When she let go, she looked behind me. “There’s my daughter-in-law and my grandson,” and I was left in the dust.
Dad came over. “My boy.”
It was still surreal the man I’d thought of as my uncle had been my father all along. “Thanks for everything,” I said, quietly.
His eyes widened.
When I’d pestered Connor about paying him back for the ranch and the business he’d bought for me, he finally admitted that my Dad paid for it all. Connor speculated that Royce had given Dad his share of inheritance from their father, but Dad had yet to speak about the conversation.
“You deserve it,” Dad said.
We didn’t say more because Griffin walked in and he wasn’t alone. The woman from the dive bar he couldn’t keep his eyes off of walked in with him. I caught his gaze and lifted a brow.
* * *
Natalie
I handed my son over to Liam’s mom who was practically in tears. She was fantastic and I loved her as much as my own mother. But I felt like a fish in a bowl in a large room with lots of eyes on me. I rubbed my arms.
“Hey,” Lizzy, bold and beautiful as the first time we met, came over. “How was the ride over?”
We’d arrived on the main island, then had taken a boat to another smaller island that had a resort. Once night came, we boarded a boat and rode over under the cover of darkness to this secluded private island.
“Fine,” I said at first. “A little scary. Liam’s only driven a boat once. Thankfully, the waters were clear.”
“He wouldn’t risk you guys if he couldn’t do it. I remember Connor driving a boat. He taught me how to do it in less than ten minutes when he needed me to take the wheel.”
My eyes widened.
“Hey, brother of mine,” she said to Liam. “How was flying commercial?”
Funny enough, Connor thought it would be safer for us not to have Liam fly us to the main island on Turks and Caicos.
“Good actually. I see how the other half lives,” Liam joked.
Truth was Liam preferred helicopters to planes, I probably enjoyed not flying even though he could fly anything from a prop plane to a fighter jet and everything in between.
Lizzy’s eyes fell on my belly. “I see you are percolating with number two.”
I blushed. “Yeah. I didn’t expect to be pregnant so soon.”
Given that we hadn’t been thinking that first time we saw each other, I’d known I’d get pregnant soon enough.
Bailey laughed. “We’re pregnant together,” she said patting her belly before looking at her best friend.
Lizzy held up her hands. “Don’t look at me. Connor is still coming to terms with being a father. He needs time.” I suspected she’d be pregnant soon too. She waved Jo and Griffin’s mystery guest over. Jo, my sister-in-law, was closer and came in for the hug.
“Not a secret anymore,” Jo said to me. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Thanks,” I said, because despite still being in hiding, I was happy. Mom was doing well but not enough to ride on a commercial flight. We didn’t want to risk her being exposed to any germs that could get her sick. She stayed back with her new guy. A widower who was making his mission to get Mom to say yes to a ring.
Lizzy turned her question to Jo. “What about you? Pregnant or what? The King boys are potent.”
“That goes for you too,” I teased as my sister-in-law blushed.
“I just found out. We aren’t far enough along to tell anyone. But…” She shrugged. “Grant is thrilled.”
We squealed and Griffin’s mystery date looked nervous as she came closer. We stifled our laughter and settled down.
“Don’t be nervous. The unofficial reunion of all the King’s sons’ wives has now begun,” Lizzy announced.
I smiled but I didn’t quite feel it. “I’m not a King,” I said, reminded of how good it felt to be with everyone, but it wouldn’t last. We’d be back in Montana in a week.
“Oh, honey, maybe not your fake name. But your husband is a son of one of the King brothers. That makes you a King too,” Lizzy declared.
“Queen. You’re a queen. We all are,” Bailey said, and Jo nodded.
The gorgeous woman who hadn’t introduced herself yet said, “I’m not a King or Queen.”
“Griffin is family. He’s practically Kalen’s brother,” Bailey insisted.
“But I’m not with Griffin. I work for him.” She’d glanced away and I suspected she wasn’t telling the entire truth.
Lizzy smirked. “Does he call you darling?”
She shook her head.
“Then you aren’t just a fuck buddy. He wouldn’t have brought you here if you weren’t special.”
