Page 123 of Fighting Mr. Knight

“You make everything better, you know that?”

I give him a small smile. “Do you want me to come as well? To the prison?”

“No, sweetheart, it’s fine.”

I bite my lip, not feeling comfortable. “Are you going by yourself? What if you do something you regret?”

He laughs softly. “The guy’s in a high-security prison, Bonnie. I don’t think I’ll be able to get at him.” He kisses my forehead. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“Can I ask questions?” I ask tentatively.

“You can always ask whatever you want. Don’t forget that.”

I nod. “Do you know why he did it? I understand if you don’t want to talk about it.”

His eyes close for a moment as he exhales heavily. “Dad was a bit of a player. He fooled around behind Mum’s back.” His jaw tightens. “Wicks found out he was sleeping with his wife. It was a quick stupid meaningless fling. Dad thought he was invincible because he was a semi-pro boxer. But fists don’t help you against a knife.”

His lips press into an angry line as he struggles to continue. I have no words to take his pain away.

Then he looks me dead in the eye when he says, “I hired a hitman.”

“What?” I whisper, staring at him in horror, waiting for him to tell me he’s joking.

“I’m not proud of it.”

“Did you call it off?”

“Wicks went to prison. It’s harder to kill someone in a high-security prison if you don’t have the right contacts.”

“You would have killed him.” I don’t know whether it’s a statement or a question.

“Maybe. Probably not. I don’t know.”

I blink, trying to understand. “Who knows? Sean?”

“Danny and Tristan. That’s all. And now you, Bonnie.”

“Why did you tell me?” Isqueak.

A soft smile crosses his face. “Because I trust you.”

My heart skips a beat. “Are you always this trusting?”

“No,” he says gently, running a finger down my cheek. “But I’ve always gone by my instincts. They haven’t let me down yet.” He tilts my head so I’m forced to look him in the eyes. A frown creases his forehead. “I don’t want any secrets between us, Bonnie. Do you still want me to be my girlfriend, or have I scared you away?”

For the first time, I see the demons hiding behind Jack’s cocky demeanour.

“Of course, I do,” I say quickly, smoothing the worry lines from his forehead. “Your dad didn’t deserve to go that way. I wish I could take away your hurt.”

He pulls me close and sighs against my forehead. “It’s okay, darlin’. You being here is all I need.”

He kisses my head.

The funny thing is,” he says quietly, “I’m called a player just like Dad. But the difference is I don’t fool around with attached women even if they do throw themselves at me. Maybe if Dad hadn’t had so many affairs when I was younger, I wouldn’t haven’t thought twice about going after you when you were with Max. God knows I wanted to.”

“I wish you had. All along, I thought Max was the nice guy and you were. . .the dick who fired my dad.”

“The dick?” His brows quirk. “You need to be punished for that.”

---