Page 53 of King

“He’s going to be fine.”

Monica nodded. “Good.” A small, sad smile flickered across her lips before disappearing. “Lee really loved him. And you.”

Amara swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Did you know my brother well?”

“Not really,” Monica admitted. “But I wish someone like Lee had been looking out for my sister.”

She turned to leave, but Kane’s voice stopped her cold.

“You haven’t answered my question.” His tone was like steel, unyielding.

Monica turned back slowly, her eyes locking onto his with a glare sharp enough to cut. “And I won’t.” Her voice was quiet but packed with meaning. “I gave you a name. I risked my safety and possibly any chance I had of finding my sister for Joey. Not for you. Stay the fuck away from me,Warrior.” She turned on her heel and walked out, disappearing down the hallway.

Silence filled the room until Adam let out a low whistle. “Did she just call you Warrior?”

Kane smirked but didn’t offer anything more.

King’s focus, however, was on Adam. “Did she lie about anything?”

Adam rubbed a hand over his forehead, frowning. “No. But she left a hell of a lot out.” He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “She’s in deep with these people. She quit her job after finding out John Griffen was part of the trafficking ring that might have her sister. And then she started working for him.”

“Shit,” King cursed glaring at the empty doorway.

“She’s more or less working undercover to find her sister,” Adam explained, confirming what King had already suspected.

“I’ll get Jinx and Lacey on tracking down this John asshole,” Kane said, pushing off the wall and headed toward the hallway, his expression dark with purpose.

“Wait.” Amara’s voice was tight, and she wrapped her arms around her stomach as if bracing herself. “If you do that, she’ll never know what happened to her sister.”

King clenched his jaw. “Amara,” he warned, shaking his head. “This man isn’t going to stop looking for you.”

“Obviously, he’s not the only one.” Her eyes flashed as she shot back. “And Monica said he’s not even around. He won’t be for a while.”

“No.” King’s voice was firm, his stance unyielding. He refused to let this bastard walk free.

“She saved Joey’s life.” Amara’s frown deepened as she glared up at him. “She didn’t have to help us. She didn’t have to give us the name of the man who killed Lee. But she did.”

Adam exhaled through his nose, nodding slightly. “She also said someone else was pulling the strings.” He shrugged. “Taking out John might feel good, but it won’t stop whoever’s coming for Amara. If anything, maybe we can workwithMonica. Help her find her sister. In turn, she can help us figure out who’s really wanting Amara.”

King clenched his fists, the need for violence thrumming through his veins. He wanted to wrap his hands around John Griffen’s throat and squeeze until there was nothing left. But Adam wasn’t wrong. If John was just a puppet, cutting his strings wouldn’t stop the real threat.

“Lee is dead.” Amara’s voice wavered slightly, but she lifted her chin. “Her sister may not be.”

King’s gaze softened, but his anger didn’t fade. “What about you, Amara?” he asked, his voice low, challenging. “What happens ifthis all backfires? If working with her puts you in even more danger?”

Amara tilted her head, unwavering. “I want to help find her sister. It’s the least I can do after what she did for Joey.”

King turned to Kane, who had been silently taking it all in, unreadable as always. “What do you think?”

Kane finally smirked, the kind of grin that usually meant trouble. “You know I’m up for anything. Undercover work is my specialty.”

King rolled his eyes, muttering a curse under his breath. This wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to end this threat before it had a chance to circle back. But as much as he hated to admit it, Amara was right. Adam was right. Killing John Griffen wouldn’t solve the bigger problem.

His gaze slid back to Amara. She looked at him with wide, determined eyes, standing firm even though he could feel the tension radiating from her. His respect for this woman who had already been through so much, who still had the heart to fight for someone else grew tenfold.

“Fine.” The word came out harsher than he intended. “But if he comes anywhere near you, he’s a dead man.”

He really hoped he wouldn’t regret this. But deep down, he already knew if anything happened to Amara, there wouldn’t be a force on earth that could stop him from burning the whole damn world down to find the son of a bitch.

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