Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
K ing stood in the hospital room, his arms crossed over his broad chest, watching silently as Joey and Amara talked. She had already signed all the paperwork for Joey’s surgery. Now, they just waited. Despite everything the kid had been through, Joey looked much better today. His color had returned, and his eyes were bright with his usual mischievous spark, though the tightness around his mouth betrayed the pain he was still dealing with. His mood, however, was unmistakably Joey-like, even with the looming surgery ahead of him.
Earlier, a young, cute nurse had come in to take his vitals, and Joey had wiggled his eyebrows at King with a cheeky grin. King had merely raised an eyebrow in return, but Amara had rolled her eyes so hard King was sure she’d gotten a headache from it. That small exchange had lightened the room, if only for a moment.
Still, no one mentioned Joey’s father. The air around that subject was too heavy, and now wasn’t the time to address it. The focus needed to be on getting Joey through the surgery. King knew Amara was carrying that weight for both of them. Earlier, after King had made sure she’d eaten something, she had gone through the stack of paperwork Lee had left behind...the kind of paperwork no one wanted to go through when tragedy struck. Whatever Lee’s faults as a father, at least he’d had the foresight to ensure things would be taken care of if something ever happened to him.
The door opened, and another nurse stepped inside, clipboard in hand. She looked at Amara and smiled gently before speaking. “We’re ready to take more blood,” she said, her voice soft and professional. Then she turned to Joey and added, “Won’t be long before we have you prepped for surgery.”
Amara nodded and stood, but Joey grabbed her hand, stopping her. “Thanks for bleeding for me, Aunt Amara,” he quipped with a wide grin. “I know how much you hate needles.”
Amara smirked, leaning down to ruffle his hair gently. “I’d do a lot more than that for you, kid. Just don’t get used to me being this nice,” she teased, though her eyes betrayed the depth of her love for him. “And stop calling me Aunt Amara. It makes me feel old.”
“You are old,” Joey shot back with a snort.
Amara sneered at him but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. She followed the nurse out, and King’s eyes lingered on her as the door closed behind them. There was a strength in Amara that he admired more with every passing moment, a fierce, unwavering determination to protect Joey no matter what it cost her. King knew she was running on fumes, holding herself together with sheer willpower.
He turned back to Joey, who was watching him with an expression far too wise for his age. “You like her,” Joey said, smirking knowingly.
“Stay out of grown folks’ business,” King replied, his tone dry but not unkind.
Joey laughed, the sound a little strained but genuine. “I don’t know, King. You might wanna step it up. She’s pretty amazing, you know.”
King’s jaw tightened, though he didn’t respond. The kid wasn’t wrong. Amara was amazing—strong, selfless, and beautiful in a way that made it hard for him to focus on anything else when she was in the room. But now wasn’t the time to think about that. Joey needed to make it through this surgery, and Amara needed someone to hold her up when she finally let herself feel everything she’d been bottling up inside.
Joey sighed, breaking King’s train of thought. “You’ll take care of her, right?” His voice had softened, the playful tone replaced by something much more serious. “I don’t know what my dad was involved in, but it wasn’t good. She’s all I got now.” Unshed tears filled his eyes, but he blinked them away.
King’s eyes locked on Joey’s, and he nodded once. “No one will touch her...or you.” His voice was low, but the promise in it was unshakable.
Joey nodded, briefly closing his eyes as if that answer was all he needed. King stood by the bed, silent and watchful, as the weight of his words settled over him. Taking care of Amara wasn’t just something he was going to do. He wanted to do it with every fiber of his being.
“King?” Joey’s voice broke into his thoughts.
"Hmmm?" King responded, his focus snapping back to the boy in the bed.
Joey hesitated, then exhaled. "I'm scared." His voice wavered slightly. "Does that make me a pussy?"
King didn’t hesitate. “No, it doesn’t make you a pussy.” He walked over and sat in the chair Amara had been occupying earlier. “Everyone gets scared, Joey. And if they say they’ve never been scared, they’re lying. Fear is just part of life.”
Joey frowned, his skepticism clear. “Warriors don’t get scared.” His expression was doubtful as he studied King. “I can’t see you being scared of anything.”
King let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “That’s not true. A real man has fears, Joey. Even Warriors.”
Joey’s curiosity flickered through his nerves. “What are you afraid of?” His eyes shifted toward the door, then back to King, searching for sincerity.
King paused for a moment. “Clowns.”
Joey blinked before bursting into laughter. “Bullshit.” He shook his head against the pillow, grinning. “Ain’t no way King, the great VC Warrior, is afraid of a clown.”
King tried to keep a straight face but failed as a smirk broke through. “They’re creepy as hell.” He knew Amara had returned when Joey’s eyes flickered over his shoulder. “Dolls aren’t my favorite either.”
