Page 50 of Rise of the King (Checkmate 5)

“Release the belt,” he chokes out. “Can’t breathe.”

“I know you can’t breathe, dumbass. I put the belt there. What’s the passcode to your cell?”

“One-two-three-four.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Her eyes come to mine as I type the code in and gain access. When I nod, she shakes her head with disappointment. “They don’t tell you in gangster school that passwords should be something a little more inaccessible?”

“Let me go. I answered your question.”

“You didn’t answer shit.” Her muscles bulge when she tugs the belt tighter. “Who sends the texts about the girls? Give me something to go on.”

“I dunno. I just get the order, then I fill it.”

“Who do you hand the girls over to?”

“Some dude.” Red tears spring from his eyes and spill over his cheek. “Some Army dude. I dunno.”

“Name?”

“I don’t know! We call him CAB. That’s all I know.”

Soph’s eyes come to mine. “There are those letters again.”

“You know Ace?” I drop my gun hand when realization smacks me in the face. “You’re on the inside? You knew who I was all along?” I’m partly mad, but partly relieved, too. “You know all my secrets? You know everything?”

“I know all your secrets. Gun up, please.”

“You know Ace? Does he send you into dangerous situations, too? It’s too fucking dangerous for you, Soph! What the fuck is he thinking?”

“I am Ace, dummy. Gun up, please.”

The music in the club remains loud, but Trenton’s roar still penetrates my mind just half a beat before he grabs the back of Sophia’s head and yanks it down so her face slams against his shoulder. Blood bursts over his white shirt, and a pain-filled squeak comes from between her lips just a second before he tosses her against the wall and she crumbles to the ground. “Get the fuck off me, you filthy whore!”

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