Page 156 of Monster

Then, it was as if the tears had drained everything from her because she soon fell asleep, though her rest appeared anything but peaceful.

But my girl was resilient. And I was gonna make sure she had nothing to worry about from now on.

Finding those traitors was more than just ensuring Braxton’s safety and getting him home where he belonged.

It was this girl sleeping in my arms, who seemed to get more fragile with each day she spent as mine.

Perhaps it was because the more I loved her, the more terrified I was of losing her.

And I was that.

I was fucking in love with Emmy Wilde.

Soon to be Madden, if I had any say.

I had already bulldozed my way into everything with us. I might as well push for marriage.

She would learn soon enough that when it came to the two of us, there was no such thing as personal boundaries. There wasn’t a line I wouldn’t cross to make her mine permanently.

I smiled a little at the thought and the phone in my hand vibrated, reminding me there was still so much shit going on.

I sat up and set my bare feet down on the cold floor before looking at my phone at Micah’s text.

It’s done.

The next text that came through was a picture of a building on fire. I was sure this was one of many buildings on fire in Las Vegas. If the Sons of War were as sloppy as Micah said they were, then it would take the police there no time to connect all the buildings on fire to the MC. I doubted the police could really do anything, but it would cause enough of an annoyance for them for us to build up the attack.

I texted Micah back.

Good. Report back to me on how they reacted. We’re gonna fucking get ’em.

I looked back at Emmy. No matter how much I wanted to go back to bed, I wouldn’t be able to go to sleep now.

I got up just as my phone rang, this time a call from Kai.

I picked up on the first ring. “Hello.”

“Dad,” he said, the tone of his voice giving me pause. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

* * *

I pulledmy bike up to the luxurious apartment complex and into a private parking slot.

This place was one of the safest places in the city, and I bet the snobby fucks that lived in the building fucking loved that the son of the King’s Men’s president lived here.

I smiled a little at the thought, and, hopping off my bike, I made my way to Kai’s door.

He opened it before I could knock and I met his blue eyes, bright despite the late hour.

Just because I had trouble going to sleep most nights didn’t mean I wanted Kai to be the same way.

“Hey, Dad.”

I drew Kai into my arms for a tight hug. I didn’t give a shit about upholding whatever reputation other people thought I should have.

I fucking made sure I hugged my kids whenever I had the chance, and holding Kai in my arms right now made my fucking heart ache for Braxton.

Soon.

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