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He tilts his head to the side as he appraises me, gaze pausing over the bruising my makeup can’t quite cover. “I guess you’re right.”
“But, let me hear about you. So far, all I know is that you’re called Johnny Rocket. That people fear you for your role in the toughest gang around. Fuck, I don’t even know your last name.”
He threads his fingers through mine. “I want you to call me Johnny. Rocket’s for those who need a reminder of how powerful I can be.”
My heart thumps, another reminder that I’m too close to the fire.
He plays with my fingers as the car pulls out of the parking lot. Apprehension builds in my gut. I don’t even know where we’re going, and the only people who know where I am wouldn’t narc on the Heights Crew if they tried selling their own sister as a sex slave.
Johnny’s quiet for a while, and I realize I’m going to be the one asking questions. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-one.”
“Where do you live?”
“You’ll see it eventually.”
“Do you fight?” I ask, hoping he’ll expand on at least one of the questions I ask him. This isn’t helping me get to know him at all.
“Only when I have to.”
He gets closer and closer. He traces his lips up my neck, stopping just under my ear. “I kind of want to piss all over my father’s rules right now.”
“Rules?” I ask, mouth working. I can’t help but put my hands on him. He’s so close. His presence is heavy. My fingers slide around his forearms, and suddenly I don’t know if I’m trying to keep him away or pull him close.
Johnny growls and sits back. “He’s decided you’re my prize for when I move up beside him.” He kicks the seats in front of us lightly.
My skin flushes. I don’t like the sound of prize, but I really need to know what the hell he’s talking about. It kills me, but I place my hand on his knee and squeeze. “What do you mean?”
His gaze traces over my hand. “He saw how much I liked you. That it’s more than the other girls. I don’t just want to fuck you,” Johnny says, like that’s all he’s ever wanted. “He’s promised you to me as soon as I move up.”
His attentive gaze makes heat bloom all over my body. At least I know he won’t be trying to seduce me at every chance he gets. I try to steady my heartbeat. “I guess good things are worth the wait.”
“I’ve never been patient.”
His eyes grow dark. For a moment, I’m like a caged animal clawing at the bars of her prison. He’s not happy about waiting. He loathes that he’s waiting, but he doesn’t voice any of that because the car comes to a stop. When the door opens behind me, I all but fall out of it, my ass hitting the pavement.
A hand reaches out for me, and I take it. When the owner of the hand helps me up, I stare into Magnum’s brown eyes. “You okay?” he asks, gaze feathering over my body like he’s looking for anything out of place.
I nod, but it’s Johnny who gets right out of the car and pushes Magnum out of his way. “Hey…” he says, his gaze and voice full of concern. He likes to flit between personalities, like there are two different people living inside him. It’s scary. He’s never been a monster to me, but I’ve seen glimpses under the surface. Of course, that could be me just putting things on him. I know who his father is. I know what he’s done.
Then again, another voice tells me that since Johnny’s in practically the same position, he’s done the same shit. Maybe he’s killed innocent people. Maybe he’s ruined a little girl’s life for the Heights Crew. Decisions, actions, they have consequences. No one thinks how far those consequences might reach while they’re in the thick of it, but it goes far beyond the one action, the one moment in time. One second, I’m just a happy kid without a care in the world. The next, I’m thirsty for vengeance. I uproot my whole life. I worry the fuck out of my aunt and uncle. Those consequences won’t just stay in its place either. Every decision I make—and each of those consequences—is now a consequence of Big Daddy K’s action.
I place my hand over my stomach to keep from overreacting even though in my head, I’m already there. I hate being tethered to him in this way. I just want to end it and be done with it.
Johnny runs his hands through my hair and cups the back of my neck as he rights me. For a blissful moment, I close my eyes and pretend he’s doing this because he really does care about me. For a second, I close my eyes and pretend it’s anyone but him.
Then, his lips touch my forehead, and it’s like being doused with cold water after coming out of a coma. “I’m okay,” I say, my voice scratchy. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”
Magnum’s brows pull together, but it’s Johnny who speaks. “We’re heading in here, Mag. Can you make sure someone brings her a glass of water?”
Magnum’s jaw ticks. For as much power as Johnny has, it always looks like people don’t want to follow his orders. I don’t have the lay of the land yet to draw too many conclusions, but just from the little things I’ve seen. I doubt he has as much power as his father yet. It’s possible he hasn’t proved himself.
Johnny fits his arm around mine, holding me steady. I glance over at him, wishing I could stare into his soul. Not his heart or his brain. Those can be masked. But his soul. The very center of his being. Those are as true, as raw, and as open as anything. Is his tarnished? Has he stained it already?
I don’t know why, but I hope he’s as much of a victim in all this as I am. Maybe everyone tied to the Heights Crew is a victim too. Of their surroundings. Of their circumstances. Of their upbringing.
Oscar’s face drifts into my head.