Uppercut Princess (The Heights Crew #1)(27)

“I don’t know,” I say. “I think Rocket told me not to touch anybody.” I look over my shoulder to find them following me down the steps. It’s strange to be in the warehouse with no one else here. Without the thriving pulse of excitement, it just looks like a rundown building in dire need of a sweeping.

“And you’re the type of girl to bend to his every whim?” Oscar asks.

He’s pushing his luck. There’s no way he would be saying any of this if Rocket were still here, but hell, neither would I.

A smile pulls at my lips. “Nope. Not at all.”

“Don’t fuck around,” Brawler warns, his deep voice cutting through the teasing and adding a thick layer of tension.

“Or what?” Oscar asks, turning to drill his dark gaze into Brawler. “Don’t forget who I am and where you are.”

I glance back at Brawler, spotting the indecision on his face. It’s not that he fears Oscar. In actuality, I don’t think he does at all. I’m positive Brawler’s fears have nothing to do with members of the Heights Crew. They’re far deeper than that.

I sigh, loudly, enough to get both of their attention. “I’m not going to have to listen to you two bicker every time we’re together, am I? If that’s the case, I’m going to ask Rocket for two new guys to follow me around like puppies on a leash.”

Both men shift into matching fierce looks.

“Just let’s get in the fucking car,” Oscar gripes. He doesn’t offer me his arm again, which is fine by me. I just want to get home and out of these clothes. I need to dissect everything that went down tonight. I need to go through every scenario and figure out which is the best way to play this.

We leave through a side door, and Brawler locks up behind us. In front of us idles a big, black car. It’s by far the fanciest car I’ve seen in the Heights yet. The kids who have cars at school are lucky, but not in the fashion department or even in a car this decade department. They’re all rust buckets. But they’re treated as the luxury they are.

Oscar pulls the door open and gets right in, but Brawler stands aside, waiting for me to go in first. When I pass him, he stops breathing. His chest halts, and he tries not to look at me. I don’t understand what’s going through his head. “Thanks,” I whisper.

He doesn’t answer as he gets in after me. There must be a driver up front because as soon as the door shuts, the car lurches forward, and we’re being taken away from the warehouse. I try to look through the rear window at the three-story building behind us, but the glass must be tinted because I can’t see anything in the dark of the night. I just wanted one last glimpse of the place that gave me the only joy I’ve had since I got to the Heights.

“You must’ve had fun in there,” Brawler guesses.

I sit back in the seat and stare at him. “I want to fight again.”

Oscar laughs. The trilling sound catches me off-guard in the narrow confines of the car. “You’ll have to get permission from your keeper,” he says, sarcasm dripping off him. I get the feeling he’s not much of a fan of Rocket’s. Actually, I don’t think he cares much for Brawler either.

I try not to let my disappointment twist my face. I don’t want to show weakness in front of these guys. I want to be taken seriously. Now that Rocket’s chosen me as a girl to haul around, I’ll be seen as an object. That won’t work. I’ll have to have everyone’s respect. I’ll need to gain it, to prove myself worthy.

But how do you gain the respect of those who only respect the one thing you’ve never had? Power.





10





If I thought I was getting dropped off at the front door, I was wrong. Even Oscar follows us up into the shitty apartment building. I wait by my door, itching to get rid of them, but they both stay with me. “I’m here,” I finally say. “I made it safe.”

Oscar laughs. “You think you’re getting away with that?” He shakes his head. “If we don’t come in and make sure no one’s here, it’s our asses that are going to get reamed out.”

“How will he know? I won’t say anything.” More and more, this being Rocket’s girl is grating on my nerves. I really don’t need a keeper or two babysitters or someone who thinks they own me just because he likes the way I fight.

Oscar drops his head to the side. “He’ll know.” His voice turns smoother. “Just open up and let us do this. If you’re worried either one of us is going to touch you, don’t bother. You’re off limits for everyone in the Heights now. Unless they have a death wish.”

He looks away, face tight, and I sigh before opening up my apartment. We all walk in like we own the place when only one of us does. Oscar looks around, nodding, gaze dragging over the very few things I’ve brought with me. It helps with the backstory that I don’t have anything to my name, just like everyone else here.

Brawler pushes past him, going into the bathroom first, pushing the shower curtain aside, and then moving into my bedroom.

“Hey!” I move toward him, but Oscar stops me, his hands on my forearms. “He’s just checking to make sure no one’s here. Chill.”

I grind my teeth together. “Why would anyone be in here? That’s the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard.”