“Come on.”
Finally, my mouth opened and words left me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He searched my eyes. “You’re going to get through this.”
I nodded, even though I didn’t believe a damn thing he said.
“Oh, um.” My eyes flew to Nate, who was taking off his seatbelt. “We’re having a meeting today, with Tillie.”
Nate softened, his hard features instantly changing. “Why?” he whispered.
“She wants to leave.”
“Like fuck!” he roared. I winced from the sudden lash out.
“Nate!” Bishop scolded him.
“Sorry, sis, but she can’t leave. I’ll k—” He paused, his eyes going to Bishop and then changed his tactic. “Too soon. She just can’t leave with my kid.”
“She won’t, but that’s what we need this meeting for.” I waited for Bishop to get out of the car then slipped out behind him. “And then, I’m going to plan my brother’s funeral.”
A second car pulled up behind us with Jase, Hunter, Eli, Chase, and Brantley inside, and then another behind theirs with Spyder, Ollie, Tate, and someone else I didn’t care to recognize. Tate tried to come with us, but Nate kicked her out.
I left everyone behind and went to the front door, pushing it open. “Tillie?” I called out, but my voice was weak. It physically hurt to speak, and the sooner this day was over, the better. Bishop, Nate, and Jase walked in behind with the rest of the gang. I headed to the sitting room.
I looked at Elena. “Where’s Tillie?”
I didn’t want a shower. I wanted to stay as I was, with the last bit of Daemon left on my skin, so when Elena’s eyes went to my hands, she flinched.
“Daemon,” I whispered, my throat swollen.
“And Katsia,” Nate added, climbing onto the couch with his mom.
That’s when I heard Nate ask, “What’s wrong?”
My eyes swung back to Elena, who met mine. “I’m sorry about your loss, sweetheart. I know how much Daemon meant to you,” she paused. I winced, tears pooling again. She stood, wiped her pants and squared her shoulders, putting on a fake smile, even though tears were threatening the corner of her eyes.
Her eyes went to Nate. “She’s gone.”
“What!” Nate flew off his chair. My throat swelled, my eyes closing. “When?”
I shook my head. “She wouldn’t leave, Elena. She was happy that Micaela had her dad.”
“Stop defending her, sis, not everyone has the same thought process as you.”
Elena’s eyes came to mine. “No, she’s right. Something doesn’t feel right, Nate. I took her and the baby to register Micaela. I dropped them at the front and told them I’d be right back after finding a parking spot. Tillie wasn’t erratic. She left the diaper bag in the car and asked me to bring it in with me because her hands were full with the papers and documents she needed.” She paused. “I just got home. I spent hours there trying to find them. I demanded to look at CCTV footage but without a warrant, they can’t show me anything.” Her eyes came to me. “Something is not right, Madison.”
“And if she has run?” Hunter asked, coming closer to me. Jase followed him when suddenly, I had my two brothers behind me, Bishop beside me, Tate coming up closely, and Nate sitting directly in front of me. I exhaled a shaky breath. “First, I want to bury my brother” —I paused, my head tilting over my shoulder to Jase and Hunter— “our brother.” Then I looked at Nate. “Then we can get her back.”
His knee jiggled. “We better bury him tomorrow, then, sis, because if she’s missing, that means my kid could be in danger.”
He was right.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed my dad, who was still on Perdita.
He answered. “Madison? Are you ok?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes. How long until Daemon can be here? I’d like to bury him tomorrow, and we have a situation here where Tillie may be missing with the baby.”
Dad paused. “Jesus. Ok. Yes, I’ll have everything sorted for a burial tomorrow. Do you have any requests on caskets?”
“Black, and Dad?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I love you.”
There was a long pause. “I love you too.”
Hanging up, I sighed, massaging my temples. “Dad will have everything sorted for a burial tomorrow. I assume he will be buried in our family plot here.” Bishop pulled me under his arm.
“We will find her, Nate, I promise.”
Later that night, I’m climbing the stairs after a long hot bath when I hit the top of the stairs and head into my bedroom. Bishop and I wanted alone time but didn’t get it, because now my bedroom was filled with not just the ten Kings I was familiar with, but the other three who were from the previous generation, too.
And Tate, of course.
They all paused watching their tv show and their attention came to me as I opened my door. “Thanks for all being here, but honestly, it’s not necessary.”
Tate perched up on her elbow. “It’s okay, Mads. Let us.”
I internally battled with myself, but when my eyes went to Bishop, who was freshly showered with grey sweatpants on and no shirt, my brain seized. His gaze assaulted my body, and I flushed before going to the bed. It felt empty not having Daemon here with us. I slid under the cover and Bishop pulled me under his arm. Kissing my head.
The next morning, my muscles felt tight, unmovable. My eyes slowly cracked open, and I sat up slowly, looking down at the mass of bodies that were still snoring on the floor. The patio door was open all night, allowing a soft breeze to maintain its calmness through my bedroom.
“You ok?” Bishop asked,
