King(3)

“He sure as hell proved it to me last night.” Evie grinned, getting up to get a cup of coffee. She was on the way back to her table when Shade came out of his office, motioning for her.

“What’s up?” she questioned.

Shade opened his office door wider and Evie walked inside, taking a seat on the corner of his desk. He closed the door as he came back inside.

“I need you to do something for me.”

“What do you need me to do?” Evie asked curiously, taking a sip of her hot coffee.

“Beth has been changing King’s bandages, but she’s tied up with Mrs. Langley and a new patient. She wanted to know if you would be able to stop by and take care of it for her.”

“No problem. I’ll stop by after lunch.” There went her nap. “I thought he would head back to his home.”

“He wants to stay and spend some time with Lily before he goes back.”

“How’s that working out for you?” She didn’t try to hide her amused grin. Lily and Shade were both still in the honeymoon stage after getting married on Christmas Eve. It wouldn’t be much fun sharing Lily with her father, especially since two of Lily’s childhood friends were still visiting, also. Shade, who was a private person, had to feel like his life was being invaded.

As Shade sat down behind his desk, staring at her, Evie lost her amused expression, and was about to get up.

“He nearly got Lily killed. The stupid bastard couldn’t protect her when she was a kid, but he thinks he can make up for it now.” He leaned back in his chair, his deadly gaze pinning Evie in place. “He’s supposed to go back to Queen City in a few weeks, though, so I can tolerate him that long. I’m planning on taking Lily to Alaska the first of the month anyway, and we’re going to be gone for a few weeks so there won’t be any need for him to stay.”

“Lily will love it.”

“I haven’t told her yet.”

“I won’t say anything.” And she wouldn’t. Shade and she had shared many confidences over the years, many they had never confided with the rest of The Last Riders.

Shade nodded his head. “Penni has decided to go back to work for Kaden Cross. I’m not happy about it, but I can’t change her mind. The only stipulation I was able to get out of her was that The Predators have to stay away from her.”

Evie bet that hadn’t been easy. Penni, Shade’s half-sister, was just as headstrong as her brother, but other than that, they were as different as night and day. Shade’s personality was dark and filled with swirling mysteries while Penni was sunny and bubbly.

“I want you to drive back with her and spend some time with her.”

“To make sure she’s safe?”

“Partially. Penni has always managed to watch out for herself, but I have another reason.”

“Which is?”

“King. I want you to find out exactly what shit he’s involved in and if it could touch Lily.”

“And if it can?”

Shade remained quiet.

“All right. Let me know when she plans to head back, and I’ll get packed. What reason did you give her for why I’m going back with her?”

“Brotherly concern.”

Evie snorted. Shade loved his sister, but if he were really worried about her, he would call his mother and put an immediate stop to her going back.

“That works for me; I could use a vacation. Besides, Lily said her dad runs a strip club; I can always pick up a few new pointers.”

“I doubt that. You could probably teach them a thing or two.”

“I do try.” Evie grinned, sashaying her ass to the door.

“Evie?”

She turned her head back to him. “Yeah?”

“Anything, one little piece of dirt that can get Lily hurt, and I want to know.”

She lost her smile, seeing the grim resolution on his face. “Sure thing.” She went out the door, hoping for Lily’s sake she didn’t find anything. It would be a shame for Lily to lose her father when she had just found him.





Chapter 2




Evie knocked on the door, smiling when it was opened by a large man in a suit.

“Hi, you must be Henry. I’m Evie. Beth sent me to take care of King today.”

When the door opened wider, allowing her inside, Evie entered the nicely-furnished house. The dark-leather furniture gave the home a modern appearance without being over the top. She followed behind Henry as he walked down a short hallway, coming to a stop outside a door where he gave a brief knock, only opening it when he heard a response from the other side.

Evie’s eyes swept across the large bedroom until her attention was caught by a man lying on the bed. He was wearing dark jeans and a white button-up shirt, and his rugged good looks were surprising to her. She had somehow expected Lily’s father to be much older, not this aggressively-in-your-face, sexy male. Wow, Evie thought. The resemblance between Lily and her father was remarkable. Both had the dark hair, but it was the violet eyes that left no doubt about their relationship.