Page 63 of King

She turned her watery eyes on him, sniffling. “You saw what she did?—”

Steele scoffed. “YoulockedElla in a room,assaultedher, andtrespassedonourproperty after being warned to stay away.” He tilted his head toward the gate. “The cops will be here in five minutes.”

Janelle froze.

Then, herface twisted.“Youcalled the cops?”

King’s grip on Ella tightened as he stepped forward. “I should’ve done it thefirsttime you showed up at the firehouse.”

Janelle’s fake tears disappearedinstantly.

“You’re making amistake, King,” she hissed.

King scowled. “No, my only mistake wasgiving you the time of day.”

Janelle let out afrustratedscream as sirens filled the air.

Still fuming in King’s arms, Ella watched withsatisfactionas Steele and Kade stepped forward, ready to hand Janelle over.

As the flashing red-and-blue lights flooded the compound, Ella flipped her off just for fun before King carried her inside.

Ella sat on the clubhouse couch with her arms crossed over her chest, her bottom lip sticking out in a deep pout as Doc kneeled in front of her, gently pressing his fingers around her swollen, painful ankle.

“Owwie!” she yelped dramatically, pulling her leg back.

Doc sighed. “I barely touched you, troublemaker.”

“Iknow,” she whined, turning to King, who had her on his lap. “But Ihatethis.”

King arched a brow, his voice low and firm. “You’regonnasit there and let Doc do his job, Little one.”

Ella huffed. “But I’m finnnne.”

Doc snorted as he pressed gently on the side of her ankle, making her flinch. “Yeah, totallyfine,” he said dryly. “You twisted it pretty good, Ella. Let me wrap it, or it’ll hurt even worse tomorrow.”

Ella whined again and looked to King for sympathy.

King wasn’t having it.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a quietthreat. “Keep fussing, baby, and IswearI’ll make sure you’re in bed all day with no candy salad and no playtime.”

Ella’s eyes widened. “Youwouldn’t.”

King arched an eyebrow. “Tryme.”

Her pout deepened, but she huffed and reluctantly let Doc wrap her ankle.

“Good girl,” King murmured, his fingers brushing over her neck approvingly.

When Doc finished, he reached into his bag and pulled out a giant, brightly colored lollipop. “For being amostlygood patient,” he said, handing it to her.

Ellabeamed, instantly forgetting her annoyance. “Ooooh! Thank you, Doc!”

Doc rolled his eyes but smiled as he stood. “Now,here’sthe deal,” he said, looking between her and King. “Stayoffthat foot for at least three days. No walking, running around, or putting weight on it—nothing.”

Ella groaned loudly. “Threedays?”

King, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. In fact, he looked downrightpleased. “You got it, Doc,” he said smugly. “She won’t lift afinger.”

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