The Rebel King (All the King's Men #2)

by Kennedy Ryan

Dr. Murrow inadvertently created something so strong it essentially ‘tricks’ the body’s defensive mechanism into believing it has learned how to counter the infection but then actually increases the symptoms until you die.”

“In biochemical warfare, you mean.”

How did we get here???

There’s no way in hell CamTech will turn that vaccine over. They can’t.

It would be entirely unethical and the whole thing should be erased from existence and memory if possible

The U.S. government doesn’t negotiate with terrorists and rarely engages in private foreign hostage situations. If they find out about the vaccine at this stage, they’ll confiscate it and any pertinent records. If my rat finds out we no longer have the vaccine and tips them off—”

I’ll determine what we’ll do from there.” “You’ll determine? Don’t think you can come in and take this over. This is still my operation to manage. We have a crisis plan.”

“What was I supposed to say? ‘Nix. I know this is our first date in, oh, ten years, but could you wear this tracking device so I can monitor your every move? Thanks.’”

That’s creepy

“You could have explained that it’s standard practice for people in your position to issue tracking devices to significant others, yeah. This is why.”

Not a good enough reason 💀

apparently Dr. Murrow is a pretty big deal. He’s the brains behind this vaccine they’ve developed, and they see its potential.” “Its potential to kill millions of people, you mean?” “Hey, war is a dirty business, but it’s still business. They may be required to report it to the CDC before they issue it as a drug, but they could eventually sell it to our government, even if only to keep it from the hands of any other government, and they know it. Bringing him home is a huge priority for them.”

“If we can activate that tracking device remotely, we may be able to attempt a rescue, but we should try a conversation with this guy first.”

No 🙃 You’re literally just a guy act like it

“King—” “I’m serious, Grim. I don’t want to negotiate with the guy on that video. He killed an old man to prove a damn point. He’ll kill Nix, so I’m killing him first.” Grim scowls his exasperation. “It’s not a matter of packing a lunch and taking off for the jungle. A rescue mission in conditions like these would require extensive tactical planning, strategy, assembling the best team possible. Time.”

Thank you

I douse my whole being in Namaste and hope Grim doesn’t detect the shackled demon under the three-piece suit.

This is one of the worst sentences I’ve ever read

“Mr. Hunter,” I say, stepping forward with an outstretched hand. “Thank you for coming right away.” “Of course. Thank you for the, uh…plane.”

LMAO what do you expect him to say he didn’t even know you knew her

“I’ve told you what I want. My mother back. Got a wire transfer for that, do you?” “So you punish innocent people in your mother’s name? I’m sure she’d be so proud.” Grim’s head drops to his hands, and he releases a frustrated exhale.

Absolute idiot

“I’ll get things organized, but if you come, we can’t have a repeat of that phone call. No taking over. It’s my operation, and you follow my rules.” I just stare at him because when was the last time I followed any rules except the ones I made up? I don’t challenge him now, but surely he knows I will if necessary. I nod to satisfy the demand on his face.

💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

“You stay here.” Grim’s words cut through the thick jungle humidity like a machete. “I told you I’m a great shot,” I say, my voice gravelly and frustrated. “It was short notice, but between my contacts and your brother’s, I’ve assembled a great team of qualified guys,” he says pointedly. “You might be a great shot, but you ain’t qualified, brother.”

“Then follow the plan. You wanted the gun, you got it. For once in your damn life, fall back and follow orders. Leave this to the guys actually trained to do it. What are your orders?” I grit my teeth, unused to following anyone else’s lead. “If I see a bad guy,” I say stonily, “shoot him.” “And?” He cocks one thick eyebrow at me, looking very The Rock-ish. “Don’t get my ass killed.”

Has Maxim found us? I caress my compass charm, a touchstone for the dregs of faith I’m drawing from.

Delusional the both of them 💀💀 (but she’s right kind of)

“Nix!” a voice yells a second time from the edge of the woods. “Run!” As soon as I hear my name just that way, called in that deep voice, my heart pounds against my ribs. “Maxim?” I look around, frantically searching the tangle of wild bushes and trees. And then I see him. Running toward us, a gun extended, aimed.

