Page 25 of Knockout Queen

“No clue at all?” I ask. “In the Heights? Out of the Heights? He hasn’t seen her in a while, and he’s worried.”

She gazes at the ground. Pale skin stretches over her sharp cheekbones, and her face falls. “I think…just outside. Maybe.”

She’s a lost cause. This whole day has been. We’re no closer to finding out where Gregory is or Johnny.

“Vi?” a short, crisp voice says.

The prostitute’s head snaps up. “Fuck,” she grumbles under her breath, and then she immediately turns and starts walking away from us.

“Vi, don’t think I didn’t just see you.”

Vi picks up the pace. She’s practically running down the street as the guy yells at her again.

“Christ,” Oscar curses.

He gets off the bike and starts to help me off. I don’t even hear the footsteps next to us until a hand grabs my arm and hauls me backward. The cookie jar falls from my grip. The sound of porcelain shattering follows putrid breath filtering against my cheek. “You think you can take up my girl’s time. Maybe I’ll take up your girl’s time.”

I gag on the smell, but this guy is barely worth it. I can tell just by the way he’s holding me that he’s all bark with no bite. I grab his arm and use my hips to throw him. He lands on the sidewalk with a thud. A breath gets caught in his throat, and then he starts choking. I place my shoe against his neck, still holding onto his arm. All the while, Oscar only smirks, his arms crossed over his chest.

“You want to say that to me again?” I ask, glaring at the bastard who dared put his hands on me. With one hand, I rip my helmet off and hand it to Oscar.

His eyes widen as he takes me in. “Fuck.”Well, this guy must recognize me.

“Yeah, you can say that again.”

“I’m sorry, but she’s my girl, and if she’s not out there making me money, I—”

I press harder into his neck, and he coughs again. “You just might have to make your own fucking money?” I sneer at him. “I bet no one’s buying you though, are they?”

He grabs hold of my leg with his free hand. “It’s just business.”

I glance up to find Vi a block away, staring at us in horror. “Call your girl back here.”

When he doesn’t immediately do as I say, I press even further into his neck. His skin turns red. He grunts out, “Vi. Vi!”

She walks back slowly, working her assets like she has all the time in the world. I’m pretty sure she’s enjoying the fuck out of this. I grin at her as she makes her way back, and she gives me a sly smile in return. When she gets to us though, she drops to her knees, asking if he’s okay.

I could almost laugh. Almost. Instead, I nod toward Oscar. “He’s going to ask her another question, and you’re not going to interrupt them, is that clear?”

I let my foot off, so he can answer better. “Fine.”

Oscar turns toward Vi. He holds his hand out to her and helps her to her feet. “Do me a favor?” She nods in response, more attentive than she had been. If I had to guess, we just made her heroes list. “If you hear about where that place could be—or where my mom is—please find me. My name’s Oscar Drego. If you ask around, you’ll get to me.” He releases the girl’s hand and glares down at the asshole under my foot. “I’m in the Crew, so I won’t be difficult to find.”

The guy winces, realizing he’s made a terrible fucking mistake.

Oscar reaches for his wallet. Taking out a ten-dollar bill, he hands it to Vi. “Thanks for your time. This is for you and only you. There won’t be a problem, will there?” he asks, glaring at her sprawled-out pimp on the sidewalk.

“No,” the guy grunts. “No problem at all.”

A smile pulls Vi’s lips apart. She takes the money from him and nods before stuffing it into her bra. “Thanks, kid. I hope you find her.”

“Me too,” he says softly, but she’s already walking away.

I drop the fucker’s arm and he heaves himself to his feet. He avoids our gaze as he walks in the opposite direction of the girl, head hunched between his shoulder blades like the coward he is.

Oscar puts his arm around me as we watch the girl walk down the street. Her skinny legs barely hold her up. She wobbles on high heels, and I’m not sure I’ve seen anything sadder than this. “I need to go back to school,” I say softly.

“You’llneverbe a prostitute.”

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