Page 61 of Knight's Fall

“It wasn’t easy,” BB told her. “That’s why it took so long.”

“Did you find the man that was in the house?”

Wings’ brow furrowed. “What man?”

“I followed Bogie to that house that’s in our neighborhood. It had a for sale sign in the yard, so I thought I was good going into the yard to get him. When I picked him up, I was next to the window. The man was tied up to a chair, just like I was. There was plastic on the floor. The guy looked dead. Did you find him?”

“Did you recognize him?” Wings asked her.

“No. I’ve never seen him before, that I remember. You didn’t find him, did you?”

Wings squeezed her hand. “No, baby, but the FBI is connecting Malcolm with a lot of open cases. They’ll find him.”

“A lot? So he really was…” Her voice tailed off, and Wings realized there was a lot she still didn’t know despite being one of the serial killer’s victims.

“Yeah, Courtlyn. He was a contract killer.”

“We just don’t know who hired him to come after you,” BB added.

She sighed. “No one. He said I had to die because I saw him with that man. He told me he hated to kill me because we had a special connection. He saw me and Sissy have words at the diner, and he thought we shared that in common. Having people pick on us. More specifically, having women pick on us. He never admitted who his bully was to me, but I made a wild guess that a girl humiliated him when he was younger. He got angry, almost out of control. I was close with my guess. I know it.”

“He went after Sissy too. She woke from her coma and identified Malcolm from a photo array,” BB explained. “We think he thought he killed her, and that’s why he left her to be found. I’ll have the FBI check into any connection with any bullying at Malcolm’s high school.”

Wings regretted allowing their conversation to continue the minute he saw her response. Her face twisted in confusion at what she was hearing.

“Sissy was in a coma?”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Wings reassured her. “Malcolm’s gone. No one is going to hurt you ever again. It’s over.”

BB nodded. “He’s right, Courtlyn. All you have to focus on is getting better. Tristin and Kat are already planning a KSI barbecue to celebrate your return and recovery when you feel up to it. Welcome to the family.”

When they were alone, she gave Wings her undivided attention, and he was thankful for the privacy.

“What did he mean, the family?”

“When Tryst started KSI, he meant for us to be as close as family. That way we’d always have each other’s back no matter what. You’re one of us now.”

“They don’t know me,” she protested.

“They will get to know you. For now, they know you’re important to me. That’s all they need.”

She pulled her hand free from his. He resisted the urge to grab it back, and he was glad he did when she placed her palm against his cheek. Her fingertips stroked his beard. It felt too good for him to do anything to make it stop.

“You’re important to me too. Thank you for coming for me.”

He leaned forward, and as much as he wanted to kiss her full mouth, he instead kissed her lightly on the forehead. “Always. Rest now, baby. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“I don’t want to sleep anymore. I just want to look at you. I thought about you. When the pain was too much, I would think of you and forget what was happening.”

“Shit!” he hissed. “You should never have had to go through that. I shouldn’t have let you go by yourself.”

Her hand moved to his mouth to stop him from talking. Her fingers traced the outline of his lips. “He would have killed you, Wings. He wanted me, and he was ready to kill anyone in his way. Then no one would have known I was missing until it was too late.”

He collapsed back in his chair and covered her hand with his at his cheek. “I don’t even want to think about that. I went bat shit crazy imagining what you were going through while I was spinning my wheels trying to find you.”

“So, let’s not think. Let’s just be together.” She grimaced as she shifted her body over and patted the empty spot on the bed next to her. “Lie with me. I want you to hold me. Please.”

He shook his head. “I’ll hurt you.”

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