🙃🙃🙃 of course it’s him

Everyone turns to look at him. Bethany clears her throat, shooting a questioning look at my dad, like he may be able to offer some insight into the big man periodically growling from the corner.

Boy shut up

“I don’t want odds. I want proof. I don’t care if he’s facedown, blue and bloated in that river. Until I see for myself that he can’t get to her again, this isn’t over.”

He’s seriously pissing me off

It was as instinctive as when my father taught me to hunt. I felt more for the first deer I put down during hunting season than I did for that cretin who held Lennix hostage.

To have her to myself so completely, the fear that somebody will one day take her from me subsides. I need to fuck that fear away, but I won’t do that to her. It’s selfish and base, and she’s the best thing in my life.

Disgusting

“What time is it? Why are you out here?” Because I don’t trust myself with you right now.

🤮

her pretty bare feet peeking from beneath the wide silk bottoms, is more than I can take right now.

🤨📸

I pull her closer, wanting so badly to be tender, to take my time, but desire and need suffocate my good intentions.

The doctor just said rest and you can’t even be gentle with her

“It’s like I came so close to losing you,” I say stiltedly. “And something in me wants to lay claim to you. I don’t think it’ll be gentle. It’s some caveman shit. I know that.” “Then I must be on some cavewoman shit,” she says, her smile widening, even though her eyes remain solemn. “Because I feel the same way.”

The both of them are deranged. There is no real emotional connection here they’re both just animals who formed an attachment

I don’t even think I know how it’s affected me yet. What I do know is that I love you, and the thing I regretted most when I thought I would die was that I never told you. So let me tell you.” She steps back and sits on the edge of the bed, which is covered in a cream-and-gold-silk comforter. She spreads her legs in blatant invitation. “Let me show you.”

Every strong show of emotion for them is linked to sex. Can you have one meaningful conversation without fucking right after

“Thanks, Auntie, but I do think running may help me. Not just physically, but in other ways, too. It made me feel connected to the land, to our struggle in a way that nothing else does.” “All the training you did for your Sunrise Dance? Running was probably one of the hardest parts of the ceremony.”

I can’t help it. Seeing him dressed to leave makes me want to tie him to my bed so he can’t get away. I don’t know if it’s clinginess or neediness, but I want him as close as possible as much as possible.

Both you weirdos

Get some rest. Schedule a session with your therapist. Take it slow.” “I don’t have time for slow, Doc. Your brother’s announcing his campaign very soon.” “I don’t give a damn if O is announcing he’s going to the moon. Kimba and your team have everything under control. Don’t rush it.” “Are you presuming to tell me when I should go back to work?” My tone is light, but he needs to know. I love him, but he won’t run my life.

“Just a precautionary measure,” he says. “I’ve assigned you a security detail.” “A what?” My back goes straight and rigid. “The kidnapping was specific to that country, to those circumstances, and was about Wallace and the vaccine. It had nothing to do with me. Don’t generalize the danger. I’ve never needed security, and I still don’t.”

“Don’t tell me not to worry about your safety, about your well-being, about you because that shit’s not gonna fly. I don’t want to infringe on your independence, but I’m also not letting a damn thing happen to you. Am I making myself clear on this?” “Let me make myself clear,” I fire back, stepping out of his arms and putting my hands where his were on my hips. “I’m responsible for my safety and well-being. Thank you for rescuing me from a lunatic who had a mind to kill me, but we’re home now. And I don’t need someone to caretake my life or to monitor my comings and goings.”

My blood boils a little at the sight of Wallace Murrow. It’s not jealousy. I’m secure in Lennix’s feelings for me. No, that idiot promised he’d keep Lennix safe on that service trip, and she ended up almost dead. Though it technically wasn’t his fault, on some level, right or wrong, I blame him for entangling Lennix in the drama with his experimental vaccine.

