Page 11 of Knockout Queen

“What’s with the frown, Princess?”

I sink back into Oscar, keeping the ice pack Brawler insisted I use on my face. “Just thinking about K, wondering if it’s enough to take him out? Or if someone else will take his place and continue his shitty ways?”

“By that time, it won’t be our problem,” Brawler says. He’s looked pensive since Cole got here. He got to talk to his mom, so I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s Cole himself. He probably sees him as a connection to his brother, which always puts him in a funk.

“Let’s worry about one problem at a time,” Mag says. His hard gaze reminds me of when he said he wouldn’t help me kill K. I get it, but the overall decision isn’t his to make. I’ve already made it. He doesn’t have to help if he doesn’t want to. There is wisdom to his words though. The big picture can seem almost impossible to pull off. Right now, we need to worry about getting to Johnny.

“Here’s what I’m thinking,” Cole says. Now that he’s more animated, his eyes are similar to Magnum’s. They don’t have the hint of green, but they’re a hazel color and the same almond shape. “Take me back to the Heights. I’ll continue on as normal in the Dragons, keeping my eyes and ears open. The second I hear anything Johnny-related, I’ll let you guys know.”

“You’ll need a way to contact us.”

“I’ve got Mag’s number. That should be fine. I check my phone daily for bugs, and if I know my cousin, he does the same.”

Jesus. These guys are like two peas in a pod. It makes sense that they think similarly. They were brought up together. My sheltered ass is not going to complain that I don’t think to worry about my phone being bugged.

“That’s another thing, too,” Oscar says, tracing lines over my back. “We have to think about going back ourselves. They’ll expect us.”

I growl at the thought. I am in no mood to face K. The coward left his son there to get taken. What kind of spineless, dickless asshole fucking does that?

“You really don’t like him...” Cole says. His gaze is suspicious. I suppose he has every right to be. For all he’s aware of, I came to the Heights and started dating Johnny.

“I have reasons,” I say, switching the ice pack to the other side of my face.

He shrugs and sticks the last of his pizza in his mouth, setting the plate down next to him on the coffee table. “It’s all good,” he says around a mouthful. “Just curious.”

He can stay curious. I’m not saying I don’t trust him. I obviously do...to a certain extent. But not everyone needs to know about my background.

“I think if we stay here for the night, we’ll be fine,” Magnum says. “I’ll take Cole back tonight, then come back. In the morning, the rest of us can go back to the Heights.”

Oscar pulls me into his side like he didn’t just get jumped hours ago. Before the fight, I was staying at his place. I’m assuming that’s still what’s happening. Staying in the tower with Johnny gone doesn’t seem like a good idea. I’m sure my standing hasn’t improved in K’s eyes, though I don’t think he can fault me for what happened at the fight, so that’s the only positive that came out of today… Wait, yesterday? What time is it even? Exhaustion is starting to creep up on me. That’s all I know.

Mag stands. He takes his cousin’s plate and places it under his own before walking into the kitchen to deposit them in the sink. “You ready?” he asks, staring at Cole.

Cole gets to his feet. He starts toward the door but turns back to us. “I really am sorry about Johnny. He’s like a brother to me. I’ll do everything I can.”

I give him a small nod. I’m putting a lot of faith in this rival gang member, but I’m desperate.

Mag steps toward the door, but freezes. He tilts his head, and then curses. “Fuck.”

Instantly, we’re all on alert. Oscar stops his trail of fingers over my back. He swivels his neck and then follows Magnum’s line of sight. A car is pulling up the drive, bouncing along the same ruts as we did when we drove up a few hours ago. “It’s got to be the Crew,” Oscar says.

“Shit,” Mag says, confirming Oscar’s suspicions.

Cole is like a deer caught in the headlights. He’s frozen mid-step, skin gone pale.

“This way,” Magnum orders, jerking his head toward the kitchen. He runs past the island with Cole hot on his heels. They disappear down the hall while the car comes to a stop. Oscar, Brawler, and I stand, watching the Magnum look-alikes pour out of the vehicle, guns drawn.

They race up toward the house while my heart flip-flops in my chest, tumbling over itself.

“Act cool,” Oscar says. “We’re allowed to be here.”

Easy for him to say. He’s not the one who saw K leave his son at The Ring. Do they know about Johnny? K could be pissed we haven’t checked in and decide to just kill us all right now. What’s stopping him? Nothing. Absolutely nothing stops him from doing exactly what he wants to do when he wants to do it.

The door careens open, bouncing against the cabinets on the opposite side. The black-clad security personnel spread out in the room.

“Hey, hey,” Oscar demands, lifting a cocky eyebrow at all of them. “What the hell is this?”

Once again, I’m taken aback by the bravado he can exude when he needs to. He has this bold, brave authority about him that probably served him well on the football field and in the Heights.

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