Page 132 of Fighting Mr. Knight

I follow Jack to the bar as he ignores others’ attempts to talk to him.

“At first I thought you were pregnant and too scared to tell me.” His chest rises with a deep breath. “But the Tequila clearly knocks that theory out of the water.”

“What? I’m not,” I say quickly.

“For the record, I would be happy if you were carrying my baby. I don’t give a shit if it’s only been a few weeks.”

My eyes bulge. “If I am pregnant, I wouldn’t know yet.” I laugh shakily. “That’s not how it works.”

He’s not laughing. “Now I’m thinking it’s cold feet. You don’t want to jump into another relationship.” His jaw clenches. “Or worse. You don’t want to jump into another relationship withme.”

“I do, Jack,” I choke out. “I really do. These past few weeks have been amazing.”

The creases along his forehead deepen. “So, what’s wrong, Bonnie? I’m trying to work out what’s going on with you and it’s killing me.”

“I’m fine. I’m feeling a little under the weather this week, that’s all.”

He shakes his head. “No. You’re off. The only time you’re out of your head is when I’m banging you senseless. Answer me honestly, do you want to be with me?” Vulnerability flits over his hard, beautiful, features, making him seem younger than his thirty-eight years.

“Yes,” I whisper. “So badly.”

“Because I want to be with you, you know that, right? I want to be the boyfriend that you deserve.”

My heart breaks.

I nod, fighting the tears welling in my eyes.You wouldn’t if you knew what I’m keeping from you.

“You can’t hide what’s wrong, Bonnie. I’ll find out.” The frown on his face dissolves. “Even Lucy noticed something was up when you were over.”

I bristle. That damn dog sticks her nose into everything.

“Please, just leave it,” I beg him. “Not here. Anyway…what did Wicks say?” I try to rein in the panic in my voice. “You never messaged me back.”

“Sorry, darlin’, I had to go straight to the police station.”

My eyes widen. This is the miracle that I need. “Wicks confessed?”

He runs a hand through his tousled hair. “No. He gave me the fucking shocker of a lifetime.” He smiles bitterly. “Turns out Wicks didn’t do it. It was a guy called Gleeson. Stanley Gleeson.”

I blink. “I don’t understand.”

“That makes two of us. Wicks wanted to get a few things off his chest before he snuffed it. He didn’t do it. This guy Gleeson stabbed my old man in a fuckingrobbery. He stabbed him for bloody cash.”

“And you believe him?”

He nods. “Yeah, actually I do.”

I pause, trying to understand what this means. For the first time since I found the signet ring, the ball in my stomach unwinds slightly.

Dad’s safe? Wicks won’t come after him because he wasn’t even involved. We can hand over the ring to Jack.

“Why did he kill him?” I ask.

“We’ll never know the full story. Gleeson died a few months back. I got his record checked out. He was just a small-time thief. Dad must have fought back or ripped the balaclava off him or something. It sounds like the cunt just panicked in the heat of the moment.” I can hear the pain in his voice. I wish I could take it away.

I’ve never heard of this guy Stanley Gleeson. “At least you have closure now, right?”

“Not yet.” He grimaces. “Wicks said there were others involved.”

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