Page 158 of Lace 'em Up

“Princess?” he rasps.

“I’m okay,” I tell him, rage making my hands shake. But my voice is steady when I say, “I’m done with them all.”

Blue eyes on mine—searching, holding, then he nods, glances over my shoulder. “You’ll gather your daughters and you’ll leave.” A beat. “Immediately.”

Cathy’s mouth opens.

“And if I see you, if my mom sees you, if I hear that annoying voice of yours for even a second, you’ll regret it.”

Defiance on her face, and I know King’s threats aren’t going to get through that stubborn skull of hers.

“I retained a lawyer,” I blurt.

She stills. “You don’t have any proof about Stacy?—”

“Not about Stacy,” I say, moving toward her, holding her gaze. “About my father’s will…”

Her face goes pale.

“And how you spent my inheritance?—”

“That didn’t happen?—”

Be brave.

I lift my brows, hold her gaze. “Didn’t it?”

Brave and kind…and bullshit when necessary.

Because I don’t have proof.

Because I never pursued it.

Because I didn’t want to rock the boat.

But know what?

I’m diving right in and swimming to shore.

Her throat works. “You wouldn’t.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Wouldn’t I?”

King steps next to me, takes my hand, giving me support without taking over.

God, I love this man.

“You should go,” I tell her.

Cathy looks between us, hesitates, and then walks out the door.

King waits for it to shut behind her before he turns to me. “Christ, princess, do you ever not find trouble?”

“I think the question is why does trouble always find me?” I rest my forehead against his. “Are you okay?” I ask as I touch his temple. “In here?”

Because this isn’t his fault.

But I know this is a trigger for him, another bit of fucked-up to add to our tally.

---