Page 74 of The Knotty Girls Club

A whistle sounds through the air, and the man turns his attention away from us. Blood and brain matter explode from a wound on his head, and he falls back and disappears.

“Kinsey, Holly. Shit. Are you hurt?” Desmond’s voice shatters the steel wall protecting me. He rushes from between two apartments, keeping his gun aimed at the ground. “We need to take cover. This is an utter shit show.”

“Who was that guy?” My voice squeaks with my words, my body trembling as my adrenaline wears thin. It’s as if my body knows that as long as Desmond’s close, I’m safe.

How true that is? I don’t know. I’m as safe as I can be.

“A security personnel for the Platinum Shores Pack. We had a run-in with them. We thought it was them who took you.” Desmond places his arm over my shoulders and then his other one over Holly’s, getting us to jog with him toward where he came from, the two buildings acting as a protective barrier.

“They hired somebody, but they double-crossed them and sold us to Madame Samara.” My voice shakes with the words. “We were to be entertainers for the Knotty Girls Club. She had no idea that you had bonded with me. She—”

“Desmond, get down!” Enzo shouts, his voice striking me in the chest.

Desmond drags me and Holly to the ground, shielding us with his body against one of the walls. Another round of bullets blasts through the air, the sudden battle freaking me the fuck out. I bet Madam Samara regrets ever making this deal. I bet she regrets ever buying us in the first place.

If only I didn’t feel as if we won’t ever make it out of here alive.

“I’ll cover you. Get them inside.” Enzo jumps from the second-story balcony of the apartment building landing in a crouch a few feet away.

I don’t get time to process anything before Desmond yanks me up, pulling me and Holly along the wall and back toward the main building.

“I want you to go inside and take shelter. Madame Samara won’t kill you. We need to call a truce with her and take care of the Platinum Shores Pack. This will all blow over fairly quickly. We just need you to stay safe. We will not leave here without you.” Desmond hauls open the door to the main building and the living area, where dozens of scents smack me in the face.

I open my mouth to argue with him, but there really is no point. He’s right about us staying here. I’m no match against gunfire. I don’t know how to even use a weapon. He would also be far too distracted if I stayed beside him. His focus would be solely on me.

“We’re on the second floor. Room three. We’ll lock ourselves in.” I quickly kiss Desmond, wishing he could hold me for a moment longer. He nudges me to Holly and offers me his knife. I take it without question and pull Holly with me toward the stairs.

We don’t make it far. A beta materializes on the landing and charges us. We don’t have anywhere to run, so I grab Holly, and we dash toward the curtain leading to the main section of the club. There has to be another way out. I don’t want this guy putting his hands on either of us.

“Stay the fuck back! I don’t want to hurt you,” I say, pointing the blade as he tries to charge us.

A couple of the girls cry from the club area, and Holly sucks in a deep breath as warm air engulfs us, the heat of the colorful lights, dozens of people crowding in, and all their fragrances permeating around us.

“Holly?” A familiar voice draws our attention from behind us. “Oh, dear God. My baby girl Holly. I don’t understand. You’re...dead.”

My body cools as I listen to King Winston speak his mind out loud. It’s enough to give the beta a chance to grab onto both me and Holly. He digs his nails into my shoulder, and I wince in pain. Holly whimpers, her fear getting the best of her.

A deep grumble reverberates through the air. “Get your disgusting hands off my daughter.” King Winston pulls a weapon from his belt and aims the gun at the beta. “Do it now.”

His protectiveness shocks me, and I shrug out of the man’s hold, taking advantage of his sudden fear of the king.

“Your majesty, please forgive my brother for his audacity. He had no idea...” Madame Samara lets her voice fade off for a second. “Ihad no idea that the princess was here. I called you because of Kinsey. The princess told me her name was Bianca. She was with a different pack when she was picked up.”

King Winston flares his nostrils, his eyes roving over me, his expression sharpening for a split second. I expect him to react, his anger exploding to take out everyone in the room, but he manages to compose himself. The rage in his eyes dissipates, and his hazel irises sheen over.

He holsters his gun and opens his arms. “My God. I don’t believe it. Come here, daughter. You have some explaining to do, but none of it matters right now. I am in shock. I can’t believe you’re alive. I thought I lost you forever. You have no idea how happy I am.”

Holly stands frozen as the king closes the space and engulfs her in a hug, lifting her and spinning her around. He cups her cheeks with his hands and kisses her forehead, smothering her with his affection.

Still, she doesn’t move.

“You must’ve been so scared. Where have you been all this time? With her?” He eases away and narrows his eyes at me. “An imposter. Who sent you to mess with my kingdom?”

I don’t have time to react before King Winston charges me, lacing his fingers around my neck. He shoves me against the bar, hitting my back on it. I cry out in pain. He’s far too strong to fight off, and I’m afraid he’s going to murder me right here. The blade falls from my fingers, clattering on the floor.

“Tell me. Now!” He roars with the words, the vein bulging in his neck.

He triggers my fear so badly that all I can do is hang limply as he holds me up by my throat, my body refusing to cooperate. I can’t breathe, his grip tightening. If he doesn’t let me go soon, I’ll pass out. I could die.

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