Page 52 of Catch a King (Five Kings 1)

Ryder looks mighty pissed and I say quickly, “It doesn’t matter. All that does is we’re ok, it’s done.”

Ryder shakes his head. “We are far from done.”

He holds the coin in his hand and says almost to himself. “There’s only one man I know in Vegas with access to this coin, and if it’s him, this shit storm has only just begun.”

He looks across at Snake. “We need to head home; this can’t wait.”

Snake nods and heads out the door, and I feel real fear inside as Ryder turns his attention to me. “You coming?”

Sawyer grips my hand so tightly it brings tears to my eyes because it stills stings from the rope burns. However, I would withstand any amount of pain to be with him and just grip his hand even tighter.

I stare between Sawyer and Ryder and feel physically torn. On the one hand, I want to go home so badly I could cry. Seeing the guys has only reinforced the fact I belong with them. Then there’s Sawyer. How can I even think of leaving him, it would be like cutting my arm off?

I actually can’t answer him, and Ryder nods. “It’s your choice, darlin’, you know we will respect whatever you decide. If you choose to stay, you will always have a home with us. Come back any time, we’re family.”

Sawyer leans forward and says gruffly, “I want Millie to stay with me more than anything. I want her to stay in my life until it ends.”

He turns to me.

“But you must go.”

“Sawyer no… I…”

He places his finger on my lips and I feel his pain as he says firmly, “I have to return to my unit. We head out in seven days. They need me here to sort this shit out and this is no place for you. You are better with your family and when I leave the military, I’ll find you and we will begin again. Stay safe and I know you will be in the best place for doing that with the best protection there is. Trust me, darlin’, youdotrust me, don’t you?”

I nod because the tears are spilling faster than I can breathe. It’s like having open heart surgery without an anesthetic and I feel raw pain where my heart used to be. Sawyer pulls me close, fiercely and without care for who’s watching and kisses me so passionately I almost drown in love for him. As he pulls back, he wipes the tears from my eyes and smiles. “I love you, Millie Raymond, and I need to know that you will be waiting for me. I want us to grow old together, to have a family, to create many memories that we can look back on as a life well spent. But what I need the most is for you to go home. Can you do that, honey, for me?”

I nod and whisper so only he can hear me. “If you don’t come back to me, I’m coming for you, soldier.”

His arms wrap around me and pull me close and in doing so shuts the whole world out. Then, as Ryder stands, he pulls back and smiles. “Come on, darlin’, I’ll walk you out.”

I know that Ryder is impatient to leave; I saw the urgency in the look he shot Snake when he saw the coin. But I hesitate and turn to Slade and smile. “Thank you.”

“You have nothing to thank me for. I owe you and I’ll never forget that.”

I nod and turn to Axel who looks destroyed and I nod, “Live your best life, Axel, you don’t know how long it will last, so there’s no reason to fear what you really want.”

He looks uncomfortable and I look at the Channings and smile. “Stay strong and make Billy proud. I’ll be seeing you.”

Axel makes to speak and I shake my head. “Tell me when I see you next.”

He nods and with Sawyer on one side and Ryder on the other, we head outside.

Chapter 41

Sawyer

Watching Millie leave was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. My instincts were screaming at me to keep her by my side. I almost lost Millie tonight, and now I’m losing her all over again.

We promised to send her belongings on because for some reason Ryder was desperate to leave. Whatever that gold coin meant to him has made him edgy, and I wonder what that means for the guy in Vegas. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes after seeing first-hand how these guys operate. They are a rougher grade of military and watching them go about their business, reminded me of my own.

As soon as the last car leaves my sight, I head inside to a place that will never be the same again.

I make my way to the office with my family and we crack open a bottle of whiskey.

“Well, I’ve had better nights.”

Slade grabs the glass and downs it in one, and Axel nods. “To Billy.”

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