Page 112 of Kings Against the World

The van jerks as we make a turn on the road. We have no choice but to wobble along with the vehicle as it passes over gravel and bumps.

Ozzie nearly slides all the way into the van wall. He regains his balance and inches back toward me.

“Fuck,” he mutters, digging into my pocket. “This is harder than it looks.”

The van rattles over another bump, jarring him forward, but he manages to grasp the handle just before it slides out of reach. He flips the blade open, the sharp edge glinting in the dim light.

Together, we work the blade through the thick rope. It takes a lot of precise sawing motions and some finger cramping holding it at awkward angles.

The rope thins against my skin as Ozzie cuts into it and then frees my hands altogether. I scurry over to return the favor, grabbing the blade from him and starting on his binds.

It takes some work, but we manage to free the four of us.

Ozzie cups my face and presses a hard, desperate kiss to my lips. “We’re getting through this together,” he murmurs, his brow resting against mine. “No matter what.”

I nod, but I don’t say the words back. I know the truth. I’ve made peace with dying tonight if it means Boone goes down.

The van slows to a stop.

Ozzie glances around at the others. “Give them hell.”

Mudd and Flanagan nod along.

“Bite, kick, scratch,” Ozzie goes on. “Anything you’ve got to do to raise hell.”

The engine cuts off, but the back doors remain shut. We listen to their footsteps crunching on gravel as they hop out of their vehicles and then reconvene. Boone’s voice stands out among the others as he talks to his men about what their plan is from here.

We only catch bits and pieces. Stuff like “get the jump on them” and “if Rollins ain’t with the program, he can get it too”.

I frown, trying to piece it all together.

The van doors are wrenched open only a few seconds later. Ozzie, Mudd, Flanagan and I lunge forward.

And then freeze once we realize we’re staring at multiple rifle barrels pointed right at us.

Boone steps into view, his dark shades even darker in the night. “So predictable. You didn’t think we wouldn’t count on you trying this, did you?”

The men on either side of him reach inside the van to drag Ozzie and the other two out.

I’m taken last as Boone reaches in and grabs my arm. “You're coming with me, sweetheart.”

My stomach roils at his touch. All I can think about is Zani. How much I hate this man. How I’d do anything to make him pay.

We start walking toward a wooded area. My boots drag along, making it harder for him to pull me at his side. He punishes me by squeezing at my arm with bruising force.

We’re not far from where the Steel Kings and Road Rebels should be meeting up. It’s likely Silver and Rollins are already in negotiations.

Boone crushes my arms in his grip some more, jolting me out of my thoughts. “So, I didn’t realize we had beef, sweetheart. That you apparently hate my guts. That true?”

I don’t answer. My jaw locks as I bite the inside of my cheek hard enough to draw blood. The sharp, metallic tang hits my tongue, providing the distraction I need from doing something reckless.

Boone chuckles at my silence. “Apparently, you think I’m some monster? I’m the sole reason you became a federal agent? Don’t I feel special?”

He really is savoring every moment he gets to rub it in. Every chance he gets to remind me he’s in control.

“You remember my good friend Carlito Estrada, don’t you?” he asks as we walk. He shoves me ahead and makes me stumble some more. “Well, it probably doesn’t surprise you to know, he’s disgustingly rich. And when you’re disgustingly rich, you tend to be able to do things regular normies can’t.

“Carlito was out of jail within hours after the bust. He figured he’d help me and Rollins escape since we made for such good business partners. He made a couple phone calls, and whatdo you know? Our transport route changed. Just so the Road Rebels could be waiting to swoop in and interrupt.”

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