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Mag takes in a deep breath, letting it simmer for a while before letting it out. “I knew. There wasn’t a way to tell you without telling you I knew who you were the whole time. Without also confessing that I deliberately held back information from the Crew that would hurt them in the long run.”
I think back to when I told Magnum. It kind of falls into place now. He didn’t react when I told him my past. I thought it was because he was just that good at hiding his feelings, but all this time, it’s been because he already knew.
“If I’d known Johnny would’ve let it slip like that, I would’ve told you sooner. I would’ve told you in a way that... I don’t know. In a way that maybe it would have hurt less. Johnny didn’t know, Kyla. He just thought you were some girl that miraculously came into his life to make it better, and then...all that got upended with one story. I had no idea K was going to urge Johnny to tell you Crew secrets. I thought he was leaning toward shoving you out, not bringing you in.”
My mouth suddenly dry, I don’t say anything for a few minutes. Oscar speaks up behind me. “But like, how did you get in the door?”
Magnum lifts his gaze to Oscar’s. “I stole a housekeeping key card.”
“And you found her because you knew her real name?” Brawler asks.
Of course. The fucking bank card I used to pay for the room.
“I wouldn’t have let her leave if I wasn’t confident I’d be able to find you guys.” He moves his gaze to me again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I knew. About who you were and about why your parents were killed.”
Is this Magnum’s secret? The one he said he’d tell me when the time was right? I stand and face him. “It’s okay,” I tell him. “I’ll be glad when we’re out of the Heights and we don’t have to keep secrets like this anymore.”
He spears me with a look that roots me right where I am. “By the time that happens, everything will be out in the open.” He pulls me toward him, wrapping me in his arms again and reminding me how quickly and easily he did that when I was freaking out about my parents. Everything about Magnum says he’s a safe space. I would walk into a burning building with him and trust that he would get me out safe. I would throw myself off a cliff without a parachute as long as he said it was okay. It’s the badass aura he has that says he protects people at all costs.
“What about Johnny?” I ask, talking about the big missing link in the room. Could I live a happy life with Magnum, Brawler, and Oscar? Yes. But a happier life would be filled with all four, and I’m not letting that get away now that I’ve seen a glimpse of it.
“Ask him yourself.” Magnum takes out his cell phone and presses a button.
For a few tense moments, nothing happens. Magnum turns toward the door, so we all do, too. Then, the same clicking sound happens, and in walks Johnny fucking Marx.
“One more white lie,” Magnum says. “I stoletwohousekeeping keys.”
The flood of emotions swirling inside my brain rush in and leave me speechless. Thoughtless. Immovable.
Once again, Johnny and I are facing each other down, not knowing where both of us stand, and the hole that rips inside of me will leave a scar I’ll have all my life.
25
Johnny, as usual, is a force to be reckoned with. He’s dressed in his suit and tie. His piercing light blue eyes smother me in flames that I can barely take a breath from. Even with the hard look in his gaze, I love that he’s back here with me. I love that all of us are once again in the same room.
“Don’t hate me,” I say. My heart hammers inside my chest. My skin crawls with anxiety. I literally told this guy I wanted to kill his father. Of course, he fucking hates me.
His lips curl up in that sinister way a predator looks at its prey. I’m a piece of meat, and Johnny Rocket wants to eat me up.
His face sobers when my mouth parts. “Babe, I fucking love you. I could never hate you.”
Heavy bricks of weight lift from my shoulders. “But your dad...”
He raises his hand, filters his fingers through my hair until he reaches the back of my neck and holds me there. “My dad—” He shakes his head quickly. “My dad’s been the only family I’ve known my entire life…until you. And these fuckers. I get it, okay? I get everything you’ve tried to say to me. I’m in. I’m so fucking in.”
I blink at him, still not comprehending everything that’s just gone down. “But you told me to leave the Heights.”
He smirks. “Of course, babe. I need you to leave the Heights. I need you far away from my father. All of you. He’s toxic. I knew Oscar and Brawler would go with you. I thought Magnum would go, too, but he fucking knows me too well.” When he still sees the apprehension on my face, he continues, “I told you what he’s doing wasn’t sitting right with me, and when you finally told me what he did—” He breaks off. “I’m so fucking sorry. I had no idea.” He pulls me toward him until our foreheads rest against each other’s. “But you telling me just solidified everything in my head. No father of mine would hurt the girl I love like that.”
I hear the words he’s saying, but they’re not measuring up with what he told me just a few hours ago. “Johnny, I don’t get it.”
“You don’t get that I love you? You don’t get that I would do anything to protect you?”
I swallow. “Why would you send me away?”
Mag sighs. “Come on. Let’s everyone sit down so we can talk this through.”
Johnny drops his hand, tracing down my arm until he laces his fingers with mine. Oscar pulls me back into his lap while Johnny sits next to us. Opposite us on the other bed, Magnum takes a seat next to Brawler.