Magnum steps off the elevator, holding it for us as we close the car doors and step up to him. He eyes me briefly before moving his gaze to Johnny. “Everyone’s upstairs already.”
Johnny checks his watch, but we’re not late. At least not by the vehicle’s clock.
“Heard any rumors as to what this is about?” Johnny questions, taking my hand to lead me to the elevator.
The copper-haired stunner shakes his head. He’s dressed all in black, as usual. At this point, it would be a jolt to my system to see him in any other color. Plus, the black offsets his hair nicely and clings to his muscles, and... I block those thoughts as he answers. “No, nothing.”
“Stay with Kyla,” Johnny orders. “She’s been instructed not to say anything, but—”
I pierce Johnny with a look, and Mag smirks. “But you’re not sure she’ll listen?”
“Basically, yes,” Johnny deadpans.
These assholes. I do have some restraint. “While we’re giving out orders, no one comes to my defense if shit starts to go down in there,” I tell both of them. “Also, I promise I won’t say a word unless spoken to.”
“Still,” Johnny says to Mag. “I don’t want her left alone.”
The worried look in Johnny’s pale blue eyes alarms me. Does he think Big Daddy K will do something to me right now? Does he know? I shake that thought out of my head immediately. If he knew K was going to do something to me, there’s no way he’d be bringing me here right now. “How worried should I be?”
Johnny presses his lips closed and all of us step into the elevator.
“I’m just saying,” I continue. “I’d like to know so I can prepare myself, but in the same token, if he does do something, neither one of you step in his way. I mean it. I’ve seen what happens when that goes down.”
Johnny’s Crew mask has completely taken over him. His voice is even harsh when he answers. “You should always be worried when you’re in my father’s presence, and you’re delusional if you think we’d just sit there.”
Magnum’s look tells me more of the same, and I don’t miss the warning implied in Johnny’s words. Big Daddy K may not do anything to me today, but the chance is always high. Not that I didn’t know that already, but it’s a good reminder. I’ve seen how trigger-happy he is—literally.
The elevator stops at the top floor, and we step off. Magnum’s fellow bodyguards move forward, but Johnny waves them off. “She’s one of us now.”
My steps falter for a second. This is big. This is huge. If the guards are told not to check me, I could get a gun up here or a knife. Some sort of weapon I can take K’s life with. Thoughts fire in my brain. I need K’s schedule to figure out when he’s alone. I need the key to his door. I need to figure out when I can sneak into his suite and just get it over with without the threat of getting caught. I need—
But I can’t do any of that, can I? Not until I’ve pulled Johnny to my side.
Jesus. It sounds like I’m some mad scientist with evil plans for tempting the innocent, but all I really want for Johnny is to have a life worth living. And we all know Johnny is far from innocent.
The guards nod, and I notice Trey, the one I accidentally got in trouble before when Glo came to kill me. Seeing him is a reminder that actions have consequences.
Johnny threads my arm through his as Magnum opens the door to K’s suite. Mag’s presence is another balm to the quickening pulse at my wrists. Even though I said I wouldn’t want them to stick up for me—and I mean it—I’m glad they’re both here. The only time I would want them sticking up for me is if I was in Dunnegan’s position and K’s about to put a bullet in the back of my skull. Then, all bets are off. I’m not dying for the fucker. That’s always been at the top of my list of things not to do.
K stands when he sees us enter the room. “There they are.” His smile stretches the width of his face, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything so fake. He moves forward. Johnny has to drop my hand as his father pulls him into a hug. I stiffen, my heart