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

likes it okay, but she liked her freedom more.” He took a right on Eckle and gave her a quick glance. “I told her about you.”
    “You did? When?”
    “I’ve talked about you a few times over the past year. She gets it. I’m different like her. She wishes I could settle in Saratoga. She says she wishes she would’ve cut the mark off my back when I was a baby. It got too big as I grew older.”
    “Oh, Kong. I thought shifters had it all figured out. The bears get along so well with their crews, and they’re nice and decent and honest people, but it’s not like that for all of you, is it?”
    “No, not all of us. The bears are lucky.”
    “If you refused to take over your family group, what would they do?”
    “Kill me. After they force me to watch them kill you.”
    “Jesus,” she whispered. “So there is no choice then. You have to go.”
    Kong parked in a space at the back of the Tender Care parking lot. His massive shoulders lifted in a sigh, and he gave her a sad smile. “At least I had last night with you, and I got a few minutes this morning. It’s more than I thought I would ever get.”
    “Kong, did you like me before last night?”
    “What?”
    “Don’t think, just blurt out the first answer you think of.”
    “Yes.”
    “How long?”
    “Since the first time you served me a beer at Sammy’s. Three years.”
    “Shit,” she said through her tightening vocal cords. “Me, too. And I feel different about you than I have with other men. Like I know you. And still, I can’t have anything meaningful with you. I hate this.”
    “I do, too,” Kong said, pulling off his sunglasses and folding them onto the V shape in his T-shirt neck. His face was black and blue, but it didn’t make any sense. It was the wrong eye from the cut Harrison had given him in the fight.
    “Kong!” she exclaimed in shock, brushing her fingertip over the discolored skin of his cheek. “What happened?”
    “Ditching my detail last night got me punished.”
    “Oh, my gosh.” She couldn’t even imagine the kind of violence that would cause bruising like this to stay on his face so long. “But you have shifter healing. Why isn’t it getting better?”
    Kong laughed and shook his head. “Woman, you should’ve seen me this morning. I look fucking awesome compared to when I got home.”
    “But I saw you fight last night. You’re a beast in the ring. How could Rhett have done this?”
    “It was Rhett and Kirk, and I let them.”
    “Why?” she yelled. “Why would you let them hurt you like this?”
    “Layla, it’s okay.” He twitched away from her fingertips and slipped his sunglasses back on. “They had to send pictures to Fiona to prove I was punished enough.”
    “How does Fiona know? You were only gone, what? An hour, maybe two?”
    “Because Rhett is a rat prick who calls her anytime I step out of line. It’s his job.” His smile had turned to a grimace now. “Speaking of, I’m supposed to be getting gas before I start work at the mill. They’ll get suspicious if I’m gone for too long. Is your car still at the old barn?”
    “Yeah. I’m going to get a ride out there tonight to pick it up.”
    “Don’t bother. Hand me the keys, and I’ll get it to you.”
    “But what if your guards find out?”
    “Let me worry about them.”
    “Okay,” she said on a breath as she dug around her satchel. She handed him the jingling key ring and pushed on the door handle, but turned back. “In case this is the last time I get to see you, can I…”
    A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips. “Can you what?”
    “Since you already technically broke your contract last night, I was wondering—”
    Kong leaned forward and crashed his lips onto hers, halting her words. A helpless noise wrenched from her lips as she pulled him closer. This man was good and decent. He took care of his family and put others above himself. He’d stayed away from her for three years for her own protection, but now she was