“I really love him, Dad.”
“I know. And I can see he loves you the way I love your mother. And that makes me so happy.”
Months later… Connor
The world had changed. Manhattan was unrecognizable. The streets were nearly empty, and it was eerie. Dad was getting worse, and my brother and I had decided with so much unknown about a new virus, we’d rally behind him. We were all bunked up in his twenty-thousand-square-foot mansion that now seemed small. It was less than a block away from Central Park, which gave Kalen’s little ones a place to play. That, and the rooftop.
His kids were good practice for me as I still struggled with the idea of being with a Dad. Lizzy was sure I’d be a great one. I wasn’t there yet. Therapy was helping, but it hadn’t taken away the anxiety I’d end up being a parent like either one of mine.
“Hey handsome, what are you doing?” A glance over my shoulder revealed my beautiful wife. “Are you trying to feed me again? I’m already as big as a house and I waddle. Waddle,” she complained but wore a genuine smile.
I put the strawberries down and went over and gave her a kiss, long and lingering.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“Because you’re cute when you complain.” I rubbed her belly. “How’s our daughter doing?”
She glared at me. “Our son is just fine. Give it up, it’s going to be a boy.”
We’d opted to wait to find out the sex of the baby. I think Lizzy thought it would be more fun to guess. Most men wanted sons. I did not. It was hard enough accepting being a father. But a son, I couldn’t imagine. I feared that I would try to wrap him in a bubble, afraid he would end up like me. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the same fears for my daughter. But I’d been a son, neglected, overlooked, and broken. I wasn’t sure I was equipped to raise a boy into a man, when I fell short of the hero Lizzy thought I was.
She cupped my face. “Don’t go there,” she said as if she’d read my mind. “You aren’t your father. You aren’t your past. You are going to be the best dad for this child and all our future children. Though I’m seriously considering surrogacy the next time.” My eyes widened. “Don’t worry. I’m just kidding. I needed you back here with me. We are so going to rock as parents.”
I wanted to believe her and sank into the kiss she planted on my lips.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” I asked.
She tapped her arm where her watch would be. “Let’s see. This is only like the fifth time today. You’ve got a lot of work to do if you want to break your record.”
I grinned because out of everyone she could make me laugh. “There’s my guy. I love you too.”
The doorbell rang, and I hated to let her go. “You stay here. I’ll get it.”
The only people in the house who weren’t family were Dad’s longtime housekeeper, his full-time nurse, and Lizzy’s midwife, who helped the nurse with Dad too.
The housekeeper had finished lunch and was in her room. I wasn’t my dad and could answer the door. Besides, I was expecting a package. I’d finally convinced Dad to take a DNA test. He swore he knew I was his, but I reminded him that his will stipulated that all heirs be tested, including Kalen. Dad’s lawyers said rewriting the will given his current medical condition could make it more contestable. He was sure but said he’d find a way around it if I wasn’t.
With the world in flux, Charles’s trial for white collar crime had been put on hold. He’d continued to reach out, and I hadn’t returned his calls.
After the divorce was final, Mom had left for Ireland and was now stuck there. She wasn’t speaking to me because I hadn’t invited her to my second wedding with Lizzy, though only close family and friends knew that. I’d wanted a drama-free day for my princess, my blonde, my Lizzy, my wife… my everything. The woman who calmed my dreams.
When I needed to talk, she was there to listen with no judgment. Little by little, I’d confessed what had happened to me at that place. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for the woman, including taking a step back from my vendetta. I had a family to protect, and that was more important.
Matt swore he’d keep up the fight until Ruin and the rest of the six were caught. According to him, the FBI had gotten two at the raid after I left, but the guys weren’t talking. And like Charles, their cases were on hold while the world was trying to figure out what illness was forcing everyone into isolation.
I opened the door to find a dark-haired man in his twenties in a dark plaid shirt, worn jeans, and shit-kickers standing on the stoop.
Perplexed, given that the mayor had asked us to hang tight in our homes, I asked, “Can I help you?”
