“You wanna talk about Shep, let’s talk about Shep,” I said, ignoring the footsteps I could hear somewhere behind me. “How about we start with the fact that I’m better for him than you could ever be? I’d never hide someone so fucking amazing, and I’d sure as hell never throw him away like you did. He deserves better, and you know what? I am.”
Finally, something that looked like guilt crossed his face, and he ran his hand over his jaw before nodding.
“You’re right,” he said, so quietly I almost missed it.
“Excuse me?”
He looked up. “I said you’re right.”
I hadn’t expected him to agree, and it threw me off balance, especially when his gaze traveled behind me. I turned around to where Shep and East stood at the entrance, like the crash had made them come running.
King got to his feet, addressing Shep. “I fucked up with you, and you deserved better. Youdeservebetter.”
Shep’s shoulders squared, looking like a pillar of strength and resilience—and also just so damn handsome—and he nodded once.
“Yes,” he said, before his gaze shifted to me. “I do.”
King’s eyes then moved back to me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for doubting you, sorry for the way I reacted when I found out aboutyou and Shep, and most of all, I’m sorry I led the danger right to you. There’s no excuse.”
Non, there wasn’t. But… “At least it proved one thing.”
“And that is?”
“You’re human. I’d always had my suspicions.”
“That’s still no excuse,” King said as he moved around the table, stepping over the eggs that were now splattered all over the floor.
Seemed I was getting really good at solving my arguments with food these days. I supposed it was better than my fists. Even if it wasn’t half as satisfying—because there was no way King and I were ending our fight the same way Shep and I had.
King stopped in front of me, his dark eyes full of regret.
“I’ve never doubted my actions more than I have over this last month. Never been more disappointed in myself as a leader, brother…friend.” He glanced past me to where Shep and East silently stood. “I thought the best way to end things with Shep was to make a clean cut. I thought it would be better for him, the organization, all of us.” King’s eyes came back to mine, and he shook his head.“But all it did was leave things unresolved.”
“If you don’t mind,” East said, “I’m going to leave for this little walk down memory lane.”
“East?” King’s voice was soft but commanding. “I love you.”
“I know. I love you too. Now fix this, so I never have to hear about it again.”
Ballsy little shit.It wasn’t every day you heard someone order King around. But it made sense he’d go for someone mouthy. He liked being the leader, the top dog, and Lord knew there was no one who needed topping more than East.
The door shut, and I looked back to see Shep walking toward us. When he took my hand in his, lacing our fingers, King glanced down at the union and nodded.
“Something so simple,” he said so quietly I almost missed it. “A kiss on the cheek, hands being held in public.” He looked from me to Shep, and gave a sad smile. “I couldn’t give you that.Didn’tgive you that, and no one deserves it more. Realizing that was a harder pill to swallow than I expected. I’d never really allowed myself to think about how it would feel to watch you fall for someone else. Someone I know…” King turned to me, a look of remorse on his serious face. “I didn’t handle it well.”
“Non, you didn’t.”
“And you’re right. You are good for him. You’re good for each other. I should’ve seen that…”
He turned away from us then, moving back to the table, bracing his hands on top of it, and staring down at the wood grain. I knew King well enough to know he wasn’t done yet, and when Shep’s fingers tightened around mine, I could tell he sensed it too.
There was more here, more contributing to the stiff shoulders we were staring at than our involvement, and a second later King lifted a hand and slammed a fist down on top of the table, making the remaining dinnerware vibrate where it sat.
“I wasfuckingcareless,” he spat out, his chest heaving with self-disgust. “I was fucking careless and it almost got you killed.”
King spun around then, his eyes full of remorse, his expression dour. I barely recognized him as he slumped back into a chair.
“You’re right to question me, to doubt my leadership. This is all happening—allhappened—because of me, because of my choices. And you, Theo—you almost died. I can’t ever forgive myself for that, so how the hell could I possibly ask you to?”
