Page 8 of Knockout Queen

I try to place the voice, but I don’t have much time to figure it out before Magnum unmasks him.

It’s Cole.

Magnum sits casually on the couch opposite him and crosses his legs, glaring at his cousin. “This is where you start fucking talking. Where is Johnny Rocket?”

4

Cole pulls at his wrists, scowling at the way he’s tied up. “Is this any way to treat family? I’ve done nothing but try to help you, brother.”

“Is that what you’re doing?” Magnum asks casually. “Because the way I see it, every time something bad happens, you’re around. You show up at the murder scene of one of our guys and then you call me right before The Ring gets shot up.” I chew on my lip. I’d forgotten he’d received a call right before shit went down.

Cole’s gaze travels to Brawler, Oscar, and I, lingering on my messed up face for a blip. “Jesus. What happened to you?”

“I’m fine,” I snarl. I can feel Brawler’s heated, apologetic gaze on me, but I ignore it. “Answer his fucking question.”

“I don’t know. It sounds like I’m helping to me. I told you about Gregory. I warned you about the shootout.”

“It sounds like you know about the trouble, which is why you’re going to tell me where Johnny Rocket is.”

The cousins match each other gaze for gaze, a challenge in each of them. There aren’t any outward similarities between the two of them that I can see. Magnum has a head of copper hair while Cole’s is a brown fauxhawk. Cole is smaller than Jacob, too. His frame on the slim side, kind of lanky. Then again, I prefer my guys with a bit of muscle.

After the stare off to end all stare offs, Cole eventually gets bored and looks around. He inspects the cabin first, gazing at the finishes, craning his neck to see as much as he can. Magnum seems as if he’s content to wait this out. He knows his cousin better than I do, so whatever. Eventually, the guys and I take seats around the living room. It would be almost peaceful with the fireplace still going if it wasn’t for the guy tied up, blocking the view. I have a sneaking suspicion this isn’t how Magnum usually interrogates, but he’s most likely giving his cousin the benefit of the doubt.

“I know what you’re thinking, Jacob,” Cole finally says. “But I’m on your side. You don’t have to tie me up and disorient me before bringing me here. I would never hurt you. Or your friends.”

“Who are you associated with now? What gang?”

Cole swallows.

“See?” Mag asks. “This is why I don’t trust you. It’s a simple question. You know I’m still part of the Crew. You also know I should’ve killed you when I saw you, and I didn’t. I’m asking you one simple thing. You say we’re family and that you’re trying to help? I’m actually asking you for help right now. Who are you associated with?”

“It’s not that simple,” Cole growls.

My stomach squeezes. “Hey,” I say, waiting until Cole looks at me. “I really need to find Johnny, so if you know anything,anything,” I plead. “I would be forever grateful.”

Cole sighs. “It’s not that easy.” He turns his gaze to Jacob. “You know it’s not easy.” He pauses for a moment before he looks at all of us. “I’ve been trying to help you guys from the beginning. I told you I wanted to help, but you know what happens to people who snitch, Jacob.”

Mag leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees and cupping his scruff in his palm. “Who is it you’re working for now? Let’s just start there. It won’t go outside this room. You can trust these guys.”

Cole gives us all one last lingering look and then hangs his head. “The Dragons.”

Well, at least we guessed his affiliation correctly. “How did you end up with them?”

“I had to get the hell out of the Heights, and quick. I’m not good for anything else. Mag knows that. I finally met up with these guys who were more than eager to take an ex-Crew member in. They thought I could give them info about how the Crew is run, but that didn’t happen.”

“Did the Dragons take Johnny?”

Cole drops his head back. “Fuck, Jacob. You’re killing me, man. You’re fucking actually killing me. You know that, right?”

Mag scoots forward on the couch cushion. “You must care because you came to me in the first place, man.”

“You know how much I care about family,” his cousin says through clenched teeth. “It killed me to leave everyone here. You, Mom, Dad, Colleen. Christ.”

“Maybe you could come back...” I offer.

Jacob places his hand on my leg, giving me a short squeeze that silences me.

Cole focuses on that spot while Oscar laughs. “Yeah. No. He defected, so he’ll never be welcome back into the Crew or the Heights. Unless he wants to die.”

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