Page 8 of The Merciless King

“No buddy. Not until you are older.” Mack smiles over at him. “Enjoy being young with no responsibilities in the meantime.”

The kid slumps and Summer, his mom, rubs his head and smiles.

“Damn right.” Decker sighs. “I’d love to be a kid again.”

I can see he’s wary. After being on the run from the Mexicans, I can understand why. And six years undercover? Jesus. I hope it doesn’t take that long.

Amy doesn’t have that long.

That I am not in denial about.

“Thank you.” I nod.

“Looks like the holiday is over.” Nathan grins.

“Nathan Walker. If you go back into the field and die before our wedding, I will bring you back to life and kill you myself,” Sienna threatens.

He takes her hand and squeezes it before lifting her hand to his lips.

I don’t say anything, but I see a degree of eagerness in them to get back into the action. It’s addictive. Only a warrior truly understands that.

“I’m not going to die.” He says, and Sienna frowns at me. But then her eyes dip and I know she’s thinking about Amy.

These are good people.

We all turn to Mia.

“Sweetheart,” Connor says, reaching for her, and the former mafia princess lets him pull her back against his chest and wrap his arms around her.

“We have to save her, and it would be nice to see Gianna again. I just don’t know how dangerous it would be,” Mia says.

“I understand,” I reply.

“You won’t be unprotected,” Mack says. “We will put together a solid plan to get Braxton in and you out.”

“Unless it's foolproof, it’s not happening,” Connor says firmly.

Mia lifts her eyes to mine once more.

“I’ll help you,” she says. “Gianna Baldassare was a friend growing up. I can introduce you to her and then it’s up to you.”

I let out a sigh.

That’s all I need. An introduction. Gianna is a single woman in her mid-twenties and gorgeous. She’s the daughter of the don and ripe to be swept off her feet.

And taken advantage of.

I make no apologies for what I’m about to do. Her family takes and sells human beings. Children. Young women. Young boys. What happens to them is the stuff of nightmares and Amy is alive and suffering. I know it.

I never break a promise.

Amy is mine to protect.

So I’ll use whatever and whoever it takes to get her home safely. I know I’m a fucking good-looking asshole and if it means using my body, then I’ll do it.

“Thank you,” I say and meet every single pair of eyes in the room.

Every member of the Dark Kings nods back at me.

---