Page 28 of Knockout Queen

“I wasn’t sure if the electricity still worked,” he says as we come into view.

“I keep it on,” Mag says.

“But you don’t ever come here.” Cole says it more like a statement, and Magnum doesn’t bother expanding on his choices. This place must hold bad memories for him. Otherwise, I don’t know why he’d choose to live at the tower when he could have this whole house to himself.

“What do you got for us?” Mag asks.

Cole grimaces. “It’s not much, but I figured I should tell you guys in case it means something to you. There was some talk today about Gregory’s people meeting at the track. I have no idea if that’s where Johnny’s at, but I don’t think the Dragons have him. If they did, I’d have heard about it.”

The track?Shit, the track.

Mag steps lightly on my sneaker and I take that as a hint to keep my mouth shut. He runs a hand through his copper hair. “I’ll have to think about what that might mean.”

“I thought he meant the track at the school. I went by there when they were supposed to have the meeting, but I didn’t see a thing.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it,” Mag says. “We haven’t found much other than it was some of our ex-guys with the guns that night.”

Cole whistles. “I bet K blew a gasket.”

Magnum’s hand drifts to the side where he got shot. “That’s a fucking understatement.”

Cole brings himself to his full height and peers around the space. “Kind of funny that we’re here. This is where everything started.”

Cole and Mag both inspect the place. The musty smell is more predominant down here. A layer of dust coats everything. I’m almost afraid to reach out and touch anything. I’m surprised Cole even sat on the couch. A plume of dust particles probably lifted into the air as soon as he did.

“I don’t think either one of us knew what we were getting into when we decided to join.” Cole shakes his head. “I think if I had to do it over again, I’d pass.”

“It’s hard to say,” Mag says, glancing over at me. “I think it’ll all work out in the end though.”

“I fucking hope so, dude.”

“You’re being safe, right?” Mag asks, turning his attention toward his cousin. “Don’t stick your neck too far out. You probably shouldn’t have even went to the damn track. What if they saw you there? They would’ve known you were listening in on them.”

“I’m being smart, bro. Don’t worry. I want Johnny back as much as you guys do.” He leans against the foosball table. “When that happens, we won’t be able to meet up like this though.”

“We’ll figure something out,” Mag offers half-heartedly.

Johnny’s coming around. I know he is. Whether he’s willing to let Cole live if he sees him is another thing all together. I guess it depends on how Cole ended things with them.

Cole circles to the back of the sofa. “I’ll keep you updated, and you do the same.”

He and Mag share a bro hug and then Cole moves to me. “I’m glad they have you. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.”

“One day,” I say, still not forgetting I promised to get Cole out too. Or to at least give him a life. One he never had the chance of having once he joined the Crew.

He gives me a small smile and then claps Brawler on the shoulder. “Mack,” he says. “Having you down here is just like having Manning here. I think you might be a little bigger than him though.”

Oscar speaks up, telling Cole goodbye so Brawler doesn’t need to respond. Evidently, I’m not the only one who’s noticed how Brawler reacts when people talk about his brother.

We wait until Cole disappears up the basement steps. Upstairs, the side door opens and closes, and we all turn toward Mag. “Why didn’t you want me to say anything?”

Brawler and Oscar both give us dubious looks as Mag answers, “I love my cousin, but he doesn’t have the head for all the ins and outs gangs use. The less he knows the better. As long as they don’t know he heard anything about the track, he can plead ignorance.”

“Wait,” Brawler says. “So, you guys know what this track place is?”

“Maybe,” Mag says. “A few months ago, Johnny took Kyla to the race track in Doyle. They were scoping out the place to buy. K ultimately decided not to, but maybe Gregory did. He would’ve been updated on everything having to do with the potential purchase.”

“Oh shit, a race track,” Oscar says. “I didn’t even think of that.”

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