Page 96 of Claimed By a King

Leaning back in his chair, he cups his chin and stares right at Gray. “Fair enough. But is there anything you can or want to tell us that might help?”

My mind keeps circling back to the same thing, and I know I have to say something. “Does Chris have any family?”

Tania’s eyes haven’t left me at all, and as I ask my question it feels like she’s upping the intensity. “He does,” she answers. “He has his sister, her husband, and their kids.”

“And what… I mean…” I bite the inside of my cheek to stop my mouth from running ahead of my brain, making it harder to ask what I want to know. “Do they know what happened to him?”

Gray shifts closer so his lips are only a breath away from the shell of my ear. “You don’t need to worry about that, Princess,” he murmurs. “That’s none of your concern.”

I know he means well, and maybe he’s right. But he’s also extremely wrong. What happened to Chris was my fault, so I need to know.

“They know there was an attack,” Tania says. “But as far as they’re aware, it was a meaningless crime. A burglary gone wrong or a random attack. We didn’t mention your note,your blood, and the… and any other bodily fluids we found at the place.”

Oh fuck, I think I’m going to be sick. Bodily fluids is just another way of saying they found Gunner’s jizz. I begin to dry heave, and tears form in my eyes. My body trembles as I’m transported back to that day in my mind’s eye.

“Princess.”

Fuck. No. I’m not there. I’m here with Gray.

“Princess.”

Before I can answer him, Gray curses and pulls me into his lap so I’m sitting sideways with my head resting against him. He ignores my startled yelp, and hugs me close to his chest.

“You’re safe,” he coos. “You’re here, with me. Feel my body against yours? This is real, Princess. Don’t let that fancy brain of yours fool you.”

The more he talks, the easier it becomes to believe him, and even coax my body into relaxing against him. I’m so focused on keeping calm that I barely register his hold on me.

“We’re done here,” he barks to the detectives. “Get the fuck out.”

“N-no,” I stammer. “Don’t leave yet.”

Turning my head, I look between Tania and Steven, both looking knowingly at me. I wonder how many times they’ve had to deal with people panicking at the news they’re delivering.

“We’ll stay as long as you’re okay with it, Zoe,” Tania says, gently.

Gray exhales audibly but doesn’t argue which gives me the courage to say what I need to say. “I was there when Chris was killed,” I say, surprised at how strong my voice is. “Gunner killed him in cold blood for touching me.”

“He touched you?” Gray growls.

“Not like that,” I hurry to clarify. “I… I hugged him and snuck the note into his pocket. But Gunner shot him for touching me, and then he… he…”

The silence spanning the room makes it abundantly clear that I don’t have to spell out what came next.

“Thank you for telling us,” Steven says.

At the same time, Tania asks, “Gunner used to be part of the Cruz Kings, didn’t he?” Her eyes are glued to the phone in her hand, like she’s reading through something. “He’s also one of the guys who looked after your family, and he was perceived dead after the attack on your clubhouse.”

“How did you—” I quickly stop myself from talking so I don’t say something I shouldn’t.

Gray clears his throat. “We thought he was dead, yes.” That’s all he says, and it sounds so monotone as though he’s confirming something inconsequential like the weather.

“But he’s alive and with the Reapers,” Steven says, sounding more like he’s confirming the facts than asking a question. “Is he the one who kidnapped you, Zoe?”

A humorless laugh leaves me. “No. That was my dad.” For some reason I can’t stop myself from talking, from wanting to set the record straight. “My dad is the reason my mom and sister died. It was part of his arrangement with the Reapers. He’s with them now. With the Reapers and his new girlfriend.”

The words taste sour on my tongue, and it’s like I reach a new level of really understanding the fuckedupness of it all by saying it out loud.

“Gunner’s their new VP and he claimed me as his Old Lady,” I continue, not stopping when my voice cracks. “And my dad let it happen. He didn’t even want to talk to me until it was too late.”

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