Page 96 of Body Lock

“Quinn, let's go home.” Tugging his jacket, I tried to pull him back.

Ripping his arm free, Quinn wouldn't look at me, he kept his eyes right on Nico. I wasn't sure if he was afraid to break his gaze for fear he'd do something to us, or if he was just afraid to lose sight of Nico in the crowd.

“If you don't leave right now, you're going to wish you did later.” Quinn's voice held something I hadn't heard before. His tone was thick, his words clear and concrete.

He wasn't speaking in empty threats, he was speaking in pure blood-red rage.

Nico grinned, tilting his head just enough to notice. “You got my letter, you knew this was coming.”

His letter?

“No. Not now. Not ever.” Taking a step forward, he pushed me to the side, trying to use the crowd as my protection.

“There's still that debt, Quinn. You didn't follow the rules, you lost. Now I'm here to collect the payment.”

“Fuck you, you're not touching her. Try, and I'll fucking kill you.” Quinn's teeth ground into his jaw, the words spilling out from the back of his throat.

Nico let out an evil, sadistic laugh. “You think that's going to make this all go away?” Lunging forward, he held his arms open, welcoming Quinn in. “Come on, you're a big man, you're so good at what you do, let's go.”

I wanted to stay on the sidelines, but I couldn't. I wasn't going to let him think that I would ever just give myself up for him to take. “Nico!” His head shifted to me, eyes slit tight. “Go fuck yourself, this is over, it's been over.”

“No, Sweetheart, it isn't over, not until you come with me. We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way.” His empty eyes rolled in the sockets, washing back over Quinn. “Your boyfriend seems to want to do it the hard way.”

“She isn't his anymore, he's lost everything, and that includes her. There's no more debt, Nico, there's no more Ground Game, there's no more Macro. It's over!”

Sneering, Nico dragged his hand over his jaw, shaking his head in disagreement. “You know it doesn't work like that. Make this easy on yourself, and your girl.”

“Nico, I'm fucking pregnant, you can't do this. I'm not his property, I'm not for sale, so like I said... GO. FUCK. YOURSELF.” The last few words came out clear and solid, his face dropping in anger.

Straining my ears, I listened for sirens, for any sign that this would end long before it turned from verbal to war. But my ears were empty, the street was empty, no one was coming to stop this.

Swiping my hands over my jacket, I felt for my phone, but it wasn't there. Slapping a fist against my leg, I realized that I had left everything at home. We had only planned on grabbing lunch up the street, we weren't going to be gone for long.

Fuck!Dragging my nails through my hair, I looked around wide-eyed, searching to see if anyone else was calling for help. My eyes were met with a different form of silence, the quiet stare of onlookers.

I couldn't believe that not a single person had pulled out their cell, or made any attempt to end this before blood was spilled.

Then again... Why would they care when it isn't their problem to begin with, right?

Quinn took another step in, closing the space between them. “If you want her, you know you'll have to go through me first. Is that something you really want to do?” His shoulders snapped square, jaw cocking to the side. “Did you forget what happened last time, or do want me to refresh your memory?”

A crackled, raspy voice shot out from the crowd. “Hit him high, kid, watch the feet!” And old ragged man stood on the stoop of a building, arms jabbing into the air. “They didn't call you the Killer Q for nothing.”

Who the fuck is that?

Killer Q?

Quinn didn't look back at the man, but he obviously heard him, and let his words filter in. His jacket slipped off his shoulders, falling to the ground. Cracking his knuckles, he twisted his neck, snapping the muscles loose.

Nico looked like a raging bull, his face contorted, mouth curving up. “I'm going to enjoy this,” he said, lifting his hands to his face.

In one quick jerk, Nico launched himself at Quinn. His hands slapped the air, jabbing at the shadow of my man. Ducking, Quinn dipped to the side, his body turning out as his elbow drove in hard.

Excitement charged my body, and it was intense. We all have a dark side, and mine was antsy to watch Nico get what he deserved.

A loud grunt fell out of Nico's mouth, his chest heaving wildly to regain the breath that had just been lost. Growling, he charged Quinn again, wrapping his arms around his neck.

Quinn dropped to one knee, his face growing red, eyes starting to bulge. The excitement that had been riding me hard, turned into horror. Turning into the crowd, I started grabbing people's collars, screaming for someone to call the cops.

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