Page 120 of Brutal King

“If something has happened to her because of him,” I cut her off. “I’ll make him regret it.”

Not an hour later, the doctor has Gideon patched up. “It’s not as bad as it looks. I wager he was already in rough shape. There’s some older bruising and a broken rib.”

Carina gives me a pointed glance, but says nothing. To him, she says, “Will he wake up soon?”

Before the doctor can answer, Gideon’s eyes open. His light blue irises make it easy to discern his focus, as his black pupils dilate and fixate on me.

He tries to sit up, but Hansen is quick to stop him with a knife to his throat.

“I see I made it,” Gideon says.

“Where’s my sister, fucker?” I demand.

“In trouble. May I?” He tries to move Hansen’s hand away, but it only causes my man to dig the blade deeper into Gideon’s skin.

“Let him,” Carina says. “But if he tries anything, slit his throat.”

Gideon sits up slowly, grunting and wincing the entire time.

“Where’s Sofia?” I ask, only slightly more calmly this time, though I don’t feel it.

“She’s in Kingsbrook.”

“King,” I say, recalling what he repeated when he was in my hold. “Kingsbrook.”

“My home,” he says.

“What happened?” Carina sits on the coffee table in front of him. “Who attacked you?”

He glances at me. “My father.”

Turning to the physician, I say, “You may go, doc. If we need anything else, we’ll call.”

“Yup. I’d rather not hear whatever he’s about to share. I don’t know anything,” he says as he leaves.

“Are you saying Stephen Black did this?” my wife asks.

“He’s dead, asshole,” I remind him.

“Well, he rose from the grave.” Gideon slumps against the armrest and remains quiet for a long moment. His jaw works furiously, his gaze locked on his hand. “Everything that’s happened, was a lie. He planned it all. Every fucking detail. It was all a ruse. Now he’s returned and wants his kingdom back.”

“He set you up.” The wheels in Carina’s head begin to turn as she processes what he’s said. “Why? How?”

“Sean Murphy was in on it. He brought someone else in who was already so beat up, none of the others recognized him. Before I could see the body, it was cremated.”

She shakes her head. “And your need for revenge motivated you to finish the job for him.”

“That’s all fine and dandy,” I interrupt. “But are you telling us your father has Sofia?”

“I can’t get her out on my own.” He lowers his gaze to my feet. Damn the fucker, I’ve never seen him like this. He’s humbling himself and it’s unnerving. “I need your help.”

“You needmyhelp?” I laugh. “Tell me where she is and I’ll get her myself.”

It’s his turn to laugh, the humility all but gone. “If I tell you, you’ll kill me. Then you’ll go and get everyone killed because you can’t do it without me either. In fact, we might need the entire bloody alliance. If my father was able to do this to me, there’s no telling what he’s capable of. I won’t risk Sofia.”

“What do you care about Sofia?” I hiss. “She’smysister.”

“She’s my—” He tries to stand, but fails, instead falling back on his ass in a coughing fit. Grabbing his side where he took a bullet, he grimaces. “Sofia is?—”

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