Skin Walkers - King Read Online Free Page A

Jenny.
    Jenny! King Mulholland is here.  Holy shit!  I think I’m in love.  Why didn’t you tell me he looked like, like, like…SEX!  I call dibs .  I’m pretty sure I need to change my panties!  ;o) Gotta go.  I’ll call you when he leaves!-L”

Chapter 3
    King stalked to Monroe’s office, but his thoughts were on Ms. Worthington.  Lilly.   He rolled the name around in his head and wasn’t surprised that it felt comfortable there.  He knew her…didn’t he?  He felt like he’d seen her before, as if he’d met her.  He ran through his limited encounters with females and she wasn’t among them.  But why…
    “King,” Monroe addressed him as he dropped into a black leather chair that sat behind a dark wood, highly polished desk.  “I’m glad you came.”
    King stopped in front of the desk and folded his arms behind his back, staring not at the CEO but over his head at attention. 
    “This isn’t the military.  No need for formality.”
    King’s posture relaxed marginally as his eyes dipped to the CEO.  “You knew I’d come, Crow.  What is it you need?”
    “I need you.”  Monroe sat straighter in his chair.  “You know the community we spoke of all those years ago?  A place for us?  For Walkers?”  He gestured toward the window, “This is it.”  Monroe was pleased with the progress on StoneCrow Manor. 
    The sprawling three hundred and thirty-six acre estate was located near Shonkin, Montana, on the northern edge of the Highwood Mountains.  Its cover was a wildlife preserve and rehabilitation facility. 
    A winding, mile -long, drive led up through the dense woods to the main house.  While a manned gate and fence surrounding the property were currently being built.  
    The main estate house, with its stone façade, towered four stories and looked like an ancient castle smack dab in the middle of the Montana forest.  The structure seemed out of place.  While the face of the building gave the impression of a time long forgotten, the interior—what was built so far—was state-of-the art. 
    The east wing of the main floor would eventually house a school.  A cafeteria on the same floor was nearly finished.  In the west wing of the main floor was an infirmary that rivaled any hospital in the state.  It had been Monroe’s priority. 
    The second floor housed suites where employees of the estate were afforded the opportunity to reside year-round in absolute luxury, while the third floor was relegated to office space, with Mr. StoneCrow’s main office and personal suite taking up the entire west wing of the third floor.  Finally, the penthouse w ould be home to the estate’s pub, an elegant dining facility, and a ballroom, which Monroe hoped would host several lavish events a year. 
    Outside of the main house, rows of cabins were being constructed behind the towering main house, hidden behind high hedges.  These cabins would serve mated Walkers and their families.  Monroe had high hopes for his estate and couldn’t hide his merriment each time he stared out is office window onto the community he was creating.
    “What’s that got to do with me?”
    Monroe’s expression darkened.  “The last I checked, you were a Walker!”
    “I am.”
    “I need a Chief of Security, King.  You owe me a debt.  I want it repaid.”  He’d hoped once King had seen their dream come to fruition that he’d willingly get on board.  Clearly, that wouldn’t be the case.
    “ How long?”
    “I don’t know,” Monroe’s eyes sparked in challenge.  “How much times is your life worth?”
    “Christ,” King growled, “you spoke of war.  A security guard for your little community doesn’t exactly require my level of expertise.”
    Ignoring the words, Monroe fished something out of the drawer at his knees and tossed it across his desk.  The contents of the manila file fanned across the desk and drew King’s attention.  Ignoring the wordy documents, he flipped the file open and