Page 19 of King

Joey’s lip quivered as he nodded, his eyes clouding with tears. “I know you will. That’s why I asked for you,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. He coughed, his body trembling slightly, prompting Slade to step forward and check him. Joey managed a small, pained smile. “Plus, you’re the only real friend I have.”

Amara bit her lip to keep the sob trapped in her throat, but it was useless. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to hold herself together.

“Yeah?” King chuckled softly, though his voice carried a proud edge. “Well, right back at ya, kid. You’re the only one who laughs at my jokes.”

Joey’s smile returned for a fleeting moment but quickly faded as his eyes reopened, filled with fierce determination. “Make them pay, King,” he said, his voice cracking as the tears came. “My dad could be a real asshole... but he was my dad. Make them pay for what they’ve done.”

King leaned down, his expression softening as he whispered something to Joey. The boy nodded, their hands clasping briefly in an unspoken vow.

Straightening, King scanned the room with a look of unrelenting resolve. “I want a guard on this room 24/7 when I’m not here,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Done,” Sloan, Jake, Duncan, and Jared said in unison.

King gave a short nod, pulling his phone from his pocket as he turned to leave. He strode out of the room without another word, his presence lingering like a protective shield even after he was gone.

Amara sank into the chair beside Joey’s bed, her fingers trembling as she gently brushed his hair back. Her eyes stayed fixed on the doorway, and her heart ached as she watched King disappear down the hall.

Her gaze shifted to Daniel, who was leaning against the doorframe. His odd yet beautiful eyes locked on her. He gave her a slight, knowing nod before following King out, his father close behind him.

Amara’s shoulders slumped as the door clicked shut, and the silence wrapped around her like a suffocating blanket. She glanced down at Joey, whose tear-streaked face was calm now as he drifted into a restless sleep.

She clenched her hands together tightly, determination flaring in her chest. She didn’t know how she was going to help, but she knew one thing for certain: she would stand by King and do whatever it took to make those responsible pay.

CHAPTER 10

King wanted to smash his phone against the nearest wall, but instead, he muttered a curse and shoved it back into his pocket. Joey’s words had gutted him.Fuck.The kid had wormed his way into King’s life in ways he hadn’t expected, like the little brother he used to have. The memories of his own brother came rushing in, sharp and painful, but he pushed them down with a growl. No one, absolutely no one, messed with the people he cared about.

Sloan approached him, his expression tight with tension. “Any word from Butch?”

“Yeah,” King replied, his jaw tightening before he forced himself to take a calming breath. “Nothing yet. He’s still looking.”

Jake joined them, his phone in hand. “I’m still waiting on a callback from Kane,” he said just as Jill hurried down the hallway, holding a piece of paper.

“The nurse gave a pretty solid description,” Jill said, handing the paper to Sloan, who scanned it before passing it to King.

King stared at the sketch, burning the image into his memory before handing it over to Jared. “She could be anywhere by now,” he muttered, frustration lacing his voice.

“Kane’s good at finding people,” Jake offered, checking his watch. “I’m taking Jessie to grab something to eat. I’ll ask Amara if she wants to come too. Jessie mentioned she should probably eat since she gave blood. Slade said they’re operating on Joey tomorrow, so she’ll need to give more blood for him.”

King nodded, his gaze drifting toward Daniel, who had taken the sketch and studied it intently. After a moment, Daniel handed it back to Sloan.

“You guys been dealing with any vigilantes of the humankind?” Daniel asked out of the blue, which wasn’t unusual for the Demon Slayer.

The group exchanged uneasy glances before Jared finally answered, his brow furrowed. “Noooo,” he said slowly, dragging out the word.

Daniel’s eyes glinted with something unreadable. “You’re about to.”

Sloan stiffened. “What the hell does that mean?”

Ignoring the question, Daniel turned to Duncan. “You ready to go? Mom’s probably ready to hunt us down by now.”

“Excuse the fuck out of me,” Jared called out, spreading his arms wide. “Is that all you’ve got to say on the matter?”

“For now,” Daniel replied smoothly, walking away with Duncan in tow.

Jared threw up his hands. “How is it possible to like someone so much and still want to beat the shit out of them?” he grumbled, rubbing a hand down his face. “I’m heading out to see my Mate. Call me if anything comes up.”

As Jared left, Jake reappeared with Jessie by his side. “Amara said she’s not hungry,” Jake announced, frowning as he glanced at King. “Slade said she needs to eat.”

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