Page 11 of King Daddy

A sweet smile played on Kylo’s lips. “Thank you.”

Beau stood and plucked Kylo from the chair. “Now. Time to rest.” He carried Kylo to bed. Kylo didn’t fight him, even as Beau untied and unwound his slippers. Beau kept talking, hoping to keep Kylo from arguing. “You look beautiful. How long have you done ballet?”

“As long as I can remember.” A soft chuckle escaped him. “I thought if I was the best in the world, then Mom would see me. Remember I exist. I don’t suppose she ever even noticed she paid for the lessons. An accountant was told to keep me happy and in the best of everything.” Kylo went silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was barely a whisper. “Is that love? Is pouring money into someone all there is? Maybe I’m the failure.”

Kylo’s skin was on fire. Beau had a bad feeling infection had set in, and Kylo would be horrified when his fever broke. Despite the reason for their conversation, Beau was intrigued. His kids felt the same. Beau knew they did. He had given them money and pain. That was it. He couldn’t take it back and he didn’t know how to fix any of it. There was no way they could see how young he had become a father, a husband, and a master criminal. Tabitha and he had been sixteen when she became pregnant with Boone. Their parents had immediately seen them married, emancipating them and leaving them to figure out how to survive. His sons would never know what it was like for him tonot know what the hell he was doing while he failed at everything but being bad. Beau was a fucking maestro at crime. He had no excuses. There would be no forgiveness from the people he loved the most. He was no better than the people who broke Kylo’s heart. Still, he found himself talking as he undressed Kylo, saying all the things.

“People think parents are handed a baby, and all the world’s knowledge zaps into their heads. That’s not what happens. We do a lot of panicking, second-guessing ourselves, and trying our damnedest not to make the same mistakes our parents did. Meanwhile, we’re just fucking our kids up in whole new ways. I bet, if you asked, you’d learn your mom grew up dirt poor and resenting her parents for all they couldn’t give her. So she went hardcore in the opposite direction with you. I know that’s where I went wrong.” Beau paused and stared at nothing. “They didn’t turn out like you, though. Their hatred looks a lot different.”

“I don’t hate my mom. I’d have to know her to hate her. It’s more of a resentment-filled indifference while sitting in the quietest home in existence.” He chuckled. “I guess that sounds pathetic. Maybe I should stop talking.”

Without thinking, Beau kissed the ankle he unwrapped. “It’s not pathetic. It’s painfully familiar.” He straightened. “I need to call Austen. Just rest, please.”

With his eyes closed, Kylo nodded.

Beau pulled out his phone and headed for the living room. His heart had felt heavy for too long now. He set the crown on the table and listened to the phone ring.

“Dr. Fowler.”

“Hey, Austen. It’s Beau. I came by to check on Kylo and he’s not doing so great. He’s in a lot of pain and running a fever. I made him go to bed, but I don’t know.”

Austen blew out a breath that brushed the phone. “I worried about this. That was likely a nasty as hell knife. I get the feeling he doesn’t rest and let the meds I’ve given him work without keeping his body stressed. Last night, I left two new bottles of meds for him. Make sure he’s been taking those and get some water in him. Give me an hour or so and I’ll have a medical team put together for his full-time care. It seems we’ll have to make him stay in bed and keep a closer watch. The last thing we need is for sepsis to set in.”

Beau nodded along as if Austen could see him. “That sounds good. Send all the bills my way. I’ll make sure you’re properly compensated.”

“It wasn’t even a concern. You’ve always been a good patient.”

Beau laughed. One thing he didn’t fail at was ensuring people were paid their worth. Austen was damn good at what he did while not seeing a thing. Discreet people were worth their weight in gold. “I’ll let the front desk know you’re on your way.”

“Thanks. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

Beau disconnected the call and grabbed the receiver for the security line. They answered on the first ring.

“Security.”

“This is floor fifteen.” Beau didn’t know if that was necessary, but he figured better safe than sorry. “Mr. Jinko is having a health crisis and is expecting a medical team. When they arrive, please send them up.”

A pause met his words. “Okay.” Another pause. “Please let Kylo know. I hope he gets better soon.”

“I will.” Beau had no clue who they were, but whatever. Everyone adored Kylo, it seemed. “Thanks for your help.” He disconnected the call and picked up the crown. Strangers would be prowling through Kylo’s house. He needed to keep it secure. He moved to the safe and easily mimicked Kylo’s movements from last night to unlock it. Beau was way more observant than people realized. He locked up the priceless piece and then moved to sit with Kylo. While Beau had no idea why he cared so much, he did. He wouldn’t leave Kylo’s side. They needed to stick together.

It was too loud for no reason. Shouting pierced his pounding brain. His throat was dry. His eyelids felt heavy. Something pricked his hand.

“Ow.” The word was barely a whisper. His voice didn’t want to work.

“He doesn’t need a goddamn criminal here, endangering his life. You’re probably how he ended up this way in the first place. Do you owe someone money? Maybe you did this yourself.”

A loud crash had Kylo trying harder to open his eyes. A nurse hovered over him. Another IV hung over his head. “For fuck’s sake. What now?” He didn’t remember getting stabbed again. No one answered him.

“You’ve fucked with the wrong one.” The screaming seemed to get louder.

Reggie? What the hell? Surely, this was only a nightmare.

An evil-sounding chuckle that sent chills skirting across his skin floated through the air. “The way you flatter yourself. You should go while you can still use both legs. My boys have been bored for a while now. Don’t give them a reason to play.”

“This is Kylo’s home. Only he can put me out.”

“Reggie?” Kylo forced the word from his throat, praying no one answered.

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