Page 31 of King

Ella blinked up at him sleepily, her eyes trusting, warm.

His heart clenched. He was falling for her, and he knew it. And he wasn’t going to fight it because no one had ever made himfeellike Ella did.

Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering a second longer than he should have.

Then, with a final glance, he stood and forced himself to leave.

The drive back to the clubhouse was quiet, but his head wasn’t.

Ella.

Everything about her consumed him. The way she looked up at him with big, trusting eyes, how she blushed when he teased her, watching her slip so effortlessly into Little Space with him.

He’d hated leaving her. For a moment, he’d considered crashing on her small couch so he could be near her, but he didn’t want to overwhelm her yet.

One thing he already knew, though.

She washis.

Or at least, she would be.

Soon.

He pulled into the lot, parking his truck outside the clubhouse. But as soon as he killed the engine, another set of headlights turned into the lot behind him. He didn’t recognize the car and immediately went on alert. It was awfully late for a visitor to show up.

The second the car stopped, the door swung open, andJanellestepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement.

His blood ran cold, and he ground his molars together.

“What the hell are you doing here?” King snapped, stepping out of his truck, his fists clenched at his sides.

Janelle scoffed, crossing her arms under her chest as she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. “Relax, Daddy. I justhappenedto see you pulling in.”

“Bullshit. And don’t fucking call me that.” His voice was sharp, cutting. “Are you following me, Janelle?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course not. But Ididhear you’ve been spending time with some pathetic little girl. Took her to the steakhouse tonight, apparently.” Her lip curled. “Seriously? That’s what you want? Someone likeher?”

His muscles tensed. “You don’t get to ask me that.” His tone was low and dangerous. “Now get the fuck out of here before I call the cops and report you for harassment.”

Janelle let out a sharp laugh, but there was an edge of desperation in it. “You’re really choosingherover me?”

“Without a second thought.”

Her face twisted in anger, but King was done.

“Get the fuck out of here, Janelle. And stay the hell out of my life. We’re over, have been for a long time, and that is never going to change,” he snapped.

Turning on his heel, he stalked toward the clubhouse, shoving open the door without looking back.

He didn’t need to.

Because Janelle?

She was nothing but a nightmare from the past.

But Ella?

Ella was his future. And she was quickly becoming his everything.

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