Arm Candy Warrior

The topic moves on. I find out that Jiko and his father are both in the room. They’re the reason why Johnny and his father went to Chicago for the last few days. They call whatever happened “the trouble” but don’t elaborate on it further.

While I’m looking around, trying to pick up on anything, I glance down the table at an empty chair pulled up to a fresh place setting. I frown at it. It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing Big Daddy K would miss. No one brings it up, but the thought nags at me all through dinner and dessert. I manage to get more than a few mouthfuls down, which is good because at the end of dinner, everyone is brought out a glass of whiskey.

Big Daddy K gets to his feet. My heart kicks up, but I tell myself this is probably what happens at every meal. I have no idea because I’ve never been to one before, but it sounds like something a gang boss would do. Get up and say a few words just for the pleasure of hearing himself talk.

“Initially,” he begins. “I wanted to hold this meeting to solidify our relationship with our Chicago friends and share my intent of moving my son up the ranks, however, a new reason has emerged that I want to toast to today.” Big Daddy K swings his gaze toward me.

I gulp.What the fuck?He’s smiling, but to me, his smile isn’t happy at all. The lilt of his lips pulls at my nerves.

“I’d like to officially announce my son’s plans to bring Kyla Samson into the Marx and Heights Crew family.”

Johnny turns toward me. It’s obvious he knew about this. He’s beaming, and his steady hand on my thigh tells me he’s so proud in this moment. It’s hard not to let a little of that show through because the feelings I have for Johnny are genuine. As genuine as any feelings I’ve ever had. He cups my face, bringing me forward to press a chaste kiss to my lips. I close my eyes, savoring it.

Then I remember Oscar’s in the room, and my cheeks blaze.

“I think she endeared herself pretty quickly to my son,” he jokes, and the rest of the table laughs.

“It was her right hook,” Johnny says, joining in on the joke.

“No, uppercut,” Oscar says.

I swallow, turning toward his voice. Everyone in the room is laughing at the light-hearted banter, and according to Oscar’s face, you’d think the same too, but I see the determination underneath. The hurt that’s probably ripping him at the seams right now. The guy who just kicked his ass last night is now kissing his girl. But let’s be clear, I think I can say with resounding authority now that women are not any guy’s property. I’m my own person, and I decide who gets to have me and in what ways. I get the look in Oscar’s gaze though. Betrayal.

“I couldn’t be happier to have my son find someone he connects with who also cares just as much about the Crew as he does.” He snaps his fingers. “Trey.”

The guard who got in trouble because of me leaves the room. My stomach twists, but Johnny leans into me. “This is a good thing.”

There’s a glint in every man’s eye around the room, which only heightens my fears.

Out from a side door, Trey pushes Dunnegan into the room.

I squelch the gasp that threatens to burst from my lips. If I thought Oscar was worse for wear, I was wrong. Dunnegan’s lip is split. He can barely open either eye, and there isn’t a spot on his face that isn’t marred by a bruise. His shirt is caked in dried blood, like they only managed to wipe his face off before bringing him in here.

“Sit,” K orders.

The seat I knew was there for a reason is dragged out and Dunnegan is forced down into it. His hands are bound at his front, but it doesn’t look like he has much fight in him, anyway.

Big Daddy K beams. “For those of you who don’t know, this is Joe Dunnegan. He runs my strip club-slash-nightclub. Yesterday, our dear Kyla was there and came back to alert us about something she found.”

The men in the room glance at me like I’m on their side. My stomach wants to expel. The delight in their eyes coats my stomach in acid.

“I have to be honest,” K says, moving around the room to stand behind Dunnegan. “When I first heard her version of events, I immediately dismissed them, but Johnny was right in sticking up for his chosen. Turns out, we have a no-good, degenerate thief in our mix.” Big Daddy throws Dunnegan’s head forward. The strip club owner doesn’t have enough strength to stop himself, so his head crashes against the table in front of him. The plate and silverware settings shake, and Dunnegan emits a low moan.

I chance a glance at Oscar, but he’s not looking at me right now. His eyes are glued in Dunnegan’s direction. Big Daddy K said thief. He must’ve been skimming money away from the Crew.

“I don’t want to turn your stomach with the particulars,” Big Daddy K says, “But suffice it to say that the Heights Crew will not fucking allow anyone to steal our money or threaten the innocent in the Heights. Is that clear?”

Everyone around the room audibly gives a positive response to that. I get why Big Daddy K does everything with witnesses now. It’s a way of pissing on his territory. These guys will tell others what happened here, and then everyone will be so fucking scared of the Crew that they won’t dare cross them.

“It wasn’t me,” Dunnegan finally gurgles out. His voice seems to wake him up that much more. “I told you I had nothing to do with it. I would never do that to you. It was Gregory.”

“And as soon as I can find Gregory, he’s as dead as you.”

Dunnegan looks up to meet my gaze. I try to be strong, stay here and look at him like I’m glad I sentenced this guy to death, but I also know what death can do to people. Dunnegan shared with me that he has a wife. What if it was just Gregory? Gregory was the one we saw in the room with Oscar’s mom.

“What did I tell you earlier?” Big Daddy K asks.

The guy breathes in and coughs. Blood spittle dots the plates in front of him. “You told me there are no second chances.”

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