: Chapter 77

I press my lips together as I watch King stop halfway between where I am in his SUV and the front door of the junkyard building.

He’d been striding toward me, ready to take me home, but one of the guys standing with Nero next to the building just called him back.

I watch King’s chest expand with an inhale, before he turns back to the man who has a phone pressed to his ear.

King told me not to overthink what happened. So, I haven’t.

Because if I do… Nope. See? Not even going there.

And I’m also not going to wonder what he was doing in there while I was out here waiting.

You know what he was doing. He was killing that man.

But King asked me to do something else. He asked me to trust him.

And I do.

So I will.

Which is why I’m sitting here, with my hands in my lap, while I watch the group of men talk in the dark.

Nero says something, but King shakes his head, pointing at one of the guys I don’t know.

Something is wrong.

King breaks away, but instead of heading to the driver’s door, he comes to mine.

I locked the doors once I got in, so I hit the control to unlock them now. And as soon as King pulls the door open, I reach out for him, grabbing the open front of his shirt.

“What’s wrong.”

He shakes his head. “Nothing.”

I pull a little on his shirt. “It’s not nothing.”

He stands there, watching me, and I can see the moment he decides to share. And watching him choose to trust me back feels even bigger than what we just did together.

His hands close over mine. “Someone set the gallery on fire.”

My brows furrow. “The gallery? You mean Mandi and Orlando’s gallery?”

He nods. “No one was there, so no one was hurt. But I want to go check it out.”

“Why?”

“Because it feels personal, and I want to see it.”

I swallow. What if we’re the reason that happened?

“I’m coming with you,” I tell King, but he’s already shaking his head.

“No.”

“But––”

“No, Savannah.” He grabs my chin, which seems to be his new favorite move. “You are not coming. You’re going to the house.” I try to argue, but he pushes my chin up, closing my mouth. “This is part of trusting me. You’re in it with me now, Baby. And there’s no going back. But you need to do what I say when it comes to your safety. You can bitch at me any other time, and we can argue, and sometimes you‘ll win. But not when it comes to keeping you safe.” His grip loosens. “Tell me you’ll listen.”

“I’ll listen.”

“Good.” King lets go of me completely and steps back, my hands finally dropping from his shirt. “Rocco will drive you home.” Just as he says it, another black SUV pulls up next to us.

King moves to the rear door and opens it for me.

I hesitate, glancing at the driver’s profile.

“He’s Nero’s second. He’s solid. And he knows that he, and everyone he’s ever met, would die a horrible, painful death if anything happened to you while he’s in charge.”

I swear I see the guy shake his head, like this isn’t the first time he’s been threatened by his bosses, and it makes me feel a little more comfortable.

“So, is the whole kill everyone you know threat just your usual go-to? I thought I was special.” I try not to smile as I tease my husband.

King narrows his eyes, “Get in the other vehicle, Savannah.”

He said he’d be right behind me. But based on how far away the gallery is from here, he’s gonna be at least another thirty minutes.

Covering another yawn, I decide to stop fighting sleep.

I’ve already changed back into my pajamas I took off when King woke me up a few hours ago. And I don’t care if the sun is going to rise in an hour. I pulled the blackout curtains shut in preparation for my plan to sleep through most of the day.

Leaving the side lamp on for King, I pull back the covers and climb into bed.

My body is aching in all the right ways, and I settle onto the mattress with thoughts of my husband floating through my mind.