Page 92 of Knockout Queen

“You’ve always been my prize.”

Oscar and Johnny glare at each other after saying the same thing at the exact same time. I must be on happy pills because it makes me laugh. Brawler chuckles, shaking his head while Oscar and Johnny continue to stare each other down like they don’t like one another. When push comes to shove though, we’ll always have each other’s backs.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Footsteps sound, and we all turn to find Magnum walking up the sidewalk toward us. The street lamp above us flashes on as the sun starts to set. The horizon is a beautiful orange color, silhouetting Magnum’s movements. The closer he gets, the more at ease I feel.

We’re all together again.

Magnum with his fierce protection. Johnny with his fierce everything. Brawler with his unending love. And Oscar…well, Oscar with his aptitude for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

“Anyone hungry?”

Or maybe that’s the right thing at the wrong time. I smile and lift up on my toes to kiss the cheek of one of the most loyal and devoted men I’ve ever known but who can also make me smile when I most need it. “Starving.”

“Well, there you have it,” Johnny says. “When five people are starting the rest of their lives, they apparently start it with food.”

The guys turn to head to the car. Jacob steps up to me and runs his hands through my hair. “You okay, angel?”

“Couldn’t be better.” I lower my voice to a whisper. “Did you tell them…?” I ask, finishing the thought with my eyes. He knows what Big Daddy K almost did to me.

He shakes his head. “I figured that was your decision to make.”

I already know my decision. I vowed to never think about K again and that includes taking everything he did to me and releasing it.

I reach up on my tiptoes and give him a kiss. “I love you.”

He takes my hand while I get in the car. Before I sit, I peer up at the beautiful sunset.

I’ve made a lot of plans while staring up at the sky. A lot of promises to the people I love that I can’t see or hear anymore.

Right now, though, I just smile and admire the beauty. I don’t need to make plans or promise myself anything because my life is all around me. It’s in the hearts of the four men who’ve been through this shitshow with me, and despite the setbacks and danger and the fear that threatened our lives, we’re walking out of here together. Stronger. And with more love than I could’ve ever imagined.

Epilogue

Iwipe sweaty palms down my jeans. My own jeans. Jeans bought with my money because I liked them and that was enough.

“He’ll be fine, Princess,” Oscar says. Brawler, Oscar, and I walked out of Rawley Heights High a half hour ago with our transcripts in hand. I’ve already been enrolled in online learning, but Oscar and Brawler are signing up for the program I’m in right away.

I give him a look. He knows I don’t like being singled out when my anxiety is getting the better of me.

Today’stheday. Jacob has his meeting with the Internal Review Board of the Rawley Heights Police Department. They’re going to go over his undercover assignment with a fine-tooth comb.

All of us were completely shocked about his involvement with the police, but maybe Johnny most of all. That was a lot of time for Magnum to be keeping that secret of which only one other person in the world knew.

Imagine being the devil’s puppet.

I shudder to even think about it now. None of us got out of the Crew unscathed. The guys have scars they’ll hold forever, and maybe that’s why when all was said and done, forgiveness was easier.

“If this—” I break off and clear the sudden ball of emotion clogging my throat. The thing is, if this review goes badly, everything we worked so hard for could be for nothing. Magnum could be found at fault and—

“Quick. Distract her,” Johnny says.

Oscar lifts his brow. “Dude. We’re in public. The only way I know to distract Princess can’t be done on the streets outside of the police department.”

Brawler rolls his eyes. “He just means to change the subject. How’s your mom?”

Damn. Brawler is smart. I peer at Oscar, waiting for his answer. A week ago, she was moved into a drug rehabilitation center a few hours away. They were supposed to have their first therapy phone call this morning. “Well…?” I ask.

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