Page 148 of These Wicked Hearts

I barely remember the ride back to the apartment building. I went with Knox, wordlessly, my legs moving on auto pilot.

One second I was being dragged away from Gage, then the next moment I’m in the elevator going up to Knox’s apartment.

I glance down and notice my knuckles are swollen. I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline, but I don’t feel a thing. Knox is swearing under his breath, looking at his phone. He doesn’t say a word to me, still typing away. We walk into his apartment and he tosses his keys onto the kitchen island without looking. “Jesus Christ.”

“Knox—”

“Hold on.” He texts something and I just feel numb. My heart is racing. I don’t normally get into fights off the ice, but if I could go back and relive that moment, I would do it all over again. Maybe even worse.

“What’s wrong?”

Knox’s auburn brows climb to his forehead. “What’s wrong?” He laughs humorlessly. “Oh, I don’t know, Atlas. You just punched one of the most powerful executives in the music industry in front of a room full of people with cameras.

“He deserved worse.”

Knox blows out a breath, shutting his eyes. “I know,” he says quietly.

My anger begins to falter, but only because I’m exhausted. Exhausted and scared out of my fucking mind. I want to go to Gage, but I’m sure he’s dealing with enough right now. He doesn’t need me to add to his issues.

I watch Knox typing away on his phone. “What are you doing?”

“Damage control.” He sighs. “Trying to get ahead of this.”

“I doubt anyone even recognized me.”

Knox snorts. “The internet detectives will find out who punched him, it’s only a matter of time. I contacted Leon and let him know what happened. He’s going to call down to the office and see how they want to handle this.”

“Will I be in trouble?” That never even crossed my mind. What did cross my mind is snapping Jim’s neck. And even as I ask, I realize I don’t even care. I look down at my shaking hands.

Worth every second.

Knox’s phone rings. He glances at me before answering. “Hey, yeah, he’s here. Yes. Lots of cameras. No, nothing else, just what I wrote.” He glances at me again while listening and nods. “Jim Cassidy. Yeah.” He smiles without humor. “That’s the one.”

I can hear our PR agent on the other line yelling something I can’t make out. By the look on Knox’s face that’s probably for the best. I’m starting to feel a little bad. Not because I punched him. Fuck Jim. No, I feel bad because here I am again causing issues when I shouldn’t be.

“Yeah, no, I expected that.” Knox starts to pace, running his hands through his hair. “No, nobody’s dead.”

“Yet,” I mutter.

Knox shoots me a scathing look. “Yes, probably a few videos.” He waits for a moment. “No, I don’t know how many. Everyone’s got a fucking phone.” He glances toward me. “No, he didn’t start it.” I let out a bitter laugh. “He was defending someone.”

I sink further into the couch. Everything hurts. Not physically, but on a level I never thought I could feel again. There’s grief, but so much fucking rage inside me too.

That fucking monster.

Then I think back on our relationship. Everything, every moment. I think about how he slowly softened over the last few months. How his sharp attitude melted with a sort of dependence that I love.

“Yes, I know, not legally, yeah. No, I don’t think so.”

I can still see Gage under the lights, telling his story to the crowd. He’s so fucking brave. I want him to know that. I love him more than anything, and he’s the bravest man I know.

“Okay, yeah.” Then he laughs. “Yeah, I guess. No problem. He’s staying over tonight so he’ll be here for any questions you have. Yes. Okay, yeah. Talk to you tomorrow.”

Knox sets his phone down and then braces against the counter, taking a deep breath and letting his head drop.

“How bad?”

“Do you want the good news or bad news?”