Page 45 of Vicious King

Through the glass, I could see that Tobias King had just exited a black car on the other side of the street. Now he was striding right toward the station.

My eyes wide as saucers, I turned to the police chief. “Ah, there he is. Right on time,” he said crisply, looking past me to the doors.

“Oh my god…” I shook my head wildly. “You… you’re in Crown and Dagger’s pocket! They pay you to take care of any escapees who show up, don’t they?”

He stepped over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said with a gentle smile. “There’s no such thing as Crown and Dagger. It’s just a silly urban myth. Tobias King is your father-in-law, and you’re simply confused.”

“You’re a monster,” I hissed, my lips trembling. “You’re supposed to protect people. Not hand them right back to fucking criminals!”

He didn’t respond. Instead he looked back over my shoulder and tilted his chin downward in a respectful nod.

The air around me suddenly seemed thick and volatile. Every hair on my neck stood up, and my blood ran cold. I turned around slowly. It felt like I was fighting my way through an acrid fog the whole time.

Tobias was right behind me, a mirthless smile on his face. “Hello, Tatum,” he said. “It’s so good to see you again…”

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