Page 41 of Kings Don't Break

She’s a bundle of anxiety, her brows knitted and her foot tapping under the table. You’d think she expects to get in trouble the way she’s behaving, like she’s nervous about being found out for sitting back as somebody else cooks.

Is this the effect he’s had on her? He’s got her so damn trained she associates anything in the kitchen as her job? Even when he’s not around?

I breathe through another beat of anger, forcing myself to keep my cool.

The last thing these two need is somebody else exploding around them. They’re skittish deer that have finally come out from hiding. I can’t fuck this up.

“Bacon and scrambled eggs,” I say, setting down their plates. “OJ? Coffee? I got some decaf.”

Korine half rises. “Blake, let me?—”

“Sit your butt down, Kori. I got this.”

Sunny aims an amused look at her daughter. “He told you.”

I laugh, taking up space at the counter to eat. My trailer’s not the best equipped to handle guests. Mostly because I don’t have many visitors other than the occasional woman that spends the night. Two chairs, two sets of everything, have always been enough.

There’ll be some growing pains if they’re going to be staying with me. Adjustments that’ll need to be made, but that I’m more than willing to make.

“These eggs are amazing, Blake,” Korine says after a few forkfuls.

Sunny nods and sips from her coffee. “This is better than the Sunday breakfast your father makes. We should call him up.”

Korine glances over in my direction. Her look tells me not to correct Sunny. It’s easier to brush off the comment than remind her her husband passed away a long time ago.

I clear my throat and change the subject. “I’m assuming you two don’t have much on you? Just what’s on your back?”

“We didn’t… there was no time,” Korine says. “I was more concerned with getting Mama out.”

“We’ve got two options. I can take you by your place to pick some things up or we can swing by the Buy N’ Save and pick up what you need.” Korine opens her mouth as I present the options, but I cut her off, adding, “Don’t tell me not to get involved ’cuz I already am.”

“The Buy N’ Save.”

“The Buy N’ Save it is. But somebody’s got to go to your house eventually. If you want your things.”

She shakes her head, her eyebrows pinched. “Not today, okay?”

I let it go. We agree that I’ll take them by the Buy N’ Save once I run a quick errand to the club. It’s not safe for them to go out by themselves considering her garbage husband might show up and accost them.

Korine promises she and Sunny will stay put while I’m gone. I toss a tarp over her car to hide its whereabouts and show her where my gun collection’s stashed.

“This is too much…”

“In case, Kori,” I say. “If he turns up like you think he will, looking for you, he could get violent. Keep the door locked. Don’t let him in and call me if he does show up. I’ll be back in no more than an hour, okay?”

“Hurry please,” she mumbles.

Fuck, the soft whisper of her voice, the note of worry laced in its sound, makes me want to pull her into my arms and never let her go.

The chain in the door clicks into place the second I’m past the threshold. It brings me relief as I stride toward my bike and toss my leg over the side.

The curtains in my living room window rustle. So subtle I wouldn’t notice if I didn’t know better. Korine’s peeking out, watching me go.

As anxious as she is, I doubt she’ll stop counting the minutes ’til I return.

I blast off, determined to make it back soon like I promised I would. I needed to make this trip in order to brief Mace and everybody else on what’s happened. They’ve gotta know some serious trouble could be headed our way.

The law already had us on their radar after the war between us, the Hellrazors, and the Road Reapers.