Page 8 of Misrule
Only time would tell the story. Hopefully, it would be a classic romance instead of a chilling nightmare.
Chapter Two
Leaning his head back, Knox rested against his desk chair, still unable to find a comfortable position. He couldn’t believe how his engagement to Roxanne had turned out last night. Of course, he should’ve known better than to propose at one oftheirfunctions. It should’ve been a private matter or at a function at his parents’ house.
Those assholes would ruin a fucking funeral.
Instead of stopping him, Roxanne had allowed him to leave. He thought she’d at least apologize. But no. She’d let him leave!
Yanking his limp tie from around his neck, Knox threw it on his desk and growled, the sharp pain of her betrayal sending tears to his eyes. He loved her so much. How could she reject him? She’d torn his heart out.
Kendall’s words came to mind. That bitch! He hated that she wasn’t far off the mark. Betterherto say it, though, than him.
The sensor on the entry door chimed, indicating someone had come in. Hopefully, it was only his business partner, Cameron Baptiste.
Knox closed his eyes. He didn’t feel like talking. Cameron would back away if he thought Knox was asleep. Anyone else would, too. He didn’t care about customers. Or clients. Or bad guys.
He wanted to curl into a ball and die. Roxanne had allowed him to leave. She’d made a mockery of their engagement, consenting to a big wedding because of Bailey, not because she wanted to celebrate their love in lavish style.
“Get the fuck up, motherfucker.”
At the sound of Outlaw’s voice, Knox tensed. He didn’t feel like seeing the man gloat. Outlaw had never liked Knox. As a matter of fact, he’d beaten him to a pulp on two separate occasions.
“I know you a-fuckin-wake, Knox. Your fuckin’ fists clenched the fuck up when you heard my ass.”
The asshole wouldn’t leave until Knox dealt with him. This morning, Knox was in a dangerous mood, so Outlaw had best back off.
Knox opened his eyes, straightened in his chair, and glared at the club president, who stood feet away with his arms folded and an annoying smirk on his face. “Get out.”
Outlaw lifted a brow. “I know your ass in pain, assfuck, but I ain’t know you in so much pain you wanna make me fuck you up.”
“You can try,” Knox sneered. “In my current state, I do believeyou’llbe the one fucked up.”
Snickering, Outlaw drew his nine before Knox blinked. “Ain’t talkin’ ‘bout with fists. Ima just shoot the fuck outta you.”
The barbaric asshole would do it, too. He stared at Knox without flinching or blinking or doing anything that would lead Knox to believe he wasn’t a psychopath. Outlaw was just the type of bad guy Knox had thrived on bringing down when he was in law enforcement.
Refusing to be intimidated, Knox narrowed his eyes. “I…”Dare you todied on his lips. Outlaw wasn’t a man to taunt. Knox amended his statement. “I still have friends on the force. My death won’t go unnoticed.”
“My opinion different. Can’t say you fucked up if they ain’t got evidence. You might bemissin’but no motherfucker gonna prove you fuckin’dead. So you want me to shoot the fuck outta you or you gonna listen to me?”
“Do I have a goddamn choice?”
Outlaw shrugged. “Do you?”
“You know the answer to that.”
For a moment longer, Outlaw stared at Knox, before shoving his gun away, still within hand’s reach. “Before I say what the fuck I need your ass to do, Ima talk to you ‘bout Roxanne.”
“You know,Christopher, I’m not interested in what you have to say about Roxanne. Instead of interfering, why don’t you make up your mind how to talk. Sometimes, you’re proper and other times you sound like a goddamn idiot. Your son talks better than you but even he vacillates between correct English and backward trash.”
Something flickered in Outlaw’s features—hurt? shame?—before he stiffened. Rage darkened his eyes and he stormed forward, yanking Knox up by the collar and punching him in the mouth. That should’ve been the end of it, but Outlaw smashed his fist in Knox’s face—once, twice, and again—before releasing him and pummeling his gut a few times, until Knox slipped to the ground, coughing and sputtering.
“You say what the fuck you wannaaboutmy fuckin’ ass, talkaboutCJ or my Megan, and you die. Theonlyfuckin’ reason Ima give you another chance is cuz of Roxanne. Hear me, motherfucker?”
“Y-yes,” Knox answered, his physical pain matching the emotional turmoil he’d been in for the last few hours.
“Now, get the fuck up and listen to what the fuck I gotta say.”
