Page 21 of King Daddy

Kylo wanted to argue that Beau needed him more, but he knew Austen tried to protect him from reality. Beau was in bad shape. Still, he didn’t budge. If Beau didn’t make it, Kylo would be at his side until the end.

“Please, baby. My sons-in-law aren’t as brave as you are. I’ll feel better knowing you’re with them.”

He was torn. Kylo didn’t give a shit about these people he didn’t know. Beau mattered to him.

“Please.” Beau held his stare.

Kylo knew this was a man who didn’t use that word often. He nodded. “Okay, Daddy.” He pressed a kiss to Beau’s lips and forced himself from the bed. His legs didn’t want to hold him on his walk to the playroom, but he knew he had to be brave. It was what Beau wanted.

Chapter Eight

A loud silence waitedfor Kylo inside the playroom. At his first look at the three men dressed in pajamas, Kylo knew Beau was right. Two of them looked terrified. The third comforted the blood-soaked platinum-blond from earlier.

Kylo closed the door, hiding the carnage from view. He slowly moved to the coloring table where everyone sat and claimed a chair. Kylo took a breath. He focused on the blond. “Tell me what happened.”

“Who are you?” The pretty brunette dressed as a cat didn’t sound as catty as his outfit. He merely sounded upset and confused.

“My name is Kylo. Beau and I...” He trailed off because he didn’t know what to call them. They had established they were exclusive, but he didn’t have a title for them.

“He’s your daddy.”

At the brunette’s claim, Kylo nodded. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Adan.” Of course he was. He was fucking flawless. Kylo had never felt more lacking in his life. Adan stroked the blond’s hair—who was still obviously in shock. “This is my husband, Axton.”

“I’m Jupiter. Boone’s husband,” Jupiter said, pulling Kylo’s gaze his way.

Kylo dipped his chin and focused on the last Little, the only one he recognized. “Kyson, right? Banks’ husband? You gave me a few guest passes to The PlayPen a while back when we met at a library story hour.”

Kyson nodded. “It’s good to see you.”

Kylo forced a smile to his lips. “You too.” He looked around. “It’s really nice to meet all of you. I hate that it’s under these circumstances.” Kylo focused on Axton. “Earlier, you said he took a bullet for you. Will you please tell me what happened?”

Axton swallowed. His eerie light eyes looked more confused than anything. Of course, he also looked hardened by life, so Kylo didn’t have a good read on him. “Beau came by The PlayPen this morning and asked if we wanted to join him to hunt down a pedophile.”

Kylo’s heart sank. He had a bad feeling he knew where this was headed.

Axton kept going. “Beau and I don’t get along... for obvious reasons,” he said, motioning Adan’s way and looking uncomfortable for the first time.

Kylo stiffened his backbone. “I know the story. It’s fine.” He wasn’t sure he actually knew anything, but he needed Axton to keep going, and he didn’t currently give a shit about their story.

Axton nodded. “Anyhow, as soon as I heard where he was headed, our past didn’t matter. I’m always down to do some ratchet shit for the right reasons.” A small smile appeared on Adan’s lips and Kylo swore he felt the love between them. He felt oddly close to Adan in that moment—like they were somehow connected by their ability to see past a hard man’s faults.

Axton shook his head. “I don’t really know what happened. It’s like they knew we were coming. The second we rolled from the vehicle, bullets were flying. One second, I was halfway out of the SUV, and the next, Beau shoved me to the ground.” Axton shallowed. “He took a shot that should’ve killed me. Why would he do that?”

Kylo knew in his heart he would regret asking, but he had to know. “Who was Beau after?”

“Reggie Ferris. He’s a big-time drug dealer in this area. Beau said he had let the guy live too long, but now he knew Reggie had groomed a child and he couldn’t let that stand.”

Kyson snorted. “That’s rich.”

Kylo’s gaze shot toward Kyson. “How so?” Even though he thought he might be sick, knowing Beau had gotten shot going after Reggie because of him, he didn’t like Kyson’s insinuation.

Kyson motioned silently toward Adan.

Kylo’s gaze shot Adan’s way.

Adan took an audibly tired-sounding breath. “Okay, guys. We have to talk about this. More than anything, I want to be friends and leave my past in the past. But that’ll never truly happen until we speak candidly about my and Beau’s relationship. Maybe you don’t see it, but I feel like this is constantly hanging over my head and in the back of everyone’s mind. Now isn’t the time, but this is something that needs to be said for my peace.” He took another deep breath. This one sounded like it hurt. “I was never a child.”

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