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“Yeah,” he panted. “I deserved that, too. Don’tcha think, guys?”
I glanced at the other Devils. They all looked like they were trying to hate Knox but could only look uncomfortable. None of them responded. This was Jackson’s show.
But his jaw was clenched with rage, just like his fists. “You have no fucking right to be so cocky, Flush.” He looked at me. “Get the fuck out of the truck, Bates, or I’ll drag you out myself!”
Knox freaked the fuck out at that. He swung at his president.
The punch clocked Jackson in the chin. His head jerked sideways, but he took the hit like a man used to swallowing pain. His broad frame staggered back a step but he held his ground just like Knox. He also spit blood into the dirt, but instead of Knox’s cocky act, Jackson darkened like a storm cloud. His growl was low enough to vibrate the air between them. It probably made every animal for miles run for shelter.
I knew they were going to beat the piss out of each other until neither one of them could stand. No way was I going to let Knox lose everything just to protect me.
I got out of the truck and shouted, “Stop!”
All nine men turned to me as if in slow motion. My body went as stiff as a board. Shit. Now I was completely unguarded outside of the rusted hunk of metal. Now they could all whip their guns out and riddle me with bullets.
“Fuckin’ hell, Caroline,” Knox snapped, turning to join me. “I told you to?—”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Jackson grabbed the back of Knox’s shirt, hauling him back. “I’m not done with you. Bates, you stay the fuck back. I’ll deal with you next.”
“No, you’ll deal with me now.”
Black Jack stared at me like he never expected anyone to stand up against him. He was broad and scarred and dangerous and wild, and no matter how cunning I was, I would never win a physical match against him. If he wanted to knock me unconscious, he wouldn’t even break a sweat.
But I was cunning. I was ruthless. I was smart as hell and outwitted more men than I could count over the years. I protected my father and myself for years. I protected Wolverines whether they deserved it or not. Everything I did was for survival. It was always selfish. Always in pursuit of money, power, and greed.
Knox broke all my walls down last night and this morning. He cracked my harsh, unbreakable soul wide open and revealed a gooey, sad, lonely middle. I still couldn’t make sense of why I let him see me so vulnerable, but I did. Still, that didn’t mean I was weak.
Knox opened a path toward something selfless. Protecting him.
I marched up to Jackson and glared back just as furiously. He still had Knox’s shirt fisted in his grip. “Knox spent the past day trying to convince me that you aren’t the same sort of animal as my father,” I said harshly. “I almost started to believe it.” I smiled bitterly. “But it looks like you just proved him wrong and made my point for me. You and Walter are two sides of the same coin.”
Jackson straightened like I’d slapped him. He released Knox with a shove. He did not like that accusation one bit.
Good.
Knox angled himself between me and Jackson, shaking out his fist. His knuckles were busted, too. His cheekbone was bruised as all hell and smeared with blood.
“Leave it alone, Caroline,” he warned, harsh but with an edge of pleading. He was breathing hard, his eyes flicking from me to Jackson like he wasn’t sure who was going to act first.
I should. Probably. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. This was my mess, and my responsibility.
I said as much. “Listen up, dickhead, this whole mess is my fault. Don’t be a fucking idiot and blame Knox for any of it. He’s a fool, yes,” I added with a brief devilish smirk at him, then dropped it. “But he’s loyal as hell to you. Direct your wrath my way.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Jackson snapped at me. “You’ll get your share when it’s your turn. Club business first.”
I raised an eyebrow. “So you’re going to keep beating each other to death? Even though it’s all my fault? Genius plan. How did you morons ever beat the Wolverines?”
Jackson barked a short, humorless laugh. “I know damn well this is all happening because of you. You really think confessing is gonna earn you a damn thing from me? A little guilt’s gonna buy you redemption for all the shit you’ve pulled? All the blood you spilled? You could bleed yourself dry right here, and it wouldn’t be enough to redeem yourself.”
Jackson leaned forward a little, ignoring Knox’s warning growl. I met the eyes of my father’s counterpart unflinchingly.
But his next words each felt like a knife stab to my gut.
“You destroy everything you touch, Bates’s bitch.”
Knox snarled and shoved Jackson’s shoulders. “Knock it off, asshole! Don’t fucking call her that!”
Jackson let the force of the shove push him back a step. “You know what?” he said coolly to me. “You’re not worth wasting breath on.” He turned his glare on Knox. “Knox, get her the fuck out of Reno, and once it’s done, we’ll finish this. One less Wolverine in our city is a victory I’ll fucking take.”