Page 19 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

If I had a mic, I’d be dropping it onstage right about now.

This fucker likes clowns and drives a white van.

Saylor’s head fell back in hysterical laughter, and everyone followed suit. It must have been the knowing look on my face.

Coach is clearly a serial killer.

“Are you going to tell me you have a part-time job as a beekeeper, and you have a clown suit hidden in your white van?”

“You’re hilarious, mate.” Coach chuckled.

I wasn’t fucking kidding. And he wasn’t fucking Australian.

“Uncle King, come and chase me!” Cutler called out from a few feet away, and I was on my feet and jogging toward him.

I ran into the water with him and scooped him up, bringing us both to the ground to wrestle. He was giggling, and he pushed me over so he was kneeling beside me and started tickling me.

I rolled onto my stomach and laughed, just as a sharp pain poked me in the groin.

It only took seconds to register what had happened.

I’d been stung by a motherfucking bee.

Hell hath no fury like a man under attack.

five

Saylor

It waslike something straight out of a movie. Kingston let out a scream, and Cutler shouted at us.

“Uncle King got stung by a bee!” The concern in Cutler’s voice was impossible to miss.

“No fucking way,” River hissed and jumped to his feet.

Nash moved quickly, as well, and ran to grab Cutler to calm him down. Demi and Peyton were consoling him, as the rest of us followed a crazed Kingston into the house, screaming about needing someone to grab a credit card.

River pulled a credit card from his wallet, as a frantic Kingston dropped to sit on the toilet.

“They release venom after they sting you. Get the fucking stinger out of me.” He yanked his shirt off, chucking it onto the floor before pulling the waistband on his trunks down low enough to expose the stinger. My eyes widened as I took in his impressive six-pack before moving down to the deep V, leading to a large red circle with a white center that was already starting to swell.

“Dude. You need to relax, or I can’t get the stinger out if you’re acting like a fucking lunatic,” River hissed, and I heard laughter from behind me and turned to see Romeo and Hayes, and I shot them a warning look.

This could be serious.

Before I could process what was happening, Kingston slapped the credit card right out of River’s hand, and it went flying through the air before landing at my feet.

“Holy shit,” Ruby said against my ear. “He’s losing it.”

“Don’t fucking touch me, River!” Kingston was frantic, and it felt like I was in the midst of a rom-com gone bad.

I picked up the credit card, and his gaze locked with mine. “Let Saylor do it. Everyone needs to get the fuck out. Now!”

“Good luck,” River said, as he slipped past me, and I stepped forward.

Someone must have pulled the door closed because we were suddenly alone. He sat on the toilet, dark eyes blazing. “Do you see it?”

I dropped to my knees, moving between his thick thighs, and handed him my phone after turning on the flashlight so I could get a better look.

---