Page 80 of Knockout Queen

“Let me guess, you think I just killed your parents randomly? You’ve concocted this whole plan to get back at me for murdering your innocent parents. That’s rich. I like it. I’m kind of impressed right now.”

I step closer to him, and he sobers up.

“You don’t know the whole story, Kyla. Neither does Johnny. We should all sit so we can talk about it.”

I shake my head. I’ve already wasted too much time. Kill him. Leave. The same words echo through my brain. No matter how much he’s trying to worm something else in there, it won’t do. “Talk now.”

The guard on the table lunges for me. I turn and pull the trigger. I step just out of the way while he lands lifeless at my feet before I return my attention to K. “You’re next.”

A sheen of perspiration dots his forehead. I doubt K has ever been in a position like this. He straightens. “I met your mother before I met Johnny’s mom. When that bitch escaped, I went looking for my Anna, and I found her alright. New life. A husband. I was so angry with Johnny’s mother that I fucking killed Anna, right there in the alley while she hung onto her husband with adoration. I’m so sick of women thinking they can get away from me. It felt so good, I went and found Johnny’s mother and killed her too.”

K turns a grin to his son, but Johnny smiles right back, rubbing his throat at the same time. “Joke’s on you. I already knew you killed her.”

K glares across the table, but we have him now. He breathes out a sigh. “Alright, I’m done with this. Magnum.” He runs a hand through his hair like this is any other day. He gestures toward Johnny. “Take him to jail. Or something. Spending his life getting ass fucked in prison is good enough penalty for me.”

My gaze flicks to Magnum, who, so far, has stayed out of this. I thought it was because he still didn’t want me to kill K, but...

“Today, Mag,” K bellows. “I’m sure you can think of something.” His eyes light up. “I know. He can go down for Gregory’s murder.”

Johnny sucks in a breath, whirling on the copper-haired bodyguard. “You’re the dirty cop?”

Mag swallows. As resolute as he always is, he just nods.

My stomach falls to my feet. I glare at him as he moves forward and yanks Johnny’s arms, putting them behind his back like he’s actually going to cuff him.

“Make the charges stick,” K says.

“What about her?” Mag asks, gesturing toward me.

My hand falls to my side in shock, the gun resting against my thigh. Magnum’s doing this. He’s actually doing this. The door behind the suite bursts open and more guards move into the room. We’re fucked now. I’ve lost my chance.

K comes to my side. He takes a piece of my hair and twirls it around my finger. “I used to like her mother. I think I’ll keep her.”

33

Imove just out of K’s reach, my stomach rolling.

My mother and…him?

K tugs my hair back, making me look forward again. I catch Johnny’s gaze as Magnum hauls him backward. “Say goodbye to your boyfriend, Kyla. He’ll never see the light of day again.”

Mag avoids my stare, but it wouldn’t matter, anyway. Johnny and I stare at one another for as long as we can, holding each other’s gazes. I swear, in this moment, I can even read his thoughts. They’re dark and angry…and scared. A lump forms in my throat the size of a whole continent. A sob works its way around it, but I refuse to let it out.

K has been a step ahead of us this whole time. Gregory’s still in the Crew? But fucking how?

And Magnum?

My chest expands until my confusion and anger is too big to contain. A tear leaks from my cheek. As soon as Johnny sees it, he fights free from Magnum’s grip and lunges forward. He runs toward me. I ram my elbow into K’s side to get some space, but in the next instant, a guard wraps his hands around Johnny’s mid-section and tackles him to the floor. He cries out in pain. I step forward as the guard coldcocks him. Strong hands haul me back again though. Another set of hands grab me too, so it doesn’t matter how much I struggle, their grips are strong and immovable.

Trey yanks Johnny to his feet. His head lulls forward, but he blinks his eyes open slowly.

“Nice try, Son. Don’t worry,” K says, his disgusting, hot breath hitting the curve of my neck. “I’ll take care of your little bitch.” He cups my breast, stroking my nipple.

I go numb again. The light from Johnny’s eyes fades as Magnum and Trey force him back. Helplessness mars Johnny’s handsome face as he struggles against the two, fully stacked guards. The door closes, and I’m left there with the man who’s plagued my nightmares since I was twelve.

He cups my breast again, and my stomach rolls. He’s not doing it as a show for Johnny. “Your mom’s were bigger.”

“Fuck. You.”

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