Free Lowlander Silverback (Gorilla Shifter Royalty 1) by T. S. Joyce

asked in a hard tone.
    Kong puffed air out of his cheeks as he watched his guards unload the truck a log at a time. “I just got called back home. I’ll be head of a family group come next week.”
    “Congratulations,” Aviana said in a sweet voice, though confusion swam in her eyes. She twitched her black hair and blinked slow, and he smiled at how raven-like she was, even in her human skin.
    “Not congratulations,” Beaston said softly. “Condolences. What about Layla?”
    Kong jerked his attention to the wild-eyed Gray Back. He’d never told anyone about Layla, but Beaston was calling him out? “What about Layla?”
    “She’s the love of your life. Even human. Even soft and full of tears, Layla’s good. You watch her like she’s yours, so she is.” Beaston leaned back against the bench and draped his arm around his mate’s shoulder, then frowned at the two men unloading lumber. “I don’t want you to go.”
    “I don’t want to go either,” Kong admitted low, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.
    “I could kill them for you.” And there it was, the crazy side of Beaston that Kong adored. He’d said the words nonchalantly, but his offer wasn’t to be laughed off. Beaston would really give a go at offing them if Kong approved.
    He clapped Beaston’s leg and leaned back with a private smile. “You’re a good friend, but I have to handle this one my own. It’s my duty.”
    “Bullshit,” Beaston scoffed. “Layla’s your duty . Her happiness is your duty . Her safety is your duty .” He jerked his chin toward Rhett and Kirk. “No pretending those animals have anything to do with duty.” Beaston stood and spat in the dirt. “Your face looks like shit.” He pulled Aviana up and led her toward the now empty truck. Halfway there, he stopped and tossed Kong a glare over his shoulder. “Don’t go.” Then he shook his head and walked away.
    “Bye, Kong,” Aviana said with a small wave. Her eyes swam with sadness that hit him right in the gut.
    Easton made sure Aviana was safely tucked into her seat before he strode around the front of his truck. He lurched at Rhett and snapped his teeth so close to his face, Rhett had to jerk back or get bitten. Then Beaston climbed up behind the wheel and pulled away from the sawmill. And right as he passed Rhett, Beaston stuck his middle finger out the window and gave him a feral smile.
    “Crazy,” Rhett muttered as he watched the truck pull away with his hands hooked on his hips.
    Crazy? No, Beaston got things other people failed to. He had seen right through Rhett’s façade straight to his inner asshole in no time flat.
    Kong scratched his lip with the back of his thumbnail as he watched Beaston and Aviana drive away. He’d grown attached to so much here.
    He would never find a way to satisfy the hole this place was about to leave in his life.
    ****
    Kong paced in front of the hospital room, clutching the quickly written apology in his fist. He couldn’t see Layla again. Not now. Not after the call from Fiona, but it gutted him to think of leaving her without a goodbye. Even if it was just a note passed through Mac.
    Kirk was waiting in the parking lot in case he tried to bolt, but at least his handler had been kind enough to let him come into Tender Care alone. There was no risk of him screwing up here. Layla was working her shift at the bar now and no threat to his handlers’ jobs. She may as well be a million miles away.
    Huffing three quick breaths, Kong knocked softly on the door that a nice nurse named Sherri had said was Mac’s.
    “Come in,” a cracking, aged voice said.
    Kong pushed open the door slowly and smiled, his chin to his chest so the old man wouldn’t feel threatened. It worked on his people, but he didn’t talk to humans much, so hopefully this would work.
    “I thought you would pace those halls forever before you grew the nuts to walk in here,” the old man said, his wrinkles deepening with a smile. “Kong, I’m