“Fucking asshole,” Johnny spits.
“No wonder why those guys hated me,” I muse. I imagined it was because they saw me on the news or read my file or because they’d been briefed on who they were dealing with, but maybe the Crew isn’t the only group who has people in their pocket?
The police do too.
26
Johnny plants me on his lap in the backseat while Mag drives us to Jax and Finn’s boxing gym after the PT appointment. If anything, he’s being more touchy feely than usual, which is fine by me. Except, I don’t like knowing why he’s acting like that. It’s as if he’s trying to provoke Magnum, who, as always, is as cool as a cucumber. Johnny won’t be cracking that tough exterior anytime soon, try as he might.
Magnum pulls into a parking spot in front of the gym, and Johnny follows me out of the car. I turn to say goodbye, but I run right into his chest before backing up. “You’re not heading right to Candy’s?”
Johnny threads his fingers through mine with a small grin. “Jiko’s going to pick me up here, so Magnum can stay with you.”
“And that’s okay with you?” I ask, lifting a brow. It’s always been okay with Johnny that Magnum stays with me, but the dynamic has changed now. He’s been claiming his territory all day, but now he’s going to willingly leave me with him?
“Despite the fact that he should’ve fucking told me he’d grown feelings for you, I do trust him with you. Trust him to keep you safe, that is.” He watches Magnum as he walks around the side of the car toward the door. He doesn’t wait, almost as if he’s trying to give us some space. “It’s odd though,” Johnny muses, the cute little crease in his lip showing up. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mag with a girl before.”
“He stays pretty busy keeping you safe,” I tell him, reminding him of Magnum’s loyalties. Nothing’s changed. Well, other than the fact that I have a few boyfriends. But I mean, no other aspect has changed. The guys are as they always were. He doesn’t have to worry that Magnum will act differently.
A pinch forms between Johnny’s brows. “Or he’s gay,” he offers.
I press my lips together. His desperate attempt at trying to steer me away from his friend is comical. “If he’s gay, I should hang out with more gay men because he’s a hell of a good kisser.”
Johnny reaches down and squeezes my ass to the point it’s almost painful. “I deserved that one,” he grits out.
“And more,” I say teasingly, wiggling out of his punishing grip. I pull on his hand, and we walk toward the glass doors. Johnny surveys the surrounding area, no doubt looking for Reynolds. He’s extra pissed about what just transpired at the PT office, even telling me he’s going to take me to see the Crew’s doctor to make sure they didn’t do anything to me that they shouldn’t have.
I don’t think they did, though the electrical pulse therapy could’ve been a way to stick it to me, but I don’t think it gave me any lasting damage. Who knows if I was even seeing actual PT qualified medical personnel? They could’ve been random people in Reynolds’ pocket.
When we walk into the gym, Mag has his bug detector out, sweeping the area while Finn watches him, clearly impressed. The badass bodyguard then orders everyone to take out their phones, using his device to check them, too. Oscar and Brawler are used to the treatment, but Jax and Finn haven’t been subjected to this yet. While Finn asks a bunch of questions, Jax just looks pissed as all hell.
Yay. This ought to be a fun day training when Mr. Morose is even grumpier.
Johnny walks me right up to the group, a smile on his face. Oscar and Brawler immediately look on edge. He threads his arm around my waist and teases the area just above my waistband. Then, he slips two fingers just under the top edge, massaging my skin just over my hip bone.
“I’d like to talk with these assholes for a couple minutes,” Johnny says, giving Jax and Finn a warning glare. The look in his eyes and the tenor in his voice are at complete odds with the grin on his face. I don’t know what he has planned, but I’m a little nervous to say the least.
“Cool,” Finn says. “Just call for us when you’re ready, Princess.”
He gives me a wink, and Johnny immediately turns toward me, gaze narrowing as if he’s wondering if Finn’s made it on my whore list. Honestly, he wouldn’t be a bad addition looks-wise, but just fucking no. I’m not adding guys to the list because they’re handsome. I have a real connection with the four who are standing in front of me right now.
I give him a dubious look and move my shoe to press down on his foot, giving him a warning.
He shrugs as if he was only curious, but I could already tell the gears in his head were working overtime to see how he could take Finn out.
Brawler glares at the spot where Johnny’s touch meets my skin. I start to burn under the heat of his gaze. Johnny must notice, but he doesn’t give a fuck. If anything, he holds me tighter. “I just thought you all should know I’m aware of your shady asses, and if you think you’re going to steal my girl away from me, you’re even dumber than you look. She’s mine, and I’m fighting for her. All of her.”
Oscar takes the scene in, his dark eyes shadowed. Brawler actually growls though. A low hum in his throat that is mighty impressive.
“Got a problem with that, initiate?” Johnny asks, immediately pulling rank.
I step on his toe again. He can’t be pulling seniority on these guys. We’re all equal in this aspect.
Johnny only smirks. “Don’t worry. I’ll help my father pick out some of the best initiation tasks we’ve ever had.”
“Bring it,” Brawler says, not losing face at all. “I did all of this for her, and I’ll continue to do it all for her. You can throw whatever you want at me. Hell, you can even try to kill me—”
“No one’s killing anybody,” I say, answering that right off the bat.
“Look at you pathetic assholes,” Johnny says, mirth clear in his voice. “You all agreed to what? Share her?” He laughs, and my body locks up.
“Yeah, I guess maybe we should’ve claimed her and pushed her around a little first,” Oscar deadpans.
Johnny’s laughter cuts short, and the viciousness in his gaze cuts me. “Fuck you, Bat.”
Oscar steps up to him. “I mean this in the most disrespectful way possible. Just fuck right the fuck off.”
Well, this is going well. Perfect, actually. Couldn’t have planned it better my-fucking-self. “Guys...”
“No, fuck him,” Oscar seethes. “Selfish prick. He thinks he’s better than us because we’re trying to do what’s best for everyone. For you.” He turns back to Johnny. “You don’t think I want her to myself? I’m just not a raging asshole like you. I want what’s best for her, too, not just to get my dick wet more often.”
Johnny moves so fast, I’m not sure any of us see it coming. He punches Oscar square in the face right after giving me a quick nudge out of the way.
Oscar doesn’t take it though. Not like the last time. He lunges at him, getting in retaliatory shots.