Page 171 of Wanted By a King

“Yeah?”

“I’m really glad you didn’t die today.” She admits as fat tears pop from her eyes.

“Hey,” I say, turning her to me and cupping her face. “I’m not leaving you, remember. You know how fucking possessive I am over you. Do you think I’ll let some prick take me from this world and leave you defenseless?”

She shakes her head, letting her smile break through her tears. “Actually, no. I don’t think you’d ever let that happen.”

“I’ll burn this whole fucking world down for you Zoe Miller. Mark my words.”

“Would you leave the club for me?”

Her words cause me to flinch back like she slapped me, and she shakes her head, smiling.

“I didn’t think so, but just so you know, I’m okay with that, because I know they are your family, and well…” She glances over to where Alana is getting drilled by Slasher before she looks back to me. “I think they are my family too.”

Zoe

Isitinfrontof the small vanity mirror, putting the finishing touches on my face. The skin around my bruised eye has turned darker overnight, and I can barely open it. So far, I’ve coated it in makeup rather than take Beth’s suggestion about wearing an eyepatch. In my mind that would seem like an insult to Slayer who always wore one.

If it wasn’t for the direness of our reality, I would have begged Gray to take me back to the cabin where it was just the two of us. But I can’t be that selfish. The Kings need their VP. And for some reason, the Cunts need me.

I’ve kept my questions and dislike of Dirty Diamonds to a minimum, too busy consoling and trying to be here for Gray. Trying being the operative word, because apart from his constant need to touch me, he acts like he’s on autopilot.

Aside from our time in the elevator, I’ve barely seen any emotion from him. Whatever he’s feeling about Gunner’s death remains a mystery, and all my attempts at getting him to open up have been in vain.

Rather than prying into his thoughts, I’ve inquired about Dirty Diamonds and discovered that the Cruz Kings and the Diamond Crew have some kind of arrangement. Which I guess makes sense, considering they took Gray in after his dad died. There’s history here between Cain, Gray, and Rocco.

Though now isn’t the time, I desperately want to know everything. Not because of Cain or Rocco. No, it’s all due to the fact that I want to get to know Gray better. I want to know everything about him, and I want him to really know me as well.

But for now, answers will have to wait, and I just have to accept that their history is why we’re here, camping out in the Diamond Crew’s headquarters.

Who knew a sleazy sex club was the front for a—according to Gray—big, illegal vigilante operation?

I try not to think too much about it.

For one, I’m not sure I actually care.

Two, that’s a lie—I care so much I prefer not to know all the gory details.

Three, this place, and the people here, scare me.

“Everyone’s ready, Zo,” Rose says in a solemn voice.

“You shouldn’t hide your wound,” Rhiannon sneers from next to me. “At least you got yours in battle. It’s like your warrior badge or some shit.”

She reaches for the pictures of Gunner, Sasha, and Slayer. Removing the top two, she lifts the one of Gunner. At first, it looks like she’s mourning the loss of him. But when she slams the glass into the corner of the table and it shatters, I rethink that impression.

“You motherfucker!” she screams. “May you fucking rot in hell.”

She takes a knife out of the pocket of the black dress she’s wearing and immediately slices into the smiling face in the photograph.

“How do you like being cut?”

She laughs maniacally as she continues to slice into the picture until she cuts through it.

“What are you doing?” I cry, surprised by her actions. “That’s the picture for the memorial.”

It took me for-fucking-ever to get my hands on pictures of the three members who died in the attack. But I was adamant in my mission, hoping it would help people see them when they were at their best, instead of how they looked at their end.

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