Chapter 16 Theo
THEO
KING DIDN’T LOOK up as I strolled into the kitchen. He sat at the long table quietly, cutting into his omelet, not looking at all ready for what I was about to throw at him.
What had Shep said on the way over? Try to stay calm so I wouldn’t immediately put King on the defensive and actually make some headway.
Obviously that went against every instinct I had, because going over there and throttling him was what my brain was telling me to do.
That wouldn’t solve anything…but it would make me feel better.
I took a deep breath to bank my rage and stopped in front of the table. “We need to talk.”
King lifted his steaming mug of coffee to his lips and took a long sip.
It was infuriating the way he took his time with things when it suited him, and I was about ready to say fuck having patience when he finally nodded.
“We do. Why don’t you take a seat, Theo.” He gestured to the one across from him, but I ignored it.
“I’m fine right here.”
“Suit yourself.”
I scoffed. “Yeah. Yeah, I will suit myself, and I don’t need your fucking permission to do it.”
King sat back in his chair and didn’t say another word, just cocked his head like he was giving me space to let it all out.
I didn’t need his goddamn permission for that either.
I stepped forward, my thighs hitting the table as I towered over him where he sat.
“You know, the first thing you should’ve said when I walked in here was ‘I’m sorry.
’ You should be begging for my forgiveness for being such an obstinate shit.
I’ve had your back for years, Tyrone. And I thought you had mine. ”
“I do—”
“You didn’t. Not when it mattered. You should’ve known that video of me blowing up a building was fake the second you saw it.
You know me. You know my character. You chose me, so you know I’m not that fucking stupid.
” I swallowed, my emotions hitting me harder than I’d expected now that I was here voicing it all out loud.
“Tell me why you were so quick to believe something so fucked. I need to know.”
King shook his head. “It wasn’t about you. It was about looking at the situation logically—”
“Bullshit. Logic would mean believing one of your own. Believing me.”
“You weren’t exactly forthcoming about being in Istanbul in the first place, were you? Perhaps you’ve forgotten you removed your tracker and broke our trust by doing so.”
I stopped short, remembering that little detail, but then brushed it aside. “Yeah, I did that. I own up to it. That’s the difference between you and me. I apologized. I don’t even know if you understand the meaning of the word.”
“What is it you want an apology for, Theo?” he said, leaning forward, elbows on the table.
“For not blindly believing your reckless behavior could’ve caused you to make a rash decision in Istanbul?
Or for walking in on you and Shep hiding your relationship?
One that shouldn’t be happening under our rules in the first place? ”
Putain. There it was—the unfiltered rage.
It was back, pumping through my veins so hard I thought smoke was going to come out of my ears.
I felt my nails dig into my palms as my fists clenched tight, and before I knew it, I swept my arm across the table, sending all the dishes crashing to the floor.
King flinched, not something I’d ever seen him do, and then I leaned over the table, in his face.
“You wanna talk about Shep, let’s talk about Shep,” I said, ignoring the footsteps I could hear somewhere behind me.
“How about we start with the fact that I’m better for him than you could ever be?
I’d never hide someone so fucking amazing, and I’d sure as hell never throw him away like you did.
He deserves better, and you know what? I am. ”
Finally, something that looked like guilt crossed his face, and he ran his hand over his jaw before nodding.
“You’re right,” he said, so quietly I almost missed it.
“Excuse me?”
He looked up. “I said you’re right.”
I hadn’t expected him to agree, and it threw me off balance, especially when his gaze traveled behind me. I turned around to where Shep and East stood at the entrance, like the crash had made them come running.
King got to his feet, addressing Shep. “I fucked up with you, and you deserved better. You deserve better.”
Shep’s shoulders squared, looking like a pillar of strength and resilience—and also just so damn handsome—and he nodded once.
“Yes,” he said, before his gaze shifted to me. “I do.”
King’s eyes then moved back to me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for doubting you, sorry for the way I reacted when I found out about you and Shep, and most of all, I’m sorry I led the danger right to you. There’s no excuse.”
Non, there wasn’t. But… “At least it proved one thing.”
“And that is?”
“You’re human. I’d always had my suspicions.”
“That’s still no excuse,” King said as he moved around the table, stepping over the eggs that were now splattered all over the floor.
Seemed I was getting really good at solving my arguments with food these days. I supposed it was better than my fists. Even if it wasn’t half as satisfying—because there was no way King and I were ending our fight the same way Shep and I had.
King stopped in front of me, his dark eyes full of regret.
“I’ve never doubted my actions more than I have over this last month.
Never been more disappointed in myself as a leader, brother…
friend.” He glanced past me to where Shep and East silently stood.
“I thought the best way to end things with Shep was to make a clean cut. I thought it would be better for him, the organization, all of us.” King’s eyes came back to mine, and he shook his head.
“But all it did was leave things unresolved.”
“If you don’t mind,” East said, “I’m going to leave for this little walk down memory lane.”
“East?” King’s voice was soft but commanding. “I love you.”
