Page 7 of The Kingpin’s Omega Lover (River City Omegas #2)

“I believe you.” While he and Malori shared a similar pain in past sexual abuse, King had no point of reference for the loss of one child, much less two.

He had no idea what Malori had been promised during his pregnancies, the hopes he’d allowed himself, or the plans that had been destroyed, because Malori hadn’t talked to King about any of it.

The only thing Malori had known for sure was the name of his son’s father.

Or at least, the name Malori had been given.

A man whose first name was too damned close to King’s. It had taken several weeks of recovery before Malori said the name Aleks Yovenko to King, and it had made perfect sense why Malori had reacted the way he had when King first introduced himself.

Malori released a loud, angry snort. “You say you believe me, that I’ll cut a man’s heart out, but you still treat me like glass, King. Who was he?”

“You said you were only given pseudonyms for everyone.”

“Then show me his picture. You have to have one from surveillance, if nothing else.”

King almost wished he had a photo of Landau naked, turning blue, and in actual pain from having his dick half-frozen off.

But King wasn’t into making digital recordings of his crimes.

He’d erased everything Ziggy sent him before entering the warehouse this morning.

“I can get a photo to show you,” King finally said.

“No one will be looking for him around here.”

“How long did he suffer?”

“Long enough that he didn’t have anything left to confess to. Not that I offered any sort of absolution. That’s between him and his god.”

“I wish you’d let me be there next time.

It’s my pain you’re avenging, King.” The snarl in Malori’s voice should have surprised King more than it did.

The further Malori got from his captivity, the larger his anger grew, morphing into a form of vengeance that King wasn’t sure what to do with.

Did he encourage Malori’s need for revenge? Discourage it?

Stand back and let nature take its course? Allow Malori to choose his own path?

Instinct said to give Malori the chance to make his own choices.

But years of regret urged King to help Malori find a different path, to redirect his hatred and anger into something healthier.

To avoid the life King had created for himself.

A life that would inevitably end in King’s own violent death.

“I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be,” King said softly, hoping he came across as understanding rather than condescending. “I already promised you’d know and be involved when we find whoever has your children.”

“What if I’m tired of waiting for that?”

“It’s only been six months.”

Malori surged to his feet, hands fisted by his sides, and he glared down at King. “It’s been almost four years! Four years since I was sold to these people, forced to do despicable sexual acts, to give birth and have my fucking children stolen from me! I’m tired of waiting for my turn!”

This new burst of fury stunned King into momentary silence.

It also warmed him with pride and respect.

Malori had been hurt in the worst ways a human being could hurt another, but he was no one’s victim.

He was still fighting. King slowly stood, aware he had a solid six inches of height on Malori, but Malori somehow still seemed to glare down at King.

King stood calmly while Malori vibrated with negative emotions.

Emotions King expected to drain away and leave Malori exhausted and calm, like Kensley’s infrequent outbursts did.

Kensley had his own ongoing issues with PTSD from his weeklong captivity.

Malori’s was so much more complex, and King had to stop comparing the two.

They were both omega males in their twenties, but their lives had been nothing alike. Not even close.

Kensley and Malori had only interacted for a matter of days on the Farm, before they’d been rescued together.

Before that, Kensley had been hiding with Bishop and falling in love, and before that, he’d been a priest, living safely in an abbey with other omega male and alpha female priests.

Before the Farm, Malori had lived a difficult life dealing drugs on the street and avoiding anyone discovering his nature as an omega.

Malori never offered up much more than those surface details, but King had asked Ziggy to dig deeper.

Fingerprints found several arrest records and a birth certificate, proving Malori hadn’t lied about his identity.

After verifying Malori was no threat to King or his organization, King had dug no further.

He wanted Malori to talk to him, to open up one day.

Today was not that day. Today, Malori was still angry. And vengeful.

Vengeful people could get sloppy and make mistakes.

“You’re right,” King said. “You deserve more than sitting around here, one day after the next, waiting. You should have something to focus on. A goal.”

“My goal is to cut Aleks Yovenko’s heart out, one piece at a time, for lying to me for nine months. For promising a future he never intended on providing. A life he fabricated to placate me, so he could steal my child. I want the man dead, King. I don’t care that he’s my son’s father.”

“I know. No judgments here. But instead of just fantasizing about that revenge, I want to help you focus it.”

“How?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow morning. Get a good night’s sleep, and then meet me in the hall outside my bedroom at eight-thirty sharp.”

Malori glared. “Your bedroom?”

“It’s not what you think. Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting sweaty in. And before you ask, we’re both keeping all clothing on, at all times. You can even invite Kensley to watch, if you don’t trust me.”

“I’m not…” He trailed off, those suspicious hazel eyes studying King for a long time before blinking hard. “Okay. Eight-thirty, your room. Comfortable clothes.”

“Excellent.” King checked the time on his phone. “I’ll see you downstairs for dinner in about thirty minutes.”

“Okay.”

King slowly walked away, pleased that he’d been able to distract Malori for a little while, and hopeful that tomorrow’s exercise plan worked.

King hadn’t realized how large Malori’s hatred and desire for vengeance had grown these last six months, but it had shone through today, fueled by his missing daughter’s birthday.

He need to give Malori the tools to reshape his hatred into something else, something that wouldn’t eat him alive from the inside out.

He wouldn’t allow Malori to become a killer like King had.