King (Shadowridge Guardians MC #11)

27. Ella

TWENTY-SEVEN

ELLA

E lla’s voice was hoarse from yelling, but sherefusedto stop.

She pounded on the locked door, her palms stinging, her breath coming in fast, ragged gasps. “Somebody!” she screamed. “Help! Please!”

Her ankle throbbed painfully, but she didn’t care. Fear clawed at her chest. She had no phone, no way to get out, and no idea ifanyonecould hear her.

But as panic threatened to swallow her whole, thelock clicked .

The door swung open so fast she nearly stumbled.

Kade stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze scanning her frantically before stepping inside and reaching for her.

Remi, wide-eyed, stood behind him. “Oh my gosh, are you okay?”

Ella sucked in a deep, shuddering breath andlimpedforward, clutching the doorframe. Her body ached, but none of that mattered.

She searchedpast them wildly, looking for one person and one person only.

Janelle.

“What happened?” Remi asked, stepping closer.

Ella barely registered the question, still scanning the hallway. “It washer,” she seethed. “Janelle.”

Kade’s expression darkened instantly. “What?”

“She—she pushed me in here. Locked me in.”

Remigasped, her hands flying over her mouth. “That bitch.”

But Ella was done talking.

Without another word, shestormedforward, ignoring the sharp pain in her ankle.

“Ella, wait—your foot—” Kade started, but she didn’t stop.

Nothing could stop her.

She charged toward the front of the clubhouse, furypoundingthrough her veins. She could hearKing shouting from outside when she reached the exit.

A crowd had gathered, whispers buzzing, Daddies standing in a protective semi-circle while Littles peered around them curiously.

And there she was.

Janelle.

Ella saw red.

That bitch was dead .

Before anyone could stop her, shelunged.

Janelle barely had time to turn before Ellatackledher.

“You stupid, conniving bitch!” Ella screamed as she grabbed the woman by the hair.

Janelleshrieked, stumbling back as Ellaattacked, fists flying.

“I don’t care howprettyyou think you are. Youdo notmess with a New York girl, and you especially don’t mess with my man!”

The Littles cheered.

“Get her, Ella!” Remi shrieked.

“Rip her hair out!” Ivy added.

“Bite her!” Carlee screamed. “Actually, don’t, she probably has rabies.”

Janelle shrieked like a dying cat, flailing her arms as shefake-cried. “Someone get her off me!”

Strong arms suddenly wrapped around Ella’s waist, lifting her clean off the ground.

Ellakickedwildly as King pulled her back against his chest. “Let me go! I’m not done kicking her ass,” she snarled, her entire bodyvibratingwith rage.

Kingheld firm, murmuring low against her ear, “I’vegotyou, baby, I’ve got you. She’snotworth it.”

Janelle collapsed onto the ground in adramaticheap, clutching her face. “She attacked me,” she screeched, fake tears spilling down her cheeks. “I wasjusttalking to King?—”

“Cut the bullshit, Janelle,” Steele growled.

She turned her watery eyes on him, sniffling. “You saw what she did?—”

Steele scoffed. “YoulockedElla in a room,assaultedher, andtrespassedonourproperty after being warned to stay away.” He tilted his head toward the gate. “The cops will be here in five minutes.”

Janelle froze.

Then, herface twisted . “Youcalled the cops?”

King’s grip on Ella tightened as he stepped forward. “I should’ve done it thefirsttime you showed up at the firehouse.”

Janelle’s fake tears disappearedinstantly.

“You’re making amistake, King,” she hissed.

King scowled. “No, my only mistake wasgiving you the time of day.”

Janelle let out afrustratedscream as sirens filled the air.

Still fuming in King’s arms, Ella watched withsatisfactionas Steele and Kade stepped forward, ready to hand Janelle over.

As the flashing red-and-blue lights flooded the compound, Ella flipped her off just for fun before King carried her inside.

Ella sat on the clubhouse couch with her arms crossed over her chest, her bottom lip sticking out in a deep pout as Doc kneeled in front of her, gently pressing his fingers around her swollen, painful ankle.