“I know. I love you too. Now fix this, so I never have to hear about it again.”
Ballsy little shit. It wasn’t every day you heard someone order King around. But it made sense he’d go for someone mouthy. He liked being the leader, the top dog, and Lord knew there was no one who needed topping more than East.
The door shut, and I looked back to see Shep walking toward us. When he took my hand in his, lacing our fingers, King glanced down at the union and nodded.
“Something so simple,” he said so quietly I almost missed it.
“A kiss on the cheek, hands being held in public.” He looked from me to Shep, and gave a sad smile.
“I couldn’t give you that. Didn’t give you that, and no one deserves it more.
Realizing that was a harder pill to swallow than I expected.
I’d never really allowed myself to think about how it would feel to watch you fall for someone else.
Someone I know…” King turned to me, a look of remorse on his serious face. “I didn’t handle it well.”
“Non, you didn’t.”
“And you’re right. You are good for him. You’re good for each other. I should’ve seen that…”
He turned away from us then, moving back to the table, bracing his hands on top of it, and staring down at the wood grain. I knew King well enough to know he wasn’t done yet, and when Shep’s fingers tightened around mine, I could tell he sensed it too.
There was more here, more contributing to the stiff shoulders we were staring at than our involvement, and a second later King lifted a hand and slammed a fist down on top of the table, making the remaining dinnerware vibrate where it sat.
“I was fucking careless,” he spat out, his chest heaving with self-disgust. “I was fucking careless and it almost got you killed.”
King spun around then, his eyes full of remorse, his expression dour. I barely recognized him as he slumped back into a chair.
“You’re right to question me, to doubt my leadership. This is all happening—all happened—because of me, because of my choices. And you, Theo—you almost died. I can’t ever forgive myself for that, so how the hell could I possibly ask you to?”
Well, shit. How was I supposed to stay mad at that?
I’d come over here guns blazing, wanting King to answer for all his transgressions, wanting exactly this moment. But as I stood there with Shep by my side, his hand in mine, with King looking so dejected, all I felt was empathy.
I’d been so focused on myself and how I was feeling and what I’d gone through that I hadn’t taken a moment to think how King would be feeling.
Neither had Shep, apparently.
“We can forgive you because people make mistakes,” Shep said, making more sense than I could of my thoughts. “Even you, Ty.”
King scrubbed a hand over his face like he could erase everything that had happened with a quick swipe.
If only it were that easy.
“He could’ve died,” he said again, voice pained as he looked at me. “You could’ve died.”
“But I didn’t,” I finally said, and let go of Shep’s hand to lean on the table beside my leader. “I’m still here, ruining your dinnerware and peace of mind.”
“Still doesn’t change the fact that all of this is happening because of me. I might’ve had an excuse for being distracted in Brazil, but not back then. I was arrogant.”
“Which is why you’re the boss,” Shep pointed out. “Should you have looped someone in? Yes. But you did what you thought was right at the time. If we second-guessed every move we made, we’d never get anything done.”
“Shep’s right,” I said. “A quality I like a little less every time I’m reminded of it.”
King snorted. “Oh yes. That’s definitely one of his most annoying qualities for sure. But also the reason he’s the perfect second-in-command.”
“You do both know I’m still standing here, right?” Shep said, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
“Oui.” I nodded and winked at him. “But I think it’s time you hear this about yourself.”
“Well, as much as it pains me to admit it, I’m not always right. I think this whole situation proves that. If I’d been honest with King, told him about us from the beginning—”
“Then I still would’ve been distracted.” King shrugged. “I wasn’t ready for it.”
“Me in particular, or Shep with anyone?” I asked, needing to know for some fucked-up reason whether it was just me he objected to, or if he would’ve reacted the same way to anyone.
“Anyone,” King said, his eyes trained on Shep. But then he turned his head in my direction and shrugged. “I never thought about it, after we were over. The way it would feel to watch him move on. But it was harder than I expected.”
“I’d kill them,” I said matter-of-factly. “Whoever he moved on with.”
King’s lips pulled tight as though he were trying to hide a smirk. “I believe you.”
“So do I,” Shep said, and shook his head. “So let’s not put anyone in that position.”
I grinned and pushed up off the table, then walked over to Shep and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Aww, feeling sorry for my make-believe victim?”
“Yes. I don’t relish the idea of being the reason you end up in a jail cell.”
“Oh please, as if they’d ever catch me.”
King chuckled and got to his feet. “I’m not sure the promise of murder is the healthiest for showing affection, but I’m really happy for the two of you.
But that still doesn’t mean I don’t want to catch and punish the motherfucker who is coming for us.
I left a loose end, and it’s time to tie that shit up. ”
Then, as if he’d somehow heard our entire conversation—which I wasn’t entirely sure he hadn’t through some sort of computer or listening device—Alessio’s name flashed across the phone that had been tossed to the floor along with King’s omelet.
“Okay, that’s just freaky,” I said, and bent down to pick it up and hand it to King. “Looks like it’s time to tie up those loose ends.”