Imma stab this man. This relationship is so toxic

“That’s a heat-trapping gas, right, Doc?” “Don’t call me Doc.” The sharp comment pinpricks the good humor in the room, leaving behind an awkward silence. We were all getting along so well until the good doctor had to put in his two cents. I don’t know if I’ll ever like him the way Lennix wants me to.

“We won’t work if I’m some idea to you, Nix. If I’m a concept. I’m your man, not ‘one of them.’”

You fucking moron not eveything is about you. Its about how women are treated in this field and in general

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand or agree. I don’t give a fuck what people think.” “Even not giving a fuck is a privilege I don’t have,” she says, her frown back. “It’s not about that. It’s about understanding how people’s minds work, about their assumptions. They’ll think Owen chose me because I’m sleeping with you, not because I was the best person for the job. Can you even grasp what it means for a Native American girl raised on the rez and a black woman to be running the campaign for the probable next president of the United States?”

She shakes her head. “It’s hard for me to believe you now.” I lift her chin, hold her eyes so she can see the truth. “I watched you work. I knew you’d be able to do it when you won that city council race in New Mexico.” She frowns. “That was a tiny race. How did you—” “And the county commissioner in Montana. The secretary of state in Virginia.” “Doc,” she says, the chill thawing from her eyes. “You saw those?”

DONT FALL FOR THAT SHIT HE SAW CAUSE HE STALKED YOU

Shit, I’m hard.

Surprise surprise

“I’m not saying it was your fault. But I’m very exacting about her safety in a way that you don’t know how to be.” “You can’t be serious.” Lennix laughs, but there’s more outrage than humor in it. “You’re exacting about my safety? What does that even mean?”

Fucking hate this man and his caveman possessive act

“He was not in charge of my safety in Costa Rica. I’m in charge of myself.” “How’d that work out for you?” I ask.

"imma go buy me a gun and imma come back here and set this motherfucker off" the petty anger in that section of the song is how im feeling

My laughter cuts in on his stupid words. “Next service trip? What part of ‘never again’ do you not understand, Dr. Murrow?” “Talk to me,” Lennix says. “I’m the one who decides if I go on another service trip.” “I’m not saying you won’t,” I tell her with a shrug. “I’m saying I’ll be involved because I don’t trust anyone else to keep you safe.”

I’m on her in seconds, scooping her up. The geotracker can wait until tomorrow. This erection has waited long enough.

Youre seriously ignoring all your obviously huge issues for sex again i hope you break up for good

“You weren’t my girlfriend before. Once people know they can get to me through you, you can’t expect me to let you wander around unprotected.” “Let me wander around? You mean like an unaccompanied child in an amusement park?” He answers only with an impatient frown and a tightening of his lips.

“I love her,” I tell Grim softly, seriously. “I don’t own her. You don’t hold back someone like Lennix because the beauty is in how she flies. I want to see her soar. I just want to make sure she always lands safely. You know?”

Me: You sure? I don’t want to disrupt your business. I know how crazy your schedule is. Maxim: I need to fuck you. I haven’t jerked off this much since I was fourteen.

Shocking more sex

I don’t mention that niggling disquiet of my soul, the restlessness of my mind. I’ve tossed those into the basement and locked the door so I can function. They aren’t banging to get out yet, so for now that’s good enough for me.

My therapist did warn that the traumatic effects of the kidnapping might sneak up on me when I least expected. Exhaustion exacerbated my response, but I still can’t believe it was this bad and this sudden.

You can say that again

his ass.

THIS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN A ROW AND IM TRAUMATIZED

This should be fun. I’m being facetious. Persuading Lennix to leave DC with me won’t be fun at all. We’ll fight, but in the end, I will get her out of this town and out of the campaign grind for a breather.

A damn independent. Me, true blue, fell for a purple. “Believe me, I’m well aware that you don’t consider yourself a Democrat,” I reply. “Regarding Middleton’s chances against Owen, I meant he may be a jerk, but a lot of people won’t care about that. They’ll just vote the party line.”