“Owwie!” she yelped dramatically, pulling her leg back.

Doc sighed. “I barely touched you, troublemaker.”

“Iknow,” she whined, turning to King, who had her on his lap. “But Ihatethis.”

King arched a brow, his voice low and firm. “You’regonnasit there and let Doc do his job, Little one.”

Ella huffed. “But I’m finnnne.”

Doc snorted as he pressed gently on the side of her ankle, making her flinch. “Yeah, totallyfine,” he said dryly. “You twisted it pretty good, Ella. Let me wrap it, or it’ll hurt even worse tomorrow.”

Ella whined again and looked to King for sympathy.

King wasn’t having it.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a quietthreat. “Keep fussing, baby, and IswearI’ll make sure you’re in bed all day with no candy salad and no playtime.”

Ella’s eyes widened. “Youwouldn’t.”

King arched an eyebrow. “Tryme.”

Her pout deepened, but she huffed and reluctantly let Doc wrap her ankle.

“Good girl,” King murmured, his fingers brushing over her neck approvingly.

When Doc finished, he reached into his bag and pulled out a giant, brightly colored lollipop. “For being a mostly good patient,” he said, handing it to her.

Ellabeamed, instantly forgetting her annoyance. “Ooooh! Thank you, Doc!”

Doc rolled his eyes but smiled as he stood. “Now,here’sthe deal,” he said, looking between her and King. “Stayoffthat foot for at least three days. No walking, running around, or putting weight on it—nothing.”

Ella groaned loudly. “ Three days?”

King, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. In fact, he looked downrightpleased. “You got it, Doc,” he said smugly. “She won’t lift afinger.”

Ella’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?”

“You heard the man.” King smiled, easily lifting her into his arms. “You’re officially on bed rest, Little one.”

Ellasqueakedas he carried her toward their apartment, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach.

By the second day, Ella wasdyingfrom sheer boredom.

King had turned into Mr. Bossy-pants.

She couldn’t walk, she couldn’t use the toilet alone, she couldn’t help clean up after the party, and worst of all—she couldn’t get herownjuice box.

“Daddy,” she whined dramatically from the couch, where she was bundled up like a burrito in an obscene amount of blankets. “I hate this.”

King, who was casually leaning against the counter, watching her with fartoomuch amusement, took a slow sip of his coffee. “I love this,” he countered, smirking behind the rim of his mug.

Ella narrowed her eyes, unimpressed. “You’re theworst.”

“And yet, I’m the one making sure youheal.”

Ellahuffed, flopping against the pillows with all the grace of a disgruntled toddler. “You’re a meanie.”

King chuckled, completely unaffected. “I’m aDaddy.”

“Same thing,” she grumbled, crossing her arms.

Luckily, the Littles had takenpityon her and kept her entertained.

Remi and Carlee brought over amountainof coloring books and crayons and spent half the afternoon coloring with her.

Harper and Ivy spent hours doing puzzles with her.

Molly read her a story out loud, complete with silly voices, which was adorable.

By the third day, she was still miserable about being stuck inside, but at least she wasn’tcompletelybored.

The only problem?

King was takingDoc’s orders way too seriously.

“Baby, I swear to God—don’t move.”

Ella froze mid-scoot, her attempt tosneakoff the couch immediately abandoned.

“I wasn’t moving,” she lied.

King raised a brow from across the room. “Then why do you lookguilty?”

“I always look guilty.”

King sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What do you need, Little one?”

She perked up immediately as she answered, “Chocolate milk.”

“Say please.”

Ella batted her lashes. “Please,Daddy.”

He shook his head, chuckling as he grabbed a bottle from the fridge. As he walked over to her, he grumbled, “Bossiest Little girl in the world.”

Ella beamed, reaching for the bottle. “That’srichcoming from the bossiest Daddy in the world.”

King handed it to her before leaning down and pressing a firm kiss to her forehead. “Damn right.”

And even though she poutedevery single timehe made her rest…

She secretly loved every second of it.