Page 55 of King's Reckoning
Despite her exhaustion, Rowan felt warmth bloom in her chest at the mention of Reed. He'd been forced to remain in bed after their confrontation with Blackwood, his injuries demanding proper medical attention.
"Go," King said softly. "We've got this covered. Besides..." A slight smile touched his lips. "Some things are more important than paperwork."
Rowan squeezed his hand briefly before heading for Reed's room. The secure ward was quieter now, most of the wounded having beenevaluated and treated. But Reed had refused transfer to another facility, insisting on staying close until everything was resolved.
She found him propped up in bed, looking better despite the bandages visible under his hospital gown. His eyes brightened when she entered, that now-familiar warmth sending a flutter through her chest.
"About time," he said, holding out his hand. "Was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."
"Not likely." Rowan threaded her fingers through his, letting some of her tension ease at the contact. "Kind of hard to forget the man who took three bullets for me. Who risked everything to protect what matters."
"Yeah, about that..." Reed tugged gently until she sat on the edge of his bed. "We need to talk about your tendency to take unnecessary risks. About your habit of putting yourself in danger."
"Says the man who literally jumped in front of gunfire," Rowan countered, but there was no heat in her words. Just relief that they were both alive to have this conversation.
"That's different." Reed's thumb traced patterns on her palm, the simple touch both comforting and electrifying. "Protecting you...it's not just my job anymore. Hasn't been for a while."
Rowan met his eyes, saw everything he wasn't saying written clearly in their depths. "Reed..."
"Let me finish," he said quietly. "Facing death gives a man perspective. Makes him realize whattruly matters. Who matters." His free hand came up to cup her face. "I love you, Rowan Matthews. Have since that day in the garage when you showed up trying to be tough but vulnerable underneath. Loved watching you earn your place, prove yourself to the club. Loved seeing you become the leader Elena knew you could be."
Tears pricked at Rowan's eyes, but she blinked them back. "Even after learning everything? About Mom's research, about the land claims, about what this was really all about?"
"You're not just Elena's daughter or King's blood," Reed said firmly. "You're Rowan. Strong, determined, brilliant Rowan who stood up to corporate interests and rival MCs to protect historical truth. Who brought multiple chapters together when they could have been tearing each other apart." His thumb brushed her cheek. "Who made me fall more in love with her every day we worked together."
This time Rowan didn't fight the tears that spilled over. "I love you too," she whispered. "So much it scared me at first. Especially after watching you take those bullets..."
Reed pulled her closer, careful of his injuries as he guided her to lie beside him on the narrow bed. "Worth it," he said simply. "You're worth everything."
Rowan curled carefully against his side, mindful of bandages as she soaked in his warmth.For the first time since this all began, she felt truly at peace. Truly home.
A knock at the door made them both look up. Cole stood there, his expression apologetic.
"Sorry to interrupt," the Devils president said, "but we've got a situation developing. Blackwood's people are making moves we didn't anticipate."
Rowan started to rise, but Reed's arm tightened around her. "What kind of moves?"
"They're destroying records," Cole reported grimly. "Every document they can find related to the historical claims, every piece of research they can't secure. Creating a paper trail that suggests fraud and conspiracy."
"Eliminating evidence," Rowan realized. "Making sure they can challenge the authenticity of what we've distributed."
"While setting up a narrative that discredits everything," Reed added. "Classic corporate damage control."
"That's not all," Cole continued. "We intercepted communications suggesting they're pressuring anyone who might support the claims. Including former academics who helped authenticate similar evidence in the past."
Fresh tension filled Rowan as the dark implications sank in. "Dr. Beasley," she breathed. "She helped authenticate some of the early documents. If they pressure her to recant..."
"Already on it," Cole assured her. "Sent people to ensure she's safe. Butthere are others—researchers, historians, people who worked with Elena over the years. All potential targets for intimidation."
"We need to protect them," Rowan said, already reaching for her phone. But Reed caught her hand.
"We need to do this strategically," he said firmly. "Coordinate with multiple chapters, set up safe locations and support networks. Create a system to protect these people and their professional credibility."
"He's right," Cole agreed. "This isn't just about immediate protection anymore. We're looking at potentially years of legal challenges and corporate pressure tactics."
Rowan thought about everything they'd learned, about carefully preserved historical evidence and decades of suppressed land claims. About people who had helped document truths that powerful interests wanted buried.
People who now needed protection from those who would silence them through intimidation or worse.
