Ruthless King

“Promise?” she said in a quiet voice.

“I promise, baby. That was Gerald you saw. Not your father.”

A sob escaped her and to his shock, she threw herself at him. “Promise. Promise me.”

He gathered her close, cursing her father. Cursing himself for leaving her.

She was so hot, but he didn’t move. He just needed to hold her.

“I promise. He’s dead. He’s never coming back. And he will never hurt you again.”

28

How was it possible that she felt worse today?

Jilly moaned quietly, her throat protesting even that much noise. Her entire body hurt.

Heck, even her eyeballs hurt.

She glanced over through watery eyes to see Regent walk in with a tray of food.

He was still here?

Jilly really thought he might have gotten tired of taking care of her by now.

“I’m sick,” she complained as he set the tray down.

On the tray was a plate of burned toast with sliced bananas on the side.

Hmm.

“I know you are, baby.” He picked up the thermometer and took her temperature. “Still high. Here, take this medicine.”

He placed the pills on her tongue, following up with some water. Hr throat protested as she swallowed them.

“Do you want the bathroom before you eat?” he asked.

Well, she didn’t want to eat at all. But she nodded.

She let him pick her up and carry her into the bathroom without argument. She wasn’t sure her legs would get her there and back. After she was finished, he carried her back and tucked her in.

What would she do without him?

“You’re so good to me,” she told him. “Staying here, taking care of me, carrying me around. Bringing me food. And I’m probably going to make you ill.”

To her surprise, he sat in the chair beside the bed with a sigh. “I’m not that good to you.”

Jilly stared at the food. “Well, it is questionable whether breakfast will make me better or worse . . .”

He grimaced. “I told Gerald to sleep in after last night. And I’m not much of a cook.”

Yeah, he really wasn’t.

Wait.

“What happened last night?” she asked with a frown.

“You don’t remember?” he asked.