Page 60 of Wicked Vengeance

Alek lowers me to my feet, just in time for Snow to smother me with her crushing hug. “I’m good, Snow. I promise. Just starving.”

“Good thing I brought food then, huh,” she laughs, pulling back and gesturing to the table filled with disposable pans, “I figured we would need food if we’re staying here tonight.”

“Thank you,” I pull her back in for another hug, tears filling my eyes at her thoughtfulness. She squeezes me back just as tight.

“Okay. Let’s eat. My guys already dug in, and I sent them outside with more for the rest of the crew.”

Alek picks me back up when she lets me go, carrying me to the table and sitting me in his lap. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this big man feeding me. He fills the plate Snow hands him with roasted meat and vegetables, mashed potatoes, and bread.

“Eat up, Baby Girl.” He puts the fork to my mouth, watching as I open for him and wrap my lips around the metal. I moan– embarrassingly loud as the flavor bursts on my taste buds, and all three of my men growl in unison.

“God, you three really do sound like a bunch of grizzly bears,” Snow laughs as she brings over a pitcher of sweet tea, filling some glasses with ice and sitting them around the table as Maddox and Royal dig in too. Alek keeps feeding me, and doesn’t eat until I’m stuffed. “I can’t take another bite,” I groan, rubbing my stomach through my oversized shirt.

“Well, if you’re done, the doctor is waiting in the living room. I can go with you while they finish up.” Snow offers, standing from the table.

Before the guys can protest, I slip off Alek’s lap and take Snow’s hand. “We’ll be right in the living room. Finish eating and join us?”

They look like they want to object, but Snow pulls me from the room before they have a chance. “Good god, girl. They are worse than mine with their possessiveness. Do they even let you pee in private?”

“Honestly, I like it.” We both give each other a look before busting out laughing. “I know. It surprises me too. I never thought I’d want that kind of attention after everything I’ve been through, but with them, it’s different.”

“Trust me, you don’t have to explain it to me. I get it,” she says as we approach the doctor and Ella’s mom and she turns her attention to them. “Dr. Sterling… Mrs. Stone. Thank you for coming. And thank you for helping out with the supplies and food. We really appreciate it.”

“Please, we are happy to help. Thank you for coming to help our girl.” Mrs. Stone pulls her in for a hug, smiling at me over her shoulder. “Come here, baby. It’s so good to see you again. I’ve been so worried about you.”

She moves to me, pulling me in and wrapping me up in a tight hug, both of our eyes misty. “I’m okay, Helen. Thank you for coming.” I pull back, smiling at her. “I know you’ll be happy to have Ella back, too.”

“Oh, I’ve missed her something fierce,” she smiles, patting my arm. “Now, let my Henly take a look at you, baby.”

She sits next to Snow on the couch as the doctor checks my back, putting some more ointment on them but agreeing that the bandages can stay off now. The guys join us eventually, and when the doctor finishes, we sit in the living room, relaxing in each other’s presence. Alek holds me in his lap, Royal and Maddox on either side of us, each of them touching some part of me. I’ve never felt safer.

“So can we go to White Harbor tomorrow?” I finally ask, my anxiousness to see my daughter is almost overwhelming.

“Um… Actually…” Snow says, sitting up. “They’ve already left to come back here. They’ll be here tomorrow.”

A breath of relief leaves me and my whole body relaxes against Alek. “Thank you,” I tell her, emotion clogging my throat as I hold back the tears.

“I knew you wouldn’t want to wait, and I didn’t want you to have to travel so soon.”

“I appreciate that, Snow. That’s perfect,” I turn to Royal. “And you’ll take care of everything before they get here?”

“I’ll take care of it right now, Angel,” he says, kissing my cheek and standing from the couch. He looks to Maddox, Ronan, and Dax, each of them understanding and getting up with him. “We’ll be right back. Alek, stay with her.”

Nervous energy settles over me, knowing that it’s almost over, but still scared that the rug is going to be pulled out from under me again. We sit in silence after they leave the room. I feel like everyone is holding their breath– at least I am.

It’s almost over.

I’ll be able to breathe properly when I know that King won’t ever breathe again. When he’s out of our lives for good.

It feels like hours, but it’s just a few minutes later, Dax storms into the living room, panic and rage on his face. “He’s gone.”

Fear blankets me like a bucket of ice water as I feel all the blood drain from my face. I can tell by the way he looks, he doesn’t mean dead. He means– gone.

“How?” Icy rage coats my tone as I slowly stand from Alek’s lap, his hands gripping onto my waist in support.

“He attacked the guard we sent to move him. He’s alive but unconscious. The rest of the guys went after him so he won’t get far. The forest is hard to navigate in the daytime, much less in the dark. Plus, he’s heavily injured. We’ll find him.”

“I’m going,” I pull out of Alek’s hold, heading for the front door before Ronan stops me by the arm.

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