The woman answered. “I’m here to help with the op. He couldn’t come without me. We are working for someone named Shawn. Griffin said it was okay to mention it.”
Lizzy’s face drained of color.
* * *
Liam
We gathered outside, the five of us. Grant, Connor, Kalen, Griffin, and I stood looking out into the quiet views of the ocean.
“I knew you were caught,” I teased Griffin. “I saw how you looked at her.”
“She works for me,” he said, and I smirked. “She does and I need her here to help with an op.”
I didn’t believe that to be true. Griffin had a team and the rest of them weren’t here. He could work remotely and we both knew it. I’d been one of his employees for a time.
“You’re into her,” I said, and Griffin ignored me.
Connor cut in. “What’s the status?” What struck me was his haunted eyes.
“He’s close,” Griffin said.
“I should be there. He’s done enough.” Connor looked like he was ready for a fight.
Because I didn’t get to talk to them often, I wasn’t up to speed with everything going on.
“Who’s done what?” I asked.
Griffin didn’t answer. He watched Connor who turned shadowed eyes on me. “He’s doing what I couldn’t. Not because I couldn’t, but I wouldn’t. The things he had to do to get close to him, I could have done before Lizzy, but not after, especially now that I have a son.” He shook his head and I looked to Griffin for clarification on Connor’s cryptic answer.
“Matt’s taken one for the team to get a man that needs to be put down. That man trafficks in the human trade,” Griffin said, and he didn’t need to elaborate.
I cursed, wondering how Connor was involved, but I asked, “Does this have to do with David’s missing sister?”
Griffin nodded. “Finding her and getting her out were the primary goals. The last is to eliminate the head.”
“I want to be there,” Connor groused.
Griffin nodded. “We’ll make it happen. Operation Rook to Ruin is on.”
“Rook?” I asked.
“Yes, the tower of the kingdom. The one with a view to victory. Matt’s life is in our hands. Every moment counts. He’ll call when he’s in play.”
* * *
Though Liam and Natalie’s story is complete, there is more to come.
Did that ending leave you with questions about Matt, Griffin, Aiden & David?
Grab’s of Matt’s story, Rook to Ruin, HERE.
Griffin’s story is Bishop to King.
Aiden’s story is Perfect Night releases May 20th.
The Royal’s are coming!!!
For those new to the All the King’s Sons series -
these stories are AVAILABLE NOW.
Kalen and Bailey’s story is available now. Read Money Man.
Connor and Lizzy’s story is available now. Read Kingdom Come.
Grant and Jo’s story is available now. Read Arrogant Savior.
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 kin
d and not leave any spoilers about the story? Thanks so much!
Her
I’m not a woman who needs saving.
I’m the one who saves herself.
Until I can’t.
When all hope is lost,
In walks a gorgeous man who marks me as prey.
I may be unable to deny his offer of salvation.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll give him my heart.
Him
I made a promise.
Two in fact.
First - Destroy the man they called Ruin.
Second – while saving the sister of someone I call friend.
She’s just a means to an end, no matter how stunning she is.
My code name is Rook not savior.
But she may be my ruin.
Acknowledgments
A special thank you for the King Maker series 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.
THANK YOU TO my beta readers. Diane, Kelly, Sejla and Selma. Thank you so much for helping me ensure this was the best story.
Thanks to Michele @ Michele Catalano Creative, who made this cover for me. Another hone run!!!
To Kate & Jennifer at Joy editing— Thanks for all your comments and feedback.
Thanks to my book wifey, A.M. Hargove (Anne), for saving the day with comments, feedback and missed typos to make this a better book.
A special thanks to a group of authors who helped me get through a writing slump due to COVID fatigue. No I didn’t have COVID, but I couldn’t read or write a thing for the longest time. Thanks Jana for organizing the writing zoom group. It’s because of Jana along with LIV and Anne that I was able to finish not one but two books in record time. And I’m still going strong.
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 journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.
STALK ME AT
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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
King Me Duet
King Me
Queen Her
All the Kings Sons Standalone Spinoffs
Arrogant Savior
Rook to Ruin
Bishop to King
Pawn to Knight
King Me Duet
King Me
Queen Her
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
Perfect Night
Unforgettable
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
Queen Her Page 14