King's Reign (Sydney Storm MC #6)(19)

She smiled. “I wish I could take tomorrow off, too. I’m not far, though, so call and I’ll come as soon as I can.” The sound of a car pulling up drew our attention, and Addy said, “Good God, it’s almost ten o’clock. Who would be stopping by now?”

I squinted into the dark trying to see who it was, but I knew the only person who would come by at this time of night was the one person I really didn’t want to see. King. My belly fluttered, betraying me, the bitch. She’d done the same thing this morning when he’d dropped by the hospital.

I was a mess over this man.

Completely confused and flustered.

“Oh no he doesn’t,” Adelaide muttered as she saw King approaching. “What the hell makes you think it’s okay to come here at this time of night?” she snapped at him.

His scowl was unmistakable as he walked up the stairs onto the front porch. My gaze dropped to the casserole dishes he held. Odd. My attention, though, was quickly drawn back to his face as he looked at me and said, “Skylar asked me to bring these over.”

It was totally King not to bother answering her question about why he’d chosen to come so late. And as hurt and angry as I still was with him, I couldn’t move past the way he watched me with concern blazing in his eyes. It was so unlike anything he’d given me at any other time.

Shit.

Addy started in on him again. “Well, you can give me those and turn around—”

I placed my hand on her arm. “It’s okay, babe, I’ve got this.”

She spun her head to look at me, eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re not seriously going to let him in?”

“No, but I’m not going to stand here and get into another argument,” I said, giving her the look I reserved for when I needed her to let me fight my own battles. Adelaide was the kind of bestie every girl needed, always going into battle for her friends. Sometimes, though, she didn’t know when to back away. This was one of those times. King and Addy both had strong personalities. If I let her continue her tirade, God knew where we’d end up.

We stood making eyes at each other for a few moments, the kind of eyes best friends made when they were trying to communicate “are you sure” and “yes, I’m sure” and “I don’t think you are” and “I promise you, I am.” Finally, she took a deep breath and glanced back at King. Pointing her finger at him, she said, “You hurt her again, you’ll have me to answer to, buddy.”

The intensity with which he looked at her and nodded his agreement took my breath away. What was going on here? Three days ago, he’d told me we were done. Now he seemed determined to disregard that decision, so much so that he took Adelaide’s warning without argument. This wasn’t the demanding man I knew.

After giving me one last questioning glance, Adelaide left us and walked to her car. I watched her in silence, refusing to give King my attention straight away. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts. God, I needed more than a freaking moment, but I knew he wouldn’t give me that.

As she pulled out of the driveway, he moved closer and said, “I’ll put these in your fridge.”

I turned my face to his, trying hard not to trace my gaze over his skin. The man was far too good-looking, though. Or maybe it was those eyes of his that did me in. They revealed the depth to him I knew was there. The things I’d desperately wanted to know about him, but hadn’t had the time to learn.

He remained quiet while I examined his face and then his neck. I lost myself for a beat, remembering how his mouth had felt on me, how his lips had grazed my skin, how his eyes had tracked my movements making me feel more desired than I ever had. Making me feel like the woman I’d always wanted to be.

Oh God.

No.

I could not go there with him again.

“Lily,” he rumbled at the same time my mother joined us.

“Lily, I want to call the priest,” she said, her words as disjointed as her actions had been since Brynn was shot.

I frowned at her. “Why?”

She looked at me like I’d asked a silly question. “I want him to give Brynn the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.”

Her words winded me. I struggled to breathe as they worked their way through me. I understood what she said, and I understood the significance of asking for that, but my world spun at the thought of my sister being close enough to death to call on a priest.

She isn’t going to die.

We do not need that sacrament.

“Lily,” Mum said again, cutting through my fog. “Can you please get me his number?”

“No, we don’t need him,” I snapped. “Brynn’s not dying, Mum.”

My outburst caught her by surprise, and her eyes widened. But she came back with, “You don’t know that, and I want to make sure—”

“No! Don’t you dare say that!”

I was wild.

Livid.

I would not entertain the thought my sister was at death’s door.

Mum stared at me and then without another word, she turned and walked back inside. This conversation wasn’t finished, though. Not by a long shot. I stalked after her, ranting as I went. “Do not walk away from me when we’re in the middle of a conversation!”

She ignored me and continued moving towards her bedroom.