Dom (Alliance #3)

King: Please reply to me.

King: I’m going to tell Savannah.

King: Don’t make me tell her.

King: I’m sorry I didn’t stop him.

King: Just tell me you’re okay.

New tears, real tears, start to fall from my eyes.

Because King wasn’t lying.

But none of it scrapes away the ugly doubt clinging to my ribs. Because King is an honorable man. And he’s probably reacting this way because of familial obligation.

And I’m so fucking sick of being an obligation. A burden. The relative who doesn’t fit. The one who gets a chair at the table out of pity. Because she has nowhere else to go.

I sniff, the tears still falling.

And that’s not fair.

It’s not fair to King or Savannah or Aspen. Because maybe they are trying. But it doesn’t change the facts. And it doesn’t change history.

I wipe at my cheeks.

It’s nice that King called me.

But I’ll get myself out of this situation. Just like I’ve gotten myself out of all the ones before it.

I type a reply to King.

Me: Sorry, my—

Delete.

Me: My phone was off. I’ll call you later. I’m okay—

Delete.

Me: My phone was off. I’ll be okay.

Send.

I won’t be anyone’s burden anymore.

CHAPTER18

Dom

I’m tryingto keep my attention on the road so I don’t kill us, but I can’t stop looking at Valentine.

Did King have anything to do with this? With you and me?

Why the fuck would she ask something like that?

Were we not standing in front of the same King just a few hours ago? That man was ready to rip my fucking head off. His anger today rivaled his anger from those months ago when he thought I was being shady with his wife.

I don’t know why Val would be doubting him, but based on the amount of scrolling she did on her phone, I think King was telling the truth about trying to reach her.