“You’re Connor King, right?” He held out a hand.
I didn’t take it, but something about him was familiar. “And you are?”
“Liam. Your brother.”
I saw it coming when he stepped forward and took a swing. My reflexes were good. He missed because I’d learned how to fight, and well, many years ago. I had him pinned to the wall in seconds.
“What the fuck?” I demanded.
“That’s for Carrie,” he gritted as my hand held his head where it was.
“Carrie—”
It hit me. Carrie, my former sub. The one with a sweetheart back home named Liam I’d told her to go back to. I didn’t believe in coincidences. Had she sought me out? But that wasn’t my immediate question.
“You’re my brother?”
Liam growled as he nodded.
“Do you have another brother?” I asked as another thought slammed into me.
Looking as if he wanted to spit the word, Liam said, “Kalen. Kalen King.”
Of course. “What about Grant King?” I shook him a little when he didn’t immediately respond. “Are you sure you don’t have a brother named Grant King?”
That’s who he reminded me of. The pilot. The one who’d flown Lizzy and me to Turks and Caicos, Ireland, and back to New York.
If Grant King was his brother too, then our father was more of an asshole than I thought.
What the hell was going on?
Kalen came barreling down the hall with my waddling and heavily pregnant wife following. “What’s going on?” he asked.
For those new to the All the King’s Sons series -
Kalen and Bailey’s story is available now. Read Money Man.
Grant King’s story will release on November 1 in Arrogant Savior. Get more information HERE.
Thank You
I’d like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to read my novel. Above all, I hope you loved it. If you did, I would love it if you could spare just a few more minutes to leave a review on your favorite e-tailer. If you do, could you be so kind and not leave any spoilers about the story? Thanks so much!
Acknowledgments
A special thank you for the King Come readers. You guys totally rock. Thank you for all the love, reviews, messages, and all of it. I couldn’t do this without your continued support.
To Cassie Robertson, Kelly and the team at Joy editing. It was a pleasure. Cassie, your input was invaluable. Kelly, thanks for your input and clean up, lol.
To the twins, Selma & Sejla Ibrahimpasic, thank you so very much. You guys were there for me in my final hour of need. Your honest input helped make this book better than it was. Words can’t fully express how much your help meant to me.
To my daughter Jessica, my clutch player. She was my second pair of eyes for my last minute additions. I love you with all my heart. (Thank god these additions were PG-13, lol)
About the Author
Terri E. Laine, USA Today bestselling author, left a lucrative career as a CPA to pursue her love for writing. Outside of her roles as a wife and mother of three, she’s always been a dreamer and as such became an avid reader at a young age.
Many years later, she got a crazy idea to write a novel and set out to try to publish it. With over a dozen titles published under various pen names, the rest is history. Her jo
urney has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.
STALK ME AT
Facebook: terrielainebooks
Instagram @terrielaineauthor
Goodreads: terri e laine
Newsletter Signup: https://www.subscribepage.com/terrielaine
I have several upcoming releases, make sure to sign up for my newsletter or check my website for details.
www.terrielaine.com
Also by Terri E. Laine
King Maker Trilogy
Money Man
Queen of Men
King Maker
Kingdom Come Duet
Kingdom Come
Kingdom Fall
All the Kings Sons Spinoff
Arrogant Savior (standalone)
King Me
Him standalone series
Because Of Him
Captivated by Him
Chasing Butterflies standalone series
Chasing Butterflies
Catching Fireflies
Changing Hearts
Craving Dragonflies
Songs for Cricket
Blinded by You Duet
Honey
Sugar
Married in Vegas standalone series
Married in Vegas: In His Arms
Absolutely Mine
Other standalone books
Ride or Die
Thirty-Five and Single
other books co-authored
by Terri E. Laine
Cruel and Beautiful
A Mess of A Man
One Wrong Choice
A Beautiful Sin
Sidelined
Fastball
Hooked
Worth Every Risk
A Beautiful Sin
Kingdom Fall: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (Kingdom Come Book 2) Page 17