Page 62 of Slay King

Tabor smirked. “Yeah. I’ve heard stories.”

I sighed. “You must be used to dealing with people like him. I mean, this is a gang. So, y’all do what? Smuggle drugs, distribute, what?”

A low chuckle, then, “Let’s leave story time for a later date if you’re still here. But regardless of who we are and what we do, no one wants to tangle with the Hughes and the family that covers the South. They’re the oldest organized crime family south of the Mason–Dixon line. That brings a power no one else can compete with. At least, no one has yet.”

Crime family. That wasn’t something that fit the people I knew. It made me think of something else completely different from the family I had been living with. I knew who they were, but it just was hard to see them that way.

“They have priorities,” I said, slowly wanting to feel him out and see how soon this could go bad for me. At least in the sense that I wouldn’t be in this room, being left alone. “I can’t promise you that I am one of them. In fact, I am almost positive that I’m not. I was a … an accident, I guess. They shot Hill, my husband, and I ran. They knew I was there and followed me. They didn’t plan on taking me, but they did to help me. Y’all were not something they anticipated. They didn’t know they were getting mixed up in more of Hill’s shit.”

Tabor shrugged. “Well, we will see. That’s all I can tell you. My brother is a patient man if it means he will get what he wants. However, if his switch is flipped, he can be unreasonable. I don’t know you, but after meeting you, I’d hate to see you be at the receiving end of it.”

My gut twisted. This wasn’t what I’d wanted to hear.

“Even if I can get him the money? I have it. I just have to get it.”

Tabor shook his head. “No. He won’t take your money. He wants what is his. My opinion is that taking on the family is a mistake. But a part of him thinks this is his chance to show dominance.”

“So, he will beat and kill me, but not take my money?” I asked.

He nodded.

I dropped my head into my hands and sighed. How was I going to get out of this?

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

I shook my head, then stopped. Not about me. I still had to fight for my child. Lifting my head, I looked back at him. “Yes.”

“I’ll have a meal brought up to you. Any requests?”

He was taking my order as if I wasn’t the prisoner and bait.

“Whatever you have.”

“Very well,” he replied, turning and walking back out of the door before closing it with a soft click as he went.

Tears stung my eyes as I sat there in silence, feeling helpless. There had been no response from the family. Blaise hadn’t offered the money yet. If he hadn’t already, he wasn’t going to. I’d be beaten, and the videos would be sent.

Would he react to that? Would King be able to do anything even if he wanted to?

Placing a hand on my stomach, I whispered, “I will fight until the very end. I swear it.”

I had to do all I could for the baby inside me. Lying down and taking it like I had with Hill wasn’t an option this time. This wasn’t just me. I had someone to protect, and I was going to do everything I could to keep her safe.

Her. I didn’t know if it was a girl or boy, but somehow, saying her just felt right.

• Twenty-Six •

He’ll kill everything that moves and not pause as he does it.

King

“You realize we are both going to end up fucking shot,” Wilder said, cutting his eyes at me in the passenger seat of the black Escalade he was driving.

“I’ve already been shot,” I replied bitterly. “They can’t expect me to stay in a goddamn hotel room in Louisville while they go after what is mine.”

Wilder sighed heavily. “I know. I get it. Trust me, I’ve been there. It’s why I broke you out when your dad said they were leaving you there until it was over.”

Glaring at my phone, willing it to ring with an update, I muttered a string of curses. “Fucking Wells. I’m killing him first. Then, I’ll find that goddamn Oriel.”

---