Page 24 of Making the King

“Nod if you’re okay,” Rocco urges, so I do. “Okay. Just hang in there.”

Just as the words leave his mouth, a window shatters and I scream into his hand. Rocco curses, but doesn’t move off me. If anything, he presses his hand harder against my mouth as we listen to the footsteps from somewhere outside.

I lose track of how much time passes until the sound of a vehicle approaching reaches us.

“That’s them,” he says, no longer whispering. “I’ll be right back.”

Rocco gets off me and throws open the door just as there’s a knock. A young guy with dark wavy hair stands in the doorway.

“Gray,” Rocco snaps.

“Gunner’s looking around, but I didn’t see anyone,” Gray says.

“I’ll check the back,” Rocco snaps. “Stay with Cara.”

“We already checked. Gunner dropped me off a few houses away and gave me a head start so the engine didn’t tip them off to our arrival. There’s no one here.”

Rocco ignores him and walks over to the back door, keeping one hand at the small of his back as he kicks it open. Holy shit, does he have a weapon hidden?

I don’t know why it never occurred to me that he’d be packing. It seems so obvious, and obviously a factor I’ve overlooked.

“Hey,” Gray says sheepishly. “We haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Gray.”

I slowly get to my feet, my legs still shaking. “Hola,” I greet him.

With no idea what else to say, I just stare at him. Unlike Cain and the few other people Rocco hangs around, Gray looks homeless. His clothes don’t fit him properly, and he just has an aura of being lost.

“Are you okay?” he asks, sounding uncomfortable.

I shrug. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He chuckles, which makes him look younger than I first thought he was.

“All good,” Rocco says as he comes back inside. “This is Gunner.” He points at the guy with sandy blond hair behind him.

“Sup,” Gunner says, looking anywhere but at me.

“Hi,” I say. Then I look at Rocco. “Is he gone?”

Something in my tone makes him pinch his lips together as he nods. “Yeah, no traces of anyone.” I wish he’d look away instead of studying me like I’m a rare specimen. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Sure,” I say, trying—and failing—at sounding chipper.

Knowing that Mateo so easily found me has me on edge, especially since he’s right. Rocco hasn’t claimed me, but now I need him to. And fast.

“What did he want?” Gray asks, looking between us.

Rocco looks deep in thought as he says, “I’m not sure. I don’t even know who it was.”

I breathe a sigh of relief and plaster a smile on my lips. “It was my brother,” I say sweetly. Then I move to Rocco’s side, and place my hand on his bicep. “You saved me.”

His gaze snaps to mine, uncertainty swimming in his dark eyes. “Umm…” Palming the back of his head, he trails off.

“Thank you,” I say sincerely.

I might have a role to play, but my gratitude is still heartfelt.

Rocco takes my hand, and I allow him to intertwine our fingers while he talks with Gray and Gunner. Since I have to up my game if I want to make sure our marriage is consummated so my family can’t claim me, I lean against him and wrap my arm around his waist. At first he stiffens, but he quickly relaxes and returns my affection by moving me in front of him so he can hold me from behind.

---