by Goode, Ella
Contents
Summary
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Also by Ella Goode
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King built his fortress to keep people out, not in. After his abusive old man kicked the bucket, King took the family fortune and built a haven for women and children who needed protection. He has one rule and that is the women decide when they get to leave. When Hayden shows up, all his self-discipline goes out the window. He’s ready to risk it all to keep her…even against her will.
Hayden came to find her sister—not a man—but one look at King has all her female parts kicking into high gear. He’s autocratic and demanding and everything she shouldn’t like but she can’t help being attracted to the soft heart he keeps hidden. She should run away but every moment she spends with him has her wishing that her home could be the King’s Castle.
Chapter One
King
“Cabins three and six are occupied. Cabin two is reserved for our incoming guest. Number four should be here in”—I glance at my watch—“thirty minutes. Number five and seven are being cleaned. How long is the waiting list?”
Cynthia checks her tablet. “Twelve, King.”
“Damn.” The number never gets smaller. “When can we start construction of the rest of the cabins?”
“Not until March at the earliest.” Her glum tone matches my mood.
I pat her awkwardly on the back. “Nothing we can do for now. Why don’t you see what the girls in five and seven need since we’ve got the occupants flying in tomorrow?”
“Flying?” Cyn’s lip curls up.
“Jake’s picking them up.”
“Ugh.”
“What’s up with you and Jake anyway?”
“He’s a man and men suck.”
“I’m right here.”
“I’m sorry but it’s not my fault you were born with a dick.”
I drop my hand protectively around my crotch. “I’m a fan of my dick.”
“No one else is,” Cyn informs me.
“I mean...that’s your opinion.”
“No one here likes dicks. Dicks are bad and Jake has a dick.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” I haven’t checked out Jake’s package and have no intention of doing so.
“We should get a female pilot.” Cyn makes a note in the tablet while I fold the week’s itinerary and tuck it into my back pocket.
“If you find one, let me know.”
“I’ll put an ad in the paper.” Cyn jots something down. Probably, how to get rid of a body in the north woods.
“We live in a town of five hundred,” I remind my cousin.
“If you offer enough, you could lure someone out here.” Her chin comes out, as it always does when she is feeling particularly aggressive. “Aren’t you getting a doctor to come here?”
“Maybe? The jury’s still out. She may take one look at this place and hate it. She’s a city girl.” Cyn makes a disgusted face. “If she doesn’t like it, we don’t want her here.”
“Pretty soon you’ll be kicking me out,” I joke.
The ominous silence that greets me is a tad alarming, but since my name is on the deed and it’s my bank account that funds this haven I think I’m safe, although maybe I’ll start locking my door at night.
The doorbell rings and Cyn’s sassy mood dissipates. She folds the tablet across her chest and looks warily at the door. Inwardly, I curse out her ex. He’s in jail now and he better die there because the minute he steps out of his cell, I’m killing him.
“I thought you were checking on five and seven,” I prompt.
Cyn makes a jerky motion with her head, momentarily lost in a bad memory so I throw out, “Don’t forget Jake is coming. You probably want to condition your hair or something so you look nice for him.”
“In his dreams,” she snaps. And she’s back. She stomps out, letting the screen door slam noisily behind her as if to punctuate how much she dislikes Jake.
She doesn’t fully recognize that her so-called hate for Jake outpaces her fear of men, but I’m grateful for it, so even if she does find a female pilot, I’ll never fire Jake.
I couldn’t even if I wanted to. It’s his ‘copter and his time that he volunteers to pick up women in need of escape and bring them here. If I told him that he couldn’t land in my backyard, he’d put his bird down in the middle of the road and wait for Cyn. He’s determined to have her. He feels like he missed his chance back when they were kids. He’s right. He should’ve taken her away even though she was only eighteen and her daddy hated him. It’s not like Uncle Greg was a good judge of character. While I was off doing top secret shit for the government, Uncle Greg sold Cyn to the highest bidder—a man twenty years Cyn’s senior. He mistreated her bad, beating her up because he couldn’t get a rise out of his pecker. He thought a young wife would change things. It didn’t.
I wasn’t around to save her. Jake saw to that and I’ll be forever grateful. But she wasn’t ready to acknowledge either his feelings or his actions. I had my own wounds to lick. War’s not good for anyone’s mental health, so I brought her up here and we built this shelter together.
Cyn’s got a whole network she’s developed. Women who are in need of assistance, who need to go off the grid or who just need a place to hide for a while contact her. We feed them, clothe them, and help them find new jobs—sometimes even new identities. This place isn’t known to many people so Cyn had a right to feel a certain sense of unease at the ringing of the doorbell. No one who knows us would use it. No one who knows us would lean on the damn buzzer and let it ring endlessly like the person is doing now, being a damned nuisance. I grab my sidearm, slide it into the shoulder holster, and pull open the door.
