King(16)

His fingers rubbed his eyes tiredly. He never felt bad about any shit he pulled, but tonight, his conscience was riding him hard. Lily wasn’t the source of his guilt, though; she didn’t realize what she was caught up in. The source of his guilt was Evie.

He had never manhandled a woman before, and it didn’t sit well with him now. He hadn’t done anything other than grab her arm, yet it had been out of line and he knew it.

He chewed on the end of his cigar as he thought about her expression when he had said he could catch something from her. She had tried to hide the hurt he had inflicted.

He had deliberately started the argument outside when Lily had texted him she was about to leave the store. He had ruthlessly used Evie to set The Last Riders up when he had seen Lucky go outside after Willa. He was becoming an expert at sparking Evie’s temper, so he had said the most hurtful thing he could say to her and waited for the fireworks. Everything had gone the way he had planned except for his own reaction to the hurt in Evie’s eyes.

Lily and Shade were leaving on Monday and so would he. He would use that time to find a way to destroy The Last Riders. Then, when Lily returned, he would fly back to Kentucky.

He stared out at the dark mountains, wondering whose bed Evie was in tonight. He had a variety of sexual partners at his beck and call. He usually went for the petite women. He wasn’t attracted to women with attitudes, nor did he like his women taking a dip in someone else’s pool. Evie was the exact opposite of everything he wanted; tall with brown hair that had highlights of red and gold, whiskey-colored eyes, and a body that was firm and lithe. She reminded him of an expensive glass of bourbon with all the hidden delights and a strong bite.

King bit down on his cigar. After his stunt today, his seduction was going to take time. Jackal had called earlier in the day to inform him Evie was accompanying Penni back to Queen City. A member’s wife from Jackal’s biker club was friends with Penni; therefore, the information had come as no shock to him. The Last Riders were checking on him.

His life was one of violence. He held a stranglehold on Queen City. No illegal activity happened in his city without his permission and a cut of the profits. All those who tried found themselves out of the city or six-feet under. The last few years had been calm since, over the years, no one had dared to challenge his authority except Digger who was now in protective custody, courtesy of the state of Texas.

“Should you be out of bed?”

King didn’t let his surprise show. He didn’t even bother to turn around, instead looking at his son-in-law’s reflection in the glass. “I needed to move around. You just missed Lily and Beth.”

“I saw them leave.”

King took a deep draw of his cigar. “Henry okay?”

“He’ll wake up in a few minutes.”

King turned to face Shade. “Say what you want to say.”

“Stop, King. Go back to Queen City. Live your life. If you want to play father, call Lily once a month. Come and see her for a week in the summer. But stay out of our lives the rest of the time.”

“And if I don’t? I’m not someone you can make disappear without Lily asking questions.”

“I don’t have to make you disappear, King.” Shade’s eyes held the promise while his features remained emotionless.

“I see, like how the two bikers who nearly killed Lily ended up at the bottom of Black Mountain?”

Shade’s stony silence filled the room. King had met every type of man imaginable in his type of work; however, this man staring at him from across the room was different. He didn’t react with anger at his manipulations or cutting remarks. Nothing got beneath his skin. He was as cold-blooded as a snake, and sooner or later, he would strike out and hurt Lily. King’s stomach clenched with fury that his daughter was married to the sinister assassin.

An ironic smile came to Shade’s lips. “I understand your desire to protect Lily from me, but I will never hurt Lily—I would die for her. You, on the other hand, have always placed your own needs above hers. You were the one who left her in the care of a mother who sold her. You were the one who placed a child molester in her home. And you were the one who nearly got her killed three weeks ago. Lily needs protection from only one person—you.”

King crushed his cigar out. “You don’t need to remind me of the mistakes I’ve made with her. I plan to do better by her.”

“The only way you can do better is by staying out of her life. You’re not going to fix your past mistakes now. It’s too late.” Shade went to the bedroom door.

“You’re not going to keep me out of her life. You’re wrong for her, and we both know it. When I prove it to her, she’ll leave you behind. You don’t frighten me, Shade. It’s been awhile since I’ve had to get my hands dirty, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how.”