"Damn."

King cut a sideways glance out of his one remaining good eye to Juarez, who stood next to him in the large open doorway of the drawing room that lay just off the grand foyer. "What?"

They each leaned a shoulder against the door frame and stared at the gathering within.

"Our compound has turned into a chick factory." Juarez’s tan face pulled down into a frown.

"Can't kick them out," King replied and folded his arms across his chest.

Juarez frowned. "I know, no one tied to us is safe. Not with Rainier out there."

"And Dawson," King said quietly and balled his hands into tight fists. "That traitor is out for blood."

King had no intention of allowing Dawson to harm anyone else in this compound. He’d taken them by complete surprise in the warehouse. Everyone on the team had thought him dead, killed in the lab under General Rainier’s supervision. But they wouldn't be caught by surprise again.

King’s right eye itched beneath the black patch covering it and he resisted the urge to reach up to scratch the reminder of what his teammate had done to him. Dawson hadn’t killed him with that bullet, but he’d sure as hell disabled him. King couldn’t shoot the way he was used to. He couldn’t fight how he’d been trained. He couldn’t do shit right because he’d been blinded.

This weakness ate at his confidence and made his blood burn with anger. "We should be searching for them; with the gold, Rainier has the resources to set up a new research facility."

"Hey, you two, come join in," Melissa called out. She and her sister Whitney perched beside Hicks on the love seat, Diggs sat on the chair opposite them with Audra in his lap and Reaper knelt on the carpet next to the overstuffed recliner where Caroline sat propped up by a pillow with her hand draped over her swelling belly.

"We’re good," Juarez called out in return.

King never sat around eating appetizers and sharing drinks with friends. He didn’t have friends. But the women had insisted on a group gathering today to celebrate the good news that Caroline was having a baby girl.

The scene playing out before him too closely resembled a family and King didn’t do families. He preferred being on the outside.

A muffled crash sounded from upstairs and everyone looked at the ceiling, but no one moved.

Ever since Quantum had woken from the coma, he’d been different – any hope the team had held out he'd return to normal slowly died a little bit more every day. Quantum used to be the one man on their team they could all talk to and joke with in any circumstance. But now he couldn’t tolerate a single man on the team.

Only Melissa and Trigger could approach him without incident.

Trigger actually seemed to prefer Quantum’s side to everyone else, but today he lay at Audra’s feet, watching the others in the room with a guarded look.

The silence stretched out and King let out a muttered curse. "I'll go check on him."

Melissa got to her feet, a small smile on her lips and tight lines around her eyes. "No, let me." She crossed the room and paused in the doorway between King and Juarez. "We don't need to distress him any more than necessary."

Every man on this team upset Quantum.

Though neither of them said it, the words hung between them heavy with sadness.

King nodded and settled his shoulder back against the door frame, watching as she disappeared up the staircase behind them.

"I hate this," Juarez said.

"We all do."

"King, Juarez, please join us." Caroline's soft voice filled the room. Reaper reacted by inching closer to his fiancée. King couldn’t help but feel a tug of protectiveness for her. She’d been put through an altogether different kind of hell by Rainier and had barely escaped with her life after the general had drained her blood to create the serum.

He shoved away from the door frame. Juarez blew out a huff and followed suit, neither of them could deny her in her condition. She'd come close to losing the baby once already, and although he didn’t have one, she was as close to family as it could get in King’s mind.

Each and every man in this room felt the need to protect her, and if that meant doing as she asked to keep her from getting upset, well they’d do that, too. King came to stand behind the couch, Juarez right beside him.

Caroline gave them a weak smile. "Thank you. You two belong in here." She glanced at Reaper, who scooped up her hand and stared right back with open adoration.

Reaper rose up on one knee. "Now that we have everyone here, I want to say something."

The entire room fell silent. Reaper reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. "Caroline, I know I've already asked you to marry me, but I never made it official." He pried open a small box, and the light in the room glinted on the cluster of diamonds inside.

Caroline gasped and pressed a trembling hand over her lips. King shifted, uncomfortable with the surge of emotion in the room.

Reaper, either unaware or uncaring, continued, his gaze focused only on Caroline. "Caroline, I vow to protect you and our child with my life. I love you and I will love you even into death." Reaper pulled the ring from the box, and slipped it on Caroline's hand. Then he placed his palm on her stomach in a protective gesture.

"I love you too," Caroline whispered back.

The room erupted in applause and congratulations, and even King had to smile. He didn't believe in love or any of that nonsense, but Caroline and Reaper were meant to be. The connection between them was undeniable and he was happy that his team leader had found that small glimmer of happiness.

Hicks got to his feet and lifted his glass. "I vow to protect you and the child with my life also."

Diggs quickly followed suit, as did Juarez.

All the women stared at him expectantly, the look of expectation on their faces making him as uncomfortable as if he had a gun stuck in his back. King fought the urge to scratch his eye patch. "Hell, I do too. Don't know why you need to hear me say so. Thought it was obvious."

Tears welled in Caroline's bright blue eyes and slipped down her pale cheeks. “Thank you.”

King shoved his hands in his pockets. Shit. He’d made her cry. Reaper gave him a look that could scorch iron and pulled Caroline into his arms. This was why he didn’t do emotions.

He didn’t need to be in here any longer – he knew his place. And that sure as hell wasn’t in this love fest.

King turned to walk from the room. He’d wasted enough time already, it was time to start hunting Rainier and Dawson. They’d already taken enough from him, he had no intention of allowing them to take more.

And despite the fact King would never feel comfortable surrounded by friends, hanging out and talking, he’d rot in hell before he allowed anyone to harm any person in this room.

Diggs called out from his seat, “King, where are you going?”

King didn’t turn around when he answered. “To hunt.”

The End

Operation Mayhem will continue with King’s book this summer! Until then, try the first book in my award winning Men of Mercy Series for FREE!: