Page 70 of Knockout

“So I have to stay where you can see me, like a little kid.”

He took a step closer to her, noting that she hung back. “This is about finding Destiny. It’s why we’re all here.” And he needed to call Conrad to see where his brother was. “But I don’t want to risk anything happening to you as well.”

She pulled back a little. “I’m good. I don’t need babysitting or special favors.”

That determined look in her eye scared him as much as it made him proud that she was ready to fight back. The worry was that she was looking for a fight. Especially now that her friend was missing.

He called his brother’s number.

The call connected, and he heard, “Sarge?”

“Jasper? Where are you?” He strode to the door and stepped out, Roxie with him.

“South side street. Hurry.” Jasper hung up.

Roxie ran beside him, double-time to the south side where they turned the corner, and he spotted Jasper and Collins kneeling. Conrad lay on the ground on his back.

“What happened?” Liam raced to them.

Collins glanced over. “Looks like he got hit over the head.”

Jasper dug in one of his pouches and produced gauze. “Ambulance is already en route.”

“Copy that.” He knelt in an open spot where he could see the now bloody gauze in Collins’ fingers over the wound.

Roxie set her hand on the back of his neck, probably trying to infuse some solidarity into him. Her thumb brushed the spot on the back of his neck that had scabbed over since yesterday. He hadn’t taken any pain meds, so a sharp stabbing sensation ricocheted from the back of his head.

He flinched and glanced at her, figuring she would recognize what happened, then looked back at his brother. Conrad’s eyes fluttered open.

“Hey.” Liam shifted so he’d be able to see his brother. “Hey, Con.”

His brother frowned. “What happened?” The words weren’t too slurred, and his eyes looked pretty clear.

“You’ve got that O’Connell hard head like me.” He leaned down close. “I need you to tell me where Destiny is. What happened?”

Conrad blinked, a slow closing and opening of his eyes. “Destiny.”

“Yep. What happened?” He gave his brother a second to process the question and get his thoughts together. He could hear sirens in the distance, the only reason he managed to hold it together.

Destiny was out there somewhere. But at least it wasn’t Roxie—though, that was a small comfort. He would lose it if anything happened to Blake’s sweet younger sister.

Conrad managed to say, “He jumped me.”

“Did you see his face?”

Conrad winced. “She screamed.”

“Did he take her?” Destiny wasn’t here. Was she still alive?

Conrad’s gaze moved, as though searching for her.

“You didn’t see him take her?”

Conrad’s eyes filled with moisture. He hissed out a breath.

“I know. It hurts, but we’re going to get you to the hospital, okay? I’ll call Mom. Everything will be fine.” Liam held his brother’s hand up in the middle of his chest. “Just hang on, okay?”

Conrad blinked.

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