Page 28 of Gunnar

“In return for what?” I bit the question out between clenched teeth. “I don’t like being manipulated, Knuckles. What the fuck?”

“Calm your tits, kid. Your old man saved my life on more than one occasion. I thought for the most part we were even, but you’re his kid. I did what I promised and got you housed with me. I tried to teach you how to not only survive but thrive, and I think you did.”

“And Pippa?”

“What about her? You went after her on your own. Ain’t gonna lie and say I didn’t push you toward her from the moment I realized her mother wasn’t all she claimed to be. I did. That’s when I started showin’ you pictures. It’s why I told you about her when I figured out Beth was the bitch she is.”

“My mom terrified me with stories of you.” Pippa spoke softly. “The only reason I didn’t run screaming from Gunnar when he told me you’d sent him is because I couldn’t. I think the two things that let me accept him as easy as I did were his treatment of me, and the fact my mother was a monster.”

“Honey, trust me when I tell you, she’s gettin’ hers.”

“Was she the reason I got taken?”

Everything in me rebelled at that question. I grunted and pulled Pippa into my arms. “Shut up, Knuckles. Not another word.”

“She asked the question, boy. She has the right to know.”

“I have the right as her man to keep shit from her that will give her nightmares, Knuckles.”

“No, Gunnar. I need to know.”

“Pippa --”

She leaned in and pressed her lips to mine for a long moment. “You’ll be here with me. You’ll keep the nightmares away, but I have to know for sure.”

I tilted my head at her, narrowing my gaze. “You suspected?”

“She was my mother in name only, Gunnar. I knew from a young age something wasn’t right. She made it clear I was a nuisance.”

“You didn’t seem unhappy when she introduced us.” Knuckles leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees.

“That’s because it didn’t start in earnest until after that visit. Like she did what she had to until you met me, then she didn’t give a shit.”

Knuckles clenched his fists. “Yeah, honey. She had everything to do with why you got taken. The whole reason she had a thing with me was to get pregnant with my kid.”

“Why?” Pippa trembled in my arms, but she didn’t back down. While I didn’t like it, I certainly respected it.

“Leverage. Money. I have control over eighty percent of certain goods in the South Central and Southeastern U.S. She had interest in some of those goods.” I knew Knuckles was being deliberately vague, but he got his message across. “So she played the long con. And used a child to do it. Woulda worked too. If it hadn’t been for Gunnar.”

“You said that day you knew I’d help you.”

“I did. That’s who you are, boy. You consider me family as much as I consider you family, and you’d do anything to help your family. It’s how you ended up in my tender care in the first Goddamned place.”

“So what happens now?” I needed to know what he expected my part going forward to be, because I had no doubt Knuckles had a longer plan than simply me rescuing the girl and living happily ever after.

“Now, I go huntin’. I’m gonna find that bitch, and I’m going to end her.”

Pippa gasped and sat up straighter. “You can’t.”

“I can, Pippa. And I am. I’m sorry if it hurts you, but I can’t let her live. Any woman who would do what she had done to you -- for any reason -- doesn’t deserve to live.”

“Surely she hadn’t meant for them to actually sell me.” She shivered and clung to me tighter.

“Baby, I wish I could say she didn’t, but I’ve seen the proof myself.”

“What do you need from me? Pippa is safe in this compound if you need my help.”

“Nope. Your only job from this point forward is to take care of Pippa and any rug rats you have. Find your place here. Learn how to function on the outside. Learn to share your life with Pippa because it’s not gonna be as easy as it seems right now. Once I get back, we’ll see where you’re gonna be the best asset for Kiss of Death.”

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