“What the hell are you talking about creepy-ass dolls for?” Steve’s voice cut in as a group of Warriors entered the hospital room, their Mates trailing behind them.
Joey’s smirk widened as he looked at Steve. “King’s afraid of clowns and dolls.”
Steve’s eyes widened in horror. “Dude.” He pointed at King. “Dolls have soulless eyes that follow you everywhere. We got Drew a doll, and I swear that thing watches me. So, I’m with King. Dolls are evil.”
King stood, nodding to the Warriors before glancing at Amara. He gave her a wink, and she returned a small, grateful smile before settling back in her chair that King vacated.
“What about that one that eats and shits? The one with the face that moves like a real baby?” Adam chimed in, his expression twisted in disgust. He shuddered. “Yeah, I’m with them. Dolls definitely scare the shit out of me.”
Jared smirked, his arm wrapped protectively around Tessa. “We talking about fears? I’ve got one.”
King saw it then—the way the Warriors instinctively knew Joey needed the distraction. They were stepping up, giving him something else to focus on besides the looming surgery. King had never respected these men more than he did in that moment.
“What are you afraid of?” Joey asked, his gaze flicking between them, intrigued.
“Sloan’s forehead vein.” Jared’s expression darkened dramatically. “When Sloan gets raging mad, that vein takes on a life of its own.”
“Oh, yeah,” Sid agreed, nodding sagely. “When the vein comes out, I’m ready to run for my life.”
Joey laughed, a genuine, carefree sound that momentarily pushed away the fear in his eyes.
A nurse entered, smiling at the scene in front of her. “Wow, you must be the most popular patient on this floor.” She stepped closer to the bed. “You must be a pretty special guy.”
Joey grinned, but King caught the flicker of anxiety returning. “Nah, I’m just Joey. These guys are the special ones.” His voice wavered slightly. “I guess it’s time.”
The nurse nodded. “It is.”
Slade entered just as she spoke, pausing as he entered the crowded room. He smirked. “Did Sloan approve a day off for all of you?” No one answered. His expression softened as he turned to Joey. “Janet is going to take you to the operating room. I need to talk to Amara, then I’ll be right there.”
Joey swallowed hard. “You’ll be there the whole time?”
Slade nodded firmly. “I will.”
Amara stood and leaned over, pressing a kiss to Joey’s cheek. “Love you, punk.”
“Love you, Auntie.” Joey grinned mischievously. “I hope you’ve been practicing Call of Duty because I need my partner back.”
Amara smirked, nodding. “Can’t wait.” She stepped aside when the nurse wheeled Joey’s bed toward the door.
King clasped Joey’s hand in a firm bro handshake. “You got this, kid.”
Joey took a deep breath, then smiled. “How can I not with all these badasses on my side?”
As the nurse wheeled him out, each Warrior lined up, giving him high-fives in silent support. The nurse stopped as Daniel stepped out of the room's shadows and walked to the bed.
“Hi, Joey,” Daniel said, looking down at him. “I’m Daniel. I heard you say something about Call of Duty. ”
“Hey,” Joey said, tilting his head and staring at Daniel. “Yeah, I’m pretty good. You play?”
“When I get time. It’s my favorite game.” Daniel said, then leaned slightly toward him, touching his arm. “Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine.”
“You a Warrior?” Joey said, staring up at Daniel, and King could swear Joey looked more relaxed.
“Something like that,” Daniel smiled with a chuckle, then nodded at the nurse, who was staring at Daniel with wide eyes.
“Your eyes...” Joey said with a pause, then a huge grin spread across his face. “are freaking awesome. We'll trade gamer tags and team up when I’m out of here.”
“Deal,” Daniel nodded, then stepped back so the nurse could continue.
King watched until Joey disappeared out the door, then shifted his gaze to Amara. She stood motionless, fists clenched at her sides as she stared after him. Without thinking, King reached out, his fingers brushing against hers before entwining them together. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she squeezed his hand, holding on.
She placed her free hand on Daniel’s arm. “Thank you.” She smiled at him and then looked at all the Warriors with tears in her eyes. “Thank all of you for being here for Joey.”
“He’s a good kid,” Daniel replied before heading toward Duncan and the others.
Slade stepped forward, his expression serious. "I need to talk to you before I head into the operating room." His sharp gaze flickered to King, then back to Amara. "You want to go somewhere private?"
Amara took a deep breath and looked around the room. These men—these Warriors—weren’t just Joey’s friends. They were his extended family.
"No," she said firmly, shaking her head. "This is Joey’s family. No need for privacy."
King felt something shift inside him at her words. If his feelings for this woman hadn’t already been clear before, they were now.