“She likekids?”
“Kids?” Lauraechoed.
“Well, babies, technically speaking. We just welcomed a new addition to our team. She hasn’t started walking yet, mastered the crawl.” Diggs shot her a glance over hisshoulder.
Laura couldn’t help but look toward King, not surprised to see him watching her through his thick dark lashes, his one eye slitopen.
“Where exactly are you takingus?”
* * *
An hourlater Laura had the answer to her question as they pulled up to a mansion. Faith had long since woken from her nap and now bounced on the edge of the seat, her tiny face plastered against the window. Laura leaned over herself, taking in the tall white column structure and its spectacular architecture. Sweeping lines and a landscaped-curve driveway with a fountain smack dab in the center, the place looked like it had been cut out of a Hollywood magazine. There was no way they would be stayinghere.
Diggs parked the truck right in front of the double front doors and he and King exited the vehicle. King opened the back door for them. “We’rehere.”
“And where exactly is here?” she asked hesitantly as she slid out of the truck behind Faith and then snatched up her hand. Faith tugged, attempting to pull Laura in the direction of the doors, her blue eyes wide assaucers.
“Our headquarters. This is where we live. There’s plenty of room for you and Faith. If you’ll follow me, I’ll help get you settled in,” King said, his face drawn. A drop of blood dripped from his shirt and splattered on the space down beneath herfeet.
Concern took over her fear. “You really need to go to thehospital.”
Apparently, that was the wrong response. King frowned at her as if she’d suggested he go jump off a cliff or something insane rather than take care of his health. “Inside.Now.”
Laura planted her free hand on her hip, fully intending to let him know exactly what he could do with his orders, only to stare mouth open as King spun on his heel and stalked up to the front door, leaving her to either follow or stand there like an idiot in the middle of the driveway. A quick glance around showed she had nowhere else to go. She couldn’t take off now with no supplies and no idea where they were, especially not with Faith intow.
Diggs stood on the other side of the truck, propping his arms on the side of the tailgate. “Better move. I’ll go park the truck and meet youinside.”
King stood at the front door, holding it open and staring straight ahead at nothing. She thought long and hard about making him wait, but in the end, it was Faith that dragged her along, not the least bit frightened and every bit excited to see the inside of the house. Laura made sure to glare at him as she crossed the threshold. Hurt or not, she didn’t care. Let him pass out from blood loss for all shecared.
Laura lifted her chin and strode past the stubborn man. But the moment she crossed the threshold her frustration fled. She sucked in a breath in awe. Faith began to bounce excitedly, waving Kitty around in a manner that was sure to dismember the poorcreature.
A massive grand staircase in the center of a foyer large enough to take up her entire townhouse—before it burned to the ground—caught and held her attention. Gleaming polished wood and wrought iron rails flanking plush velvet carpeting that had to have come out of a castle. She wouldn’t be surprised if at any moment a queen came striding down its regal steps. Polished, gleaming floors stretched out in front of her, and a gorgeous sparkling crystal chandelier dripped from the ceiling three storiesabove.
Faith tugged her along. Laura followed wordlessly, breathing in her surroundings as her mind tried to process the grandeur. Faith shook her hand free and bolted for a very expensive looking, very delicate, very tall vase against the wall. Without thinking Laura shot after her and snaked an arm around the child’s waist, yanking her back before she touched the priceless treasure. Dear Lord, that thing probably cost more than she made in fiveyears.
Social workers weren’t known for their pay rate, and Laura had never done her job for that reason—her satisfaction came from helping the children in need. She put Faith down on her feet, placed her hands on her shoulders, and turned her to face her. She took a quick glance in King’s direction, saw that he and Diggs were preoccupied conversing near the front door, and carefully placed herself between the two. Laura signed, “Don’t touchanything.”
Completely unfazed, Faith signed just as quickly, “Everything is so shiny! Is this a castle? Is there a princesshere?”
Laura chuckled. “No castle. This is where we are going to be staying for a little while until your daddy comes to getus.”
Her wide blue eyes expanded even farther. “Really?”
“Really.” Lauraaffirmed.
The hairs on the back of Laura’s neck stood on end and she spun, trapping Faith firmly behind her. King stood less than three feet away, forcing her to crane her neck in an uncomfortable angle to look up at him. His shoulders completely blocked her view of the grand double French doors, but it was the intensity of his stare that left her paralyzed. Even now, after everything that had happened, she couldn’t deny the buzz of awareness betweenthem.
And why she was noticing anything good about the man who’d practically kidnapped her just pissed her off. She’d never stood silently by; she wasn’t going to start now. “What?” He continued to stare at her as if she hadn’t even spoken, and a lukewarm blush spread over her neck. “Change yourmind?”
King grunted, as if that was an appropriate response to either of her questions and strode toward the grand staircase. “Followme.”
It was bad enough she’d allowed him to bring them here, to this place—albeit a gorgeous place—without putting up more of a fight. The guilt threw her, but she pushed it back. She’d been in shock. After the death match between John and King, followed by the explosion… Her house. She’d lost everything. All her photos. Her clothes. Her…stop it. No time to freak outnow.
She let him get about four or five steps up before she responded, “I’m not going one step farther until we talk and you tell me exactly what is goingon.”
King paused mid stride, his shoulders rising as he took a deep, long breath. When he faced her, she faltered. He lookedhorrible.
“Your rooms are up here.” He gestured over his shoulder and winced. King made to take a step down, and nearly missed the step, catching himself on therailing.
