Page 81 of Kings Against the World

“Please, you’re wrong. I’m just here trying to earn some extra cash!”

“I advise you to shut the fuck up, doll!” Boone’s hand shoots out and clamps shut around my throat. He throws me with ease onto the leather sectional he was just seated in. I trip over myself as I’m flung onto the cushions, landing in a twistedposition. Before I can even right myself, he’s grabbing me by the back of the neck and wrenching me up. He stands over me, his expression severe, his skin ruddy against the rest of his white hair. “You have a lot to answer for, and trust me, this won’t be ending too good for you.”

“I could say the same to you.”

The voice feels like it comes out of nowhere. Everyone in the room looks up at the same time to find Ozzie standing in the doorway.

21

OZZIE

Boone lets goof Zoe and releases a deep laugh. “Well, look who’s finally shown his face around these parts! Ozzie fucking Gallagher, how’ve you been? Missed you at the start of the tournament!”

I move deeper into the room, scanning the scene I’ve walked in on. Boone had Zoe by the back of the neck as he shouted down at her. Then there’s Estrada who once again comes across like somebody snatched him from a corporate office somewhere and planted him inside the lounge of an underground criminal gang. Sugar’s topless and wide-eyed hanging from the metal pole in the middle of the room, her blonde locks tousled from all the spinning she’s probably been doing.

And then there’s the last man in the room. The guy who I didn’t expect to see tonight. The guy who I hadn’t been aware even knew Boone well enough to attend one of his tournaments, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Nathaniel Rollins in the flesh.

A while ago, before I ever came to Vegas, I’d been late to the bonfire party the MC was throwing. Silver gave us awhole speech about looming threats—one of those included the premature release of Nathaniel “Wheels” Rollins from the joint.

What the fuck is he doing turning up at Boone’s tournament? Has Boone been working with the Road Rebels?

It puts a whole new spin on what could be going on. He insisted that I play as his avatar in this tournament knowing which club my loyalties belong to. Was he trying to pull me into whatever long-game plan he’s running?

Blackmail me into turning against the Steel Kings? Use me against the MC somehow? Start another war with the Road Rebels?

There’s no telling what could be going on, but as soon as I look over and meet Rollin’s dead gaze, I know it’s nothing good.

Zoe and I might be in deeper shit than we realized.

I had left the hotel earlier with every intention of ditching Vegas altogether. I was done with everything about Zoe’s investigation and trying to get through to her. It was doing more harm than good so what use did it serve? What was the point of trying to find common ground with her when she was so damn hell bent on pushing me away?

She was convinced she should be on her own, so I left her alone.

I crossed the city limits and rode for a couple hours before having second thoughts. I went by Louie’s garage and learned Zoe had come by earlier looking for me.

Round five of the tournament had already started by the time I made it back, but it didn’t matter. It was more important that I made it in time to intervene in whatever the hell Boone and Rollins have planned.

“Get your hands off my girl,” I say simply.

“What girl? This girl?” Boone grips Zoe by the upper arm and wrenches her up so roughly, she can’t get her proper footing. “Ithought you two lovebirds broke up. Don’t tell me that was a lie too. We all know how I feel about lies.”

I stride toward him. “I said take your fucking hands off her.”

Boone grins, then shoves Zoe back down on the couch. “Fine, have it your way. Clearly you want all my attention. You realize where you are? You know you’re outnumbered a hundred to one? Seems like I’ve got another fucking lesson to teach you.”

I look from him to Zoe, reading her better than anybody else in the room. She might be Jade to them but looking in her eyes and seeing the fire burn, I know she’s barely holding on. She hates acting weak and afraid while Boone manhandles her. If she doesn’t want to risk blowing her cover even more, she has to stay in character.

I’ll have to take the lead in distracting Boone. I need to take the heat off her.

“You do what you gotta do, Ace,” I tell him. “If you feel you need the backup, that’s your prerogative. I prefer to stand on my own.”

He forgets about Zoe—and everybody else in the room—as he steps toward me. He’s taller than I am by a few inches, though his age and lack of muscle tone work to his disadvantage. He’s never been a fighter; he’s always had his cronies handle that part for him.

I’ve got no doubt I could take him out if things were actually fair. But Boone and fair don’t belong in the same sentence.

This is his tournament. His lounge. His rules.

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