Page 78 of Pawn

Turning on her heels, she calls after Isaac as he gets in his car. I can’t help but think how ironic that statement is, how angering it is when she’s chasing after my best friend for a ride. The car takes off and the urge to punch something is strong, my fists tight in my pockets. Is she really done with me?

I can’t let her be. Not like this.

If she doesn’t think she needs me, I can prove it.

It’s not gonna be easy but that’s the thing about Kings, we play hard.

* * *

“Why are we doing this again?” Christian’s question isn’t making this any easier but his presence is.

“For Jo,” Isaac walks into the office, half-asleep when he leans against the wall. “That’s why we’re here at stripper hours, right?” His head hits the wall, a yawn escaping, “For Jo?”

“I thought you assholes were here to help,” I say, pausing my shuffle through the files so I can look at these two idiots.

“How long will this take?” Christian asks. “If I’m not at practice tomorrow morning, my dad’s losing it.”

“You’d think there’d be more security here after Jo got busted for doing the same thing,” Isaac mumbles before he lazily shines a flashlight on my face.

Wincing, my head lowers so I can focus on the task, her voice in my head.

The Academy helped cover up my parents’ murder!

If she’d pick up the fucking phone she could tell me what the fuck that means.

“Isn’t it funny that security isn’t here after Jo got busted for the same thing?” Isaac asks again.

His repetition makes me stop, peering up, his light still in my eye. “Get that fucking thing out of my face.”

“I’m just saying,” he says. “It’s funny.”

“What?” Christian steps forward, ERA hoodie over his head. “What did I miss this time?”

“Why don’t you tell him, King?” Isaac asks. “Or should I?”

I regret inviting these idiots.

Slamming the drawer shut I’m on my feet. “The fuck are you getting at? Quit beating around the bush like a fucking pussy and say it.”

I’m too distracted to give his ass another beating before I head for Beckett’s door. While I’m pissed Jo went with Isaac and not me, a part of me is happy she had someone to lean on.

Turning the knob, it’s already open and it makes me arch a brow. Either Jo was here or Beckett’s “open-door” policy is less bullshit than I thought.

“King called the cops on Jo,” Isaac says following me in the room as I sit behind Beckett’s desk.

“Wait, you what?” Christian’s in the doorway, his eyes wide. “Seriously, dude?”

This is none of their business and I’m trying my hardest to keep myself in check while I finish figuring this shit out. Beckett’s laptop sits on the table and I flip it open. Locked with a password.

Think. What would this asshole use for a password?

But Johnson’s right.

I did call the cops on Jo after I figured out where she was. One, if someone else found out she’d be in much more trouble than a Johnson ticket out of jail could get her. Two, I wanted her to know she needed me but that didn’t work. So this will.

Typing in “goeagles” doesn’t work and my fist is quick to bang on the keys, the numbers six and nine appearing beside it. Shrugging I press enter and for fuck’s sake, it works. Everything is at my fingers. Access to his photos, private documents and emails.

“King, that’s fucked up.” Christian leans against the door, ankles crossing along with his arms. “Why don’t you tell her you love her like a normal person since it’s clear you do?” He gestures to where I’m sitting, huddled over Beckett’s files like some sort of spy.

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