Page 138 of Unveil

King shrugs like his son didn’t mouth off to a third of the most powerful crime dynasty in the country. Maybe the fucking world.

“As you can see, growing pains are expected with any shift in power. But Hatton is right. The Wildes will target the others next. My boys will do what they can to protect the remaining daughters, but the Wildes are dogs with bones.”

Sol’s nostrils flare, his chest rising and falling in quick succession. But he gives King one stiff nod.

“The Bordeauxs are on your side. ForLuna’ssafety. But know this. I don’t trust you. If I knew my family would be safe tomorrow in a world without you or your boys in it, I’d finish you off like”—he snaps his fingers—“that.”

“But you won’t,” King says, gaze drifting to Luna. “Because now she’d never forgive you. And you know it.”

Sol’s jaw ticks as he glances between the three of us, finally landing on Luna, sleeping safe and sound now that we’re home.

“I love her, Sol. I’ll let her make her decisions, but whether I get to love her by her side or from a distance, I won’t give her up without a fight. No matter what, though, she’ll be safe.”

I pause, letting that truth settle, then deliver the rest. “But she’syourdaughter. Which means I can’t make her do anything she doesn’t want to do. If she chooses me, it’s because shewantsto, and you’ll have to respect that.”

I’m pretty sure his molars crack, but before he can bite back, King speaks with finality.

“Work this out with the other families. They need to accept our resources and knowledge. Until they do, their daughters arein danger.” Genuine concern furrows his brow. “Don’t take too long to make the right decision.”

King leaves on that note. Sol glares daggers at his back, his expression so deadly I have no doubt he’s already mapping out which grave to bury him in at Lafayette Cemetery #2. Meanwhile, my thoughts couldn’t be more different.

My eyes narrow at the scars rising out of the collar of the black Henley he borrowed, then slide to the fresh burns peeking from the cuff. Burns I don’t have, all because he came back for me.

I clear my throat. “How were you able to pull me from the fire?”

He frowns, eyeing me like he’s weighing how to answer. But then he slowly rolls up the sleeve. Every inch reveals old glossy scars, now marred by new raw, puckered burns.

I’m careful to school my expression. I hate the looks I get when people see my hands. His wounds are like mine. I hadn’t realized they covered so much of him. Like Hatch’s do. We’re each so different, but in our wounds, this fucked-up life made us the same.

He holds his arm to the light, twisting it, rolling his hand into a fist like he’s studying it all for the first time.

“I mastered the fire a long time ago, young Fury. Its pain, its scars, the fear of it.” His low voice is steady like a teacher’s. “Once you do that, you can do anything.”

He rolls the other up to join the first, that side untouched, roughly yanking the last inch of sleeve to fold it over.

“Exceptkeep his daughter from a man just like him, apparently,” he mutters dryly, shaking his head. Then he sags into his chair and sighs. “I never wanted you for her.”

I swallow past the strange lump in my throat. “So why’d you do it, then? You hate me, so why save me?”

He watches me carefully for a minute, then juts his chin toward his daughter.

“Because of her.Ma petite luné.”

“Ah… makes sense. I’ve saved her, you saved me.” I nod. “Life for a life.”

“No,” he says firmly. “I took your name off my hit list because you saved her.”

His face softens as he looks at his daughter. Then he meets my eyes.

“I saved you because she loves you.”

My heart nearly stutters to a stop. I already suspected how she felt, but hearing her own father confirm it makes everything I’ve hoped for—wishedfor—all the more real.

The emotions suddenly clogging my throat are too much, and not for him to witness. I clear them away and play everything off with a smile.

“Aw, gee, you think she loves me?”

Sol looks irritated all over again, crossing his arms.