I don’t know who’s more surprised—the tasty morsel with the long dark hair looking up at me or me with my cock coming to instant attention as I fall ass over heels into a pair of the prettiest brown eyes to have ever seen a sunset.
“Where’s Danny?” my future wife demands.
Danny? Oh, hell, no. The woman of my dreams can’t be looking for a man. I’m right here. Good thing I’ve got the gun. “Who the fuck is Danny?” I scowl.
She scowls right back. “Who the fuck are you to ask me who the fuck Danny is?”
“I’m King.”
“So?”
“So you asked me who I was. Now it’s your turn.”
Her nose goes up. “My mama taught me not to talk to strangers.”
“Then what are you doing on my doorstep?”
“Getting Danny back!” She wriggles by me and starts yelling, “Danny! Danny!”
I don’t bother to tell her the house is empty because the truth is, I’ve got her just where I want her.
Chapter Two
Hayden
I look around the beautiful giant cabin but don’t see my sister anywhere. I turn back to the man that is too handsome for his own good or maybe for mine. I was taken aback when he’d opened the door. No wonder my sister took a job here. I don’t blame her on that accord but she will be coming home or back to her home in the city. She isn’t running. It is a bunch of bullshit and I am going to tell her that. I’m not planning on letting some jerkface like Brandon run her off. He isn’t worth it and both of us know it. She had taken off before I realized
exactly what she had planned.
“Where is Danny?” I ask again. My patience is starting to wear thin. This is the address she told me she was going to. I got her letter in the mail two days ago. I still can’t believe she sent a letter in the freaking mail. Who does that? I know I live in the country but it’s not like we don’t have social media and email. Not to mention cell phones. Hell, Danny is the one that made me get on social media to begin with. Then in a blink of an eye, all of hers were gone. I have a feeling that it’s because of Brandon. I’m going to show that man what stalking is.
“I have no idea who Danny is.” The big man crosses his arms over his chest, making him look bigger than he already does. Not that it takes much. I barely come in a few inches over five foot, so most people look big compared to me. But this man is giant sized. The muscles under his shirt sleeves beg to be let out and I can tell by the callused hands that he’s no stranger to hard work. He stares at me. Taking me in as I return the favor.
“That supposed to be intimidating?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips. Not wanting him to think that I was checking him out. Sure he’s handsome but I’m not here for that. I’m here to get Danny and bring her home. I might be small but I am quick on my feet. It comes with the job. He drops his arms from his chest immediately.
“I do my best to never intimidate females.” His voice is calm. Almost lazy. “That’s the opposite of what we do here. In fact, I’m going to have to have you tell me who you are and why you’re here. I can’t let random people just roam around my land.”
“Give me Danny and I’ll be gone.” I give a fake sweetness to my voice, adding in a smile as an extra bonus.
“If you’re looking for a man you won’t find him here.” He smirks. “Alive at least.” He winks at me and I don’t know if he’s joking or not.
“Liar. You let Jake roam around here.” A beautiful woman comes strolling in from somewhere in the back of the house. She has the blondest hair I’ve ever seen. It’s almost white. With her bright blue eyes, she’s breathtaking. My own eyes go straight for her ring finger but I’ll never admit that. Not even to myself. The weird feeling I got in my stomach when I thought this big lug was married is scary. I’d felt a pang of jealousy and that doesn’t fit my personality type at all. I guess there’s a first time for everything.
I look back to the man that I’ve been having my showdown with. I realize that this gorgeous woman and he have matching eyes. Prompting me to guess that they’re related. My stomach settles at this revelation and everything is right in the world again, besides me not being able to find Danny.
“Jake is a good one, Cyn.”
She purses her lips but doesn't tell him he’s wrong as she glares at him.
“You looking for a place, sweetheart?” Her voice is soft and kind for me.
“I’m looking for my sister. She said she was coming here for a new job. Danny Weston.” I go with asking Cyn because I’m not getting anywhere with GI Joe meets lumberjack.
“Doc Danielle Weston,” Cyn confirms.
“Yes! She said she took a job here.” I run my hands over my eyes, feeling tired all of a sudden but relieved that I am in the right place. It sure as hell was no easy feat getting to this secluded area. “This is the King Center, right?”
“Yeah. I’m Cyn King.” The woman reaches her hand out, taking mine. “I’m guessing my cousin didn't introduce himself. Everyone just calls him King.”
“That like an ego boost thing?” I smirk. I don’t know why I want to poke at him but I do. It’s like I’m in grade school and I’m picking on him because I don’t like the feelings he’s stirring up inside—or more that I don’t understand them. It’s childish but it keeps on popping out of my mouth. Mama did say I never knew how to quit when I was ahead. That hasn’t changed a bit over the years.
Cyn throws back her head and laughs. “I don’t know. Everyone has always called him by his last name. It’s just stuck.”
