Page 33 of King

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to cry. She’d done enough of that. Crying didn’t change anything. She wanted to scream at her reflection and shake herself awake, but she just stood there, frozen in a moment that felt like it stretched forever.

Amara straightened with a deep, shuddering breath, forcing herself to look into her own eyes. She didn’t like what she saw but wouldn’t let it defeat her.

“You’ve made it this far,” she whispered softly to herself, the words barely audible. “You can keep going. Youhaveto.”

She touched the bruise on her shoulder one last time before pulling her sweater back into place. Amara didn’t feel strong, but a tiny spark was still buried deep inside her, a whisper of the woman she used to be. And she was determined to find her again, no matter how long it took.

With one last glance at her reflection, Amara stepped out of the bathroom, her damp hair brushing against her sweater as she made her way down the hall. She was ready to head back to the hospital, but as she passed by her brother’s bedroom, she hesitated.

The door was slightly ajar, and the sight inside tugged at her heart. She stepped in cautiously, her breath catching atthe disarray left behind. The room had been ransacked, with drawers pulled from the dresser, their contents strewn across the floor. The broken glass sparkled in the dim light, mingling with splinters from what had once been a nightstand.

Her bare feet hesitated at the edge of the destruction. She had left her shoes downstairs and regretted it now, but something on the bed caught her eye. Carefully, she weaved her way through the debris, mindful not to step on anything sharp.

When she reached the bed, she climbed onto it, feeling the uneven surface of the torn mattress beneath her. Amid the chaos, a single picture lay untouched. She picked it up gently, her fingers brushing off a fine layer of dust.

It was a photo of her, Lee, and Joey taken during simpler, happier times. They were at the zoo, all smiling for the camera. Joey, much younger then, stood between them, his mischievous grin stealing the show as he gave Lee bunny ears. Amara couldn’t help but smile at the memory, her thumb brushing over Joey’s face.

But the smile didn’t last long. Her eyes drifted away from the photo to take in the destruction around her. The feeling of violation from an enemy she didn’t know, faceless and nameless, hit her hard. It made her feel helpless and exposed.

And yet, beneath that unease, she felt something else: safety. The thought surprised her, but it was true. She hadn’t felt safe in a long time, but King had changed that.

Before she’d even come upstairs, King had insisted on searching every room, every closet, every corner, making sure it was safe for her. The memory of him stepping out of each room, noddingto her with quiet assurance, made her chest tighten. He hadn’t said much, but his actions spoke volumes.

“Amara?” His voice sounded behind her as if her thoughts had conjured him.

Turning her head, their eyes met. “Sorry, I was on my way down, but—” She shrugged, looking down at the picture. “I found this.” She held it out with a sad smile.

King’s boots crunched over the broken wood and glass as he crossed the room, the sound echoing softly in the stillness. He stopped before her and gently took the photo from her hands. He studied it for a moment before a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Good picture,” he said, handing it back to her.

Amara took it from him, her eyes falling back to the memory captured in the frame. “Yeah, it is. That was a good day. We were at the zoo.” She let out a soft snort, shaking her head. “Joey was so excited. His dad actually took the day off work to go with us. That almost never happened.”

Her lips curved slightly, but her expression turned wry. “I had to threaten Lee with bodily harm to make him go, but... he ended up having fun. Even admitted it, too.”

King didn’t respond right away. He just stood there, his broad frame like a protective shield, his presence calming and grounding her. He reminded her of a guardian angel, silent but watchful.

Her gaze shifted around the ruined room again, and she sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. The destruction, the memories...it was all too much. “I’m ready to go,” she murmured, moving toward the edge of the bed. She started to stand, but King’s hand shot out, stopping her.

“Where are your shoes?” His voice was steady but concerned as his sharp eyes dropped to her bare feet.

“I left them downstairs,” she admitted, brushing her damp hair behind her ear. She moved to take a step, but the moment her foot shifted, King swept her into his arms effortlessly.

Amara gasped softly, her hands instinctively going to his shoulders for balance. “King, I?—”

“Don’t even try to argue,” he cut her off, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

He easily carried her out of the room, his steps sure and deliberate as they moved to the doorway. He hesitated. For a moment, he didn’t set her down. Instead, his eyes locked on hers, and the world seemed to shrink around them.

Neither spoke as they stared at one another. The air between them grew charged, emotions simmering just beneath the surface. Slowly, King lowered her to her feet, his hands lingering momentarily before letting her go.

Her sweater had slipped off her shoulder again, revealing a faint bruise along her collarbone. His gaze dropped to it, and his jaw tightened.

“Sorry,” Amara muttered, her cheeks heating. She tugged at the fabric to cover herself. “I’ve lost a little weight, so my clothes don’t fit right anymore.”

But before she could pull the sweater back into place, his hand reached out, stilling hers.

His frown deepened, his brow furrowing as his dark eyes traced the mark. “Did I do that?” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but there was a rough edge as if the thought physically hurt him.

“No.” She glanced down at the bruise, then back up at him, her heart twisting at the visible relief that washed over his face. “I had this before I met you.”

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