Free Skin Walkers - King by Susan Bliler Page A

little too often lately.  He was beginning to wonder if he was trying to create some bond where none existed.  He didn’t pursue her, but he thought of it.  All the while, Lilly avoided him like the plague.  In her defense she avoided everyone.  She arrived at work at 9:10am and departed at precisely 5:10pm.  As Monroe’s personal guard, he’d heard the CEO issue offers for Lilly to stay at the estate.  The offers were always declined.  Lilly was all business, straight to work, and then straight home.  Only on a handful of occasions had she lingered at StoneCrow to talk with Jenny.  The two were good friends.  King knew it would kill Jenny to see Lilly wheeled into her surgery in the state Lilly must be in.  
    Now staring at the blood soaked seat of her car, King couldn’t produce one single person or Walker for that matter that would want to harm Lilly.  She was genuinely liked by everyone.   The moron!   His heart thudded to a halt when he remembered his last exchange with Lilly.  “You don’t want my protection.  You don’t get my protection.”  God no!  If he’d failed to protect her from that man…
    Raised voices caught King’s attention .  He drew his pistol and strode angrily toward the black humvee that he knew housed the attacker.  Before he got to the vehicle, he heard Monroe’s voice cut through the mist.  “Move.”   The command was simple and before King could get his hands on the shooter, the doors of the vehicle were slammed shut and the tires squealed as the vehicle raced through the gate and onto the estate.
    King watched it disappear, his head lowered, his brows pulled into a deep scowl and his lips pulled back over sharp teeth.  He debated shifting and chasing after the car.  But it would have to wait, he needed information.  His teeth ground together in frustration.  Once again Monroe was preventing him from doing what he did best.  Kill.
    King holst ered his pistol and raced to StoneCrow’s infirmary.  Jenny would either still be in surgery trying to save Lilly, or Lilly would already be dead.  The thought of Lilly’s lifeless body sent a chill over him.  He was more than a little startled that the thought would affect him as much as it did.  Regardless, he had to know.
    King shoved his way into the long concrete corridor that led to the infirmary.  Ahead he could see Monroe briefing several of the Sentries who’d been on the scene of the ambush when King had arrived.  With a flick of Monroe’s fingers the Sentries looked up to King then dispersed, disappearing down the opposite end of the corridor, no doubt in an effort to avoid King.
    “Well?” King demanded as he came to stand in front of Monroe.
    “We’ve got the shooter in custody, but he’s not talking.”
    “Let me at him,” King ground out, “he’ll talk.”
    Monroe shook his head and raised a hand to rub at his temple.  “We need him alive, King.  We’ve got to find out why he attacked Lilly.  It makes no sense.  If he’s an enemy to Walkers then why attack her ?  If he were an enemy of ours he’d know she isn’t one of us.  It just doesn’t make any fucking sense.”  Monroe dropped his hand.  “I’ve got Bronco and Legion trying to find out if she had any enemies…”
    Enemies?   Never.  A stalker?  Maybe.  King cut in, “What about the man watching her house?  What else do you have on him?  There can’t be anyone else, Crow.”
    Monroe frowned up at the larger man. “You don’t know that she can’t have other enemies.  It’s our duty to explore all avenues.  I mean for Christ’s sake what do we really know about her?”
    King took a step closer to Monroe, until his angry face was inches from the CEO’s, “She’s in there dying and you’re out here questioning her loyalty?”
    Monroe let out an exasperated breath .  “Not her loyalty, King.  I’m just saying we don’t know much about her.  We have no idea who she’s associated with…been