Page 182 of Wanted By a King

It’s a rhetorical question. And one none of us can seem to find an answer for, anyway.

“What were you gonna talk to me about?” I ask Rocco, trying to get him to focus again. “What about Gunner?”

Rocco gestures to Rose. “Tell him.”

Swallowing, Rose juts up her chin.

“The night the Reapers did this.” She holds up her hand that is two fingers less than what she was born with. “You sent Sasha and Gunner with me to get patched up. Gunner was meant to get my story, and I just realized that he didn’t tell you what I told him.”

“What do you mean?” I ask. “He said you didn’t see any faces or hear any names.”

“That is what he told us.” Rocco jumps in, “but I just mentioned that it was a pity she didn’t see anything, and she got really fucking confused.”

Rose nods. “I saw them. I know their names. I even heard them talking about Day Valley.”

My brows shoot up. “Day Valley? Like the place twenty minutes west of Santa Cruz?”

She nods. “They spoke about returning there. It was Chopper and Barrel. Not only because they called each other those names, but I remember Chopper from when I was a kid. He knew my dad.”

“Fuck,” I hiss, turning my sights to my Prez.

“Gunner was keeping secrets,” he rasps.

“Do you think he could be…?” I don’t finish that sentence, because no one but me and Rocco know there’s a mole in our ranks.

“Could have been. I guess we’ll never know.” Rocco admits and I nod.

Fucking hell. What a revelation.

I didn’t even know my best friend.

My head is fucking swarming with questions I may never get the answers to.

“Gray?” Zoe’s voice manages to penetrate the barrage of questions swirling through my head, and I risk a glance at her.

Fuck, she’s beautiful. No matter what position I have her in, what filthy thing I have her doing, and even when she is as sweet and innocent as she is right now, she is the most beautiful creature to walk this earth.

My thoughts instantly remind me of the videos of me and Zoe. While I’m in them, the feature really is my princess, and with everything I’ve learned here today, I’m almost convinced that Gunner is the most likely culprit.

My eyes do a quick once over of the room, spotting the places I just know cameras are likely hidden in, before my eyes shoot to my President.

“What are you thinking?” he asks.

“We need to see if Cain has working cameras in here.”

Rocco’s brows shoot up, but he nods. “I’ll go ask him.”

Turning his back on us, Rocco leads Rose to a seat closer to the main group, before lowering to his haunches. He talks to her, his expression sincere and full of apology.

“He believes her? Us? Right?” Zoe asks, and I drag my gaze away from the room to take her in once again.

“Yeah, Princess. We both believe you and Rose. I’m so fucking sorry. I wish—”

“Oh, no you don’t. Don’t do that. We can’t change the past, Gray. What’s done is done. But we can change the future.”

I smirk. “You know you’re really fucking sexy when you’re optimistic.”

She grins, knowingly, rolling her shoulders back with pride. “Why, thank you.”

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