Page 68 of Merciless King

I laughed and she scowled harder.

“You know how to reach me if you need me,” I said and walked out into the elevator.

As I climbed into my car a few minutes later and pulled out onto the street, I didn’t fight or deny the anticipation pounding through me. Because I’d realized something in the last couple of weeks, something I hadn’t expected. Yeah, it had taken a bit to sink in, because I’d been telling myself the same thing for so long. That I couldn’t have her. That relationships, that women like London weren’t for me.

But then I’d realized that being with London made me think differently, feel differently about a lot of things. When I was around her, she was the damn sun and I had no choice but to orbit around her. What she wanted, needed, became top priority.

Turning into my father, a selfish, rage-fueled monster, like I was always afraid of, was impossible when I was around London, because she was everything good and sweet. And I wanted to be a better man for her, the man she deserved.

She gave me balance, the angel to my devil. Without her I felt off center, like I was missing a vital part of myself.

Yeah, it sounded fucking cheesy, but she made me feel whole.

Hunter had been right, I needed a reason to fight the anger and guilt I’d carried for so long. London was that reason. Christ, she made me feel worthy of happiness.

Something else I’d realized—and again, it wasn’t something I’d expected—was that London wasn’t this fragile creature who needed me to protect her. No, she needed me at her side, holding her hand, supporting her, shit, ready to fight alongside her. London Rivera was the strongest woman I’d ever met.

These last few weeks she’d shown me what it was to be truly courageous.

I’d been so fucking afraid for so long of what I might become that I’d missed the truth. London showed me who I was. When I was with her, I knew exactly who the fuck I was.

And it wasn’t a monster. I wasn’t my father.

Not even close.

I pulled up down the street from London’s store and was walking through the door a few moments later.

London was standing at the counter, head down, writing something. She looked up when she heard my boots on the floor, and as soon as she spotted me, her face turned scarlet. I wanted to kiss her so bad I ached.

“Have you got a minute?”

She glanced around, like she was looking for salvation. “I’m a little swamped right now.”

“Store’s empty, babe.”

London made a show of staring down at the screen of her laptop. “I have all these orders,” she said at the same as time Erin walked in from the back.

Erin looked at the laptop screen as well and frowned. “There’s just the one. I’ll do it. You take a break.”

London glared at Erin, who missed it completely, already getting to work. London lifted her gaze to me. “Um, okay, it looks like I have a minute after all.”

I motioned her toward the back room, and she marched ahead of me like she was heading to the gallows. I grinned to myself. I might have been offended by this little display and of her reluctance to be alone with me if I didn’t have a damned good idea how this woman’s mind worked.

But she was wrong. Whatever shit she’d drummed up in her beautiful head between when she woke this morning and now, she was dead wrong.

I shut the door behind us, leaned against it, and crossed my arms. “How’s the head?”

Her gaze darted to mine then away, to something over my shoulder. “It’s been better.”

“You left this morning without waking me.”

I watched as she straightened her shoulders like she was preparing for battle then lifted her chin. Something she never would have done a couple of months ago. I fucking loved it, seeing the change in her. “About last night. You and me. It shouldn’t have happened.”

“Nothing did happen.”

“No, I know that. I mean, I shouldn’t have tried to…kiss you and…” She winced. “I grabbed your…” She motioned to my ass or its general area. “I apologize. You don’t need to say anything more. Let’s just forget it happened and move on.”

She was on a roll now and her blue eyes met mine.