Page 1 of King Daddy

Chapter One

It felt strange togo from every day being high drama to absolute silence. That was how it was for Beau since his wife of nearly thirty years had committed suicide. Her addictions had won. Beau had tried every desperate move anyone could make to save her. He had also done his best to totally crush her when he needed her to feel the pain she caused others. By others, he really meant him. As sad as it made him, he hated her now. Everything he once loved had turned against him because she was weak, and he obviously was too. He had let all that bullshit happen. Now, life was just silent. Truthfully, he didn’t even know what to do with himself any longer.

His meeting at the shipyard had gone perfectly. Thousands of weapons were on their way to some war-torn country. He lost track. Beau had even more money and soul-crushing stillness. Only his fight to reclaim the love of his sons gave him purpose.Beau wasn’t sure that made any progress either. Life was simply empty and quiet, so fucking quiet.

His gaze slid toward the window as they waited for the light to turn green. Not a single guard made a sound. It was as if the emptiness of his life had muted everyone and everything around him. It was exhausting. Outside the window, a tiny blond struggled with a collapsible cart. His rage was evident as he fought to get the thing open. A smile tugged at the corners of Beau’s mouth. He recognized the crazily dressed sprite.

“Pull into this lot.”

No one ever questioned an order from him, and Beau didn’t explain himself. A burning need lit in his chest, dispelling the quiet. He had met Kylo once at his son’s club, The PlayPen. Kylo had been dangerously unafraid of Beau, unwittingly saving Beau at his lowest. He had given Beau a crown. His outfit was almost as wild today as it had been that night. He still wore a tutu over pants, but this one was black. The pants were too, so it didn’t look quite as wild as Kylo obviously was. Beau had thought about him more than he should have, but he hadn’t known where to even begin a search for him. All he had was a first name. Kylo should be terrified of how happy Beau was to see him again.

As the SUV rolled to a stop next to the open door of the Beamer where Kylo raged at his inanimate object, Beau stepped out, buttoning his dress jacket as he went. Without a word, he grabbed the cart from Kylo and easily popped it open with the push of a button.

“It was locked.”

“King Boo!”

Beau felt the way his smile grew. When Kylo had crowned him, he had dubbed Beau King Boo. Beau couldn’t let Kylo get away this time without a proper name exchange. “It’s Beau, actually.”

“Beau Actually is an odd name.”

Despite himself, Beau’s smile refused to budge. “Does this smart-ass act win you a lot of friends?”

Kylo’s blue eyes took on a faraway look, as if he had turned inward. Beautiful eyes were one weakness of his. A bright smile exploded across Kylo’s face. “Not really, no.”

Beau shook his head. He was every bit as entertained as he had been the first time they met. “Why were you kicking a cart’s ass when we drove by?”

Kylo blushed. Beau hadn’t thought that possible considering he wore a black leather vest over a hot pink shirt with no purpose. “I need to get my groceries upstairs and I don’t want to make more than one trip.”

“I can help.” Beau had no fucking clue why he had offered such a thing. He had people for that. It was Kylo. Beau wanted any excuse to stay in his odd company.

Kylo reached behind him and grabbed his keys from an open hidden purse beneath the vest. “You can unlock my door, if you’d like.”

Beau’s brain had moved way beyond that topic. “What the fuck, Kylo? You’re bleeding.”

He glanced down. “Oh, yeah. A guy tried to mug me earlier. He stabbed me.”

The way Beau’s brain lagged like an outdated computer was real. Kylo was so blasé about getting stabbed. It enraged him. How dare anyone touch this angel? “For fuck’s sake.” He made a gesture in the air and his security poured from the SUV. “Where is this guy?”

Kylo shrugged. “I don’t know. Outside the grocery store where I left him, I suppose.”

“Which store?” Beau heard the bite in his tone.

Kylo obviously didn’t. “Only Organics on Wriley.”

With a nod toward one of his men, two of his guys climbed back inside the SUV and drove away. He pointed at another. “Get the groceries inside.” Beau focused on the last guard. “Take Kylo’s car and pick up the doctor.”

There was only one doctor used by his family. He knew Mickey would know who he meant. His closest guards had been with him for ages. Beau rarely had to ask for anything.

“Kylo, give Mickey your car fob.”

Kylo dug through his bag and came out with the fob. He passed it over without question. Henry finished unloading the groceries and headed for the door.

Beau swept Kylo off his feet and followed. The upscale apartment building had a doorman, so there was at least that. Beau focused on him as he scrambled to open the door for him. “I have a man named Mickey returning with a doctor. Don’t block their path.”

Showing a serious lack of good judgment, the guy’s dark gaze slid Kylo’s way, silently asking permission.

“Please and thank you, Stew. I got hurt.”

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