Locke 2 (Blackwater Boys #4)

Twenty-Seven

Kali

L ocke and Conor looked like they wanted to kill each other, but I wasn’t sure who would come out winning. Both were the same height. Same build. Same scary edge, though Locke’s crazy ran deeper.

Locke’s voice came out in an accusing snarl. “Jem.”

Jem, still amused, shrugged. “I didn’t tell him where you were. I would never do that.”

Conor smiled mockingly at Locke. “You showed Charlotte all your ways. She can track you with her eyes closed.”

At that, Conor glanced at me, and I knew what he meant. She’d found me before Locke did. She’d beaten him by minutes. When Conor picked me up from that alleyway, he didn’t blaze out of town like a bat out of hell. He had strategically taken alleyways before falling into traffic, never once breaking the road rules, but I’d heard the hustle behind us. The screeching of tires as cars took off around us, Locke’s men in hot pursuit of me.

One of those cars belonged to Locke.

He’d gotten so close and didn’t know it.

I couldn’t help the guilt that rose to the surface at that reminder. Of his anguish and need and my desperate desire to keep him far enough away.

“I’m not hiding from Charlotte, or you,” Locke returned. “This isn’t about you.”

“You took off without a word,” Conor argued. “Blackwater can’t run without you. You wanted it that way, remember?”

“I’m coming back.”

Conor shook his head. “Not with her.”

Locke had that lethal calm about him as he uttered, “Try and stop me.”

A flash of anger cut through Conor. He gritted his teeth. “This isn’t the fucking way, Locke.”

“I haven’t kidnapped her.”

Yet, I wanted to add.

He hadn’t kidnapped me yet.

Yet despite the wrongness of it, I felt a warm buzz beneath my skin at the thought of Locke gripping me by the hair and forcing me into his car. I spent an embarrassing amount of downtime imagining being chased again by him, and the feel of his body crashing into mine. Like the first time, he would make sure to take the impact of the fall and leave me in one piece. It was the small, considerate things like that, that had surprisingly mattered to me in later reflections.

Jem rounded them, stopping at my side. His eyes were dancing with excitement as he watched the tense exchange.

“Congratulations,” Conor returned, dripping with sarcasm. “That’s a real fucking achievement, Locke. I promised Charlotte I’d keep it that way, so the only way I’m leaving is with you at my side.” His voice dropped lower as he added in a half-whisper, “We agreed when the time came, I’d need to save you from yourself.”

I took a step forward, opening my mouth to intervene. Conor needed to know this was my doing—

Jem’s hand gripped my arm. He tugged me to his side, whispering, “No, no, let them have their row. This shit’s been building for a while.”

“Jem,” Conor warned, overhearing him.

Jem flashed a smile. “I’m just saying, Conor, you don’t have your wife at your side to stop you, so it may as well happen now. Sometimes a good punch up settles things.”

He wasn’t helping matters. Conor had a vein in his neck that was close to popping, and Jem was poking the bear.

“It’s not what you think,” Locke said next, trying to reason with the man that was known to have a violent side.

“It’s exactly what I think,” Conor spat. “You found her again—”

“I found her a lot longer ago,” Locke cut in sharply. “I’m telling you, Conor, it’s not what you think. Well…not entirely.”

Conor stilled, his face growing curious, while my brows pinched together. Stunned speechless, I gaped at Locke’s giant back, wondering what he meant.

What they both meant.

“We’re looking for a boy,” Locke said. “He’s in a hole.”

“That’s a big statement to make,” Jem suddenly cut in, gaping. “We don’t know that.”

Conor didn’t reply. His gaze hardened on Locke. “He’s in a hole?”

Locke nodded. “My source confirmed there is a hole in Georgewel. There are operations happening right here. I couldn’t get a location because it’s run by one man only.”

Jem fumed. “You didn’t tell me that, Locke.”

“I just did,” Locke returned.

“When did you find out—”

“I’m the one talking to him,” Conor interrupted, fuming. “You can have your turn later, Jem. I have things to settle with Locke first.”

“Show her around, Jem,” Locke said next, his gaze still trapped on Conor. “Until I finish settling this matter.”

The last thing Jem wanted was to leave. He clenched his teeth but swallowed his curse.

“Sure thing.” He said icily as he tugged on my arm, rousing me out of my shock. “Come hither, Kari . Let me make you feel at home in your new abode.”