Page 224 of Outlaws of Tulsa

“It’s a bitchin’ boat.”

“Please,” Max begs. “Whatever you want. It’s yours.”

“Answers, Corsetti. I want answers. Where were you headed to?”

He nods up and down in such vehemence, it reminds me of a cartoon character. “East. Tennessee.”

That fucking state is a trigger word for me. Fury bubbles inside me, deep in my gut, and spreads like a contagion. I prowl toward Max, who’s trying desperately to put distance between us.

He won’t get away.

They never do.

“Do tell. What’s in Tennessee for you?”

He swallows, taking another step back. “Just a place to lie low.”

“Whowas your contact there?” I stalk his every movement, matching each step with one of my own. “I want names or I will start cutting off body parts until you squeal.”

“Fuck, dude, you don’t have to use your knife. I said I’d tell you what you want to know.” He holds up both palms in defense. “Jesus. Chill.”

“Name.”

“It’s this guy my dad knows.”

“I want a name,” I growl.

“I don’t know hisrealname, just the alias he gave m—”

I throw the knife hard and it embeds itself in his palm. He lets out a pained shriek. Blood gushes from the wound, running down his forearm and dripping from his elbow.

“You have two choices,” I bite out, sliding another knife from my belt. “You can pull it out and try to defend yourself, but that’s going to hurt like a bitch the second you remove it. What’s the second choice, K?”

“Give you the name and shut the fuck up.”

“Okay, okay, okay,” Max hisses, his entire body trembling. “I’ll tell you, man. Just keep your knife over there.”

“Baby Prospect,” I call out over my shoulder. “Bring me my knife.”

Cove lets out an annoyed sigh, but he stomps over to us, passing by me to get to Corsetti. Max shakes his head at Cove, trying to keep him back, but Cove is quick. He yanks the knife out of Max’s hand with no warning.

“Fuuuuck,” Max bellows, clutching his palm to his chest. The blood quickly soaks the front of his shirt.

“Three. Two. One—”

“I already told you what I know, man. The name he gave me is Victor. Victor, uh, Knight. There. A last name. Are you fucking happy? That’s who I was going to see.”

Cove glances my way, an eyebrow arched in question. My eyes drop to his soft lips. He’s a damn distraction.

“What’s this Victor prick in the business of? If he’s willing to take you in, he must be a piece of shit.” I take a threatening step toward them. “Tick-tock, Corsetti.”

Cove’s body tenses as I prowl closer. When I made my promise to find him later, I didn’t think it through much. All I know is I need him beneath me. I want to inhale him and taste him and feel him.

“Nothing anymore,” Max hisses. “He’s restructuring or some bullshit.”

A niggling feeling tugs at my mind, trying to make me piece together this puzzle rather than losing myself to the violence of torturing the sonofabitch.

I have to get information.

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