I turn to look at him. “What’s your first name?”
It’s his turn to smirk. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you.”
I furrow my eyebrows, having no idea what he means by that. I’m only here to get my sister. So I’m not sure when he plans on telling me this bit of information since I won’t be here longer than it takes me to find Danny.
“The new doc won’t be here until tomorrow.” His words break me from my thoughts. “I’d suggest you get some shut eye.”
“Why? Jake was flying her in tonight. Is something wrong?” I can hear the panic in Cyn’s voice, which scares me, too, if my sister is on the flight.
“No, the storm. It’s delayed them,” King tells her. “They are fine. In fact, it’s safer.”
Cyn nods and I wonder if this Jake is her boyfriend or something. Wait, she took a dig at him when she walked in here. Guess Cyn and I have something in common because I seem to enjoy taking them at King. I should lay off if he’s the man my sister mentioned in her letter.
“With the storm bearing down and you wanting to see your sister I take it you’ll be staying.”
Doesn't sound like a question really. “I’m not going anywhere.” I lift my chin.
“Good.” This time he full-on smiles. Cyn’s eyes bounce between the two of us while her face remains scrunched, looking confused.
I guess I’ll have a little more time to find out King’s first name. Not that I should even care. But I do.
Chapter Three
King
Bad weather in the winter is a given around here. But I’ve never been so grateful about the inconvenience of being snowbound till about right now.
“Here’s your room.” I usher her into the suite across the hall from my own. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“She didn’t share it,” Cyn helpfully points out.
The brunette shrugs. “King isn’t sharing his first name so why should I? You know my last name. It’s the same as Danny’s.” She steps into the room and takes a look around.
“I can’t call you ‘girl’ the whole time you’re here.” I wonder If she likes the decor. It’s kind of rustic. I like things made out of natural materials. The bed is made out of sturdy oak. The sheets are pure cotton. The rugs are wool. Each of the cabins is different. Some are modern. Some are more European. Cyn decorated them thinking that if the women who came here could stay in places that made them feel good, then they might heal faster. And not everyone liked the cabin feel, which seems weird and false, but it’s turned out to be true.
“I won’t be here long enough for you to worry about that.”
So she hates it.
“Maybe she should stay in one of the cabins,” Cyn suggests. She must be getting the same vibe as I am. Guess I’m going to be redecorating. Until that gets done, this little intruder is going to have to deal.
“Those cabins just got cleaned and I don’t want to put extra work on the staff.”
Cyn rolls her eyes. She knows why I don’t want to move this woman out to the cabins. I want Danny’s sister to stay in as close proximity to me as possible, and since I doubt she’s ready to be sleeping in my bed, the one next door is the next best thing.
“I’m fine anywhere. Like I said, I’m not going to stay long. As soon as Danny gets here, we will be out of your hair.” She tosses her purse on the bed.
“Not to be a total downer, but unless Danny wants to leave, you can’t take her.”
The sister spins around and places her hands on her hips. “Who’s going to stop me?”
I look at her small frame and then at my much larger one.
“Size doesn’t matter,” she huffs.
“Oh, it matters,” I say softly. I’m a big man--everywhere.
“Ugh, gag me,” Cyn interjects. “Can you not make suggestive comments like that in front of me? I’m your cousin, for crying out loud.”
“And it’s a good thing or I’d have kicked you out long ago if it wasn’t for Aunt Marie.”
“Rude. He’s so rude,” Cyn says to Da
nny’s sister.
“I can see that. I’m really sorry you have to deal with it but you can also see why it’s important for me to get Danny out of here.”
“Ah, well—” Cyn scratches the side of her neck. “You see, what King said is accurate. We won’t allow anyone to take Danny away unless she wants it.”
“I’m her sister.”
I can see the fire snapping in Cyn’s eyes. I grab her elbow and drag her out of the room. “I definitely hear people calling for you.”
The one great thing about Cyn is that she’s pretty good at reading the room. She realizes she almost let things get out of control. She pulls out of my grip, adjusts her shirt, and says, “Fine. I’ll go check on the cabins, but no one is taking Danny. Not even her sister.”
“I know.” I give Cyn a push. Those are our rules. Once a woman is under our protection, no one can take her away. You never know who’s pulling the strings in a woman’s family. Could be her mom or her dad or her brother or her abuser. It doesn’t matter to us who wants the woman back. It has to be her choice so even though I want to fuck the daylights out of Weston, not even she can take Danny out of the compound.
There’s no need to argue about it, though. Danny should be here tomorrow and can tell her sister that personally.
I poke my head back into the room where Weston is pulling open drawers. She stops when she hears me. “You have any luggage to bring up?”
She brushes her hair away from her face, a little flustered at being caught snooping. “No. I don’t intend to stay long so I have a change of...stuff in my purse.”