Page 174 of Lethal King

“Lovely. What is it?”

Before I answer, I let the waiting staff scurry up and carry away the empty plates.

“I’ll tell you why I was on the west coast last year,” I say, not quite ready to actually follow up.

Rozalia is hardly impressed.

“I know why you were on the west coast,” she huffs.

“Enlighten me.”

“You were exiled.”

“And you know why?”

“Because you fucked up,” Rozalia responds. Looking over her shoulder, she searches for more food. When she realizes there isn’t more immediately on the way, she decides to take her disappointment out on me. “You killed a bunch of hard-working union reps because they pissed you off.”

“I killed them because they were going to betray my family,” I correct her, agitation rising.

“You didn’t have any evidence of that.”

“I did.”

“Then why were you exiled?”

“… Because I lost the evidence,” I sneer, a wave of bad memories washing over me.

That’s a lie, but it’s the only explanation I’ve ever given anyone.

Suddenly, I can feel everyone’s eyes on us. They’re watching. They’ve always been watching. The world knows all about my fuck-ups; about my shame. There’s no escaping it.

“Is that what you’ve never told anyone before?” Rozalia pokes me.

“No,” I growl.

Maybe this was a mistake.

No matter how comfortable I’m starting to feel around Rozalia, she still knows how to push my buttons. And that’s even more dangerous than my attraction to her.

“Then lay it on me.”

Over her shoulder, I see the kitchen door swing open. Our waiting staff is coming out with more food.

If I don’t get this off my chest now, I never will.

“There was no evidence,” I blurt out.

It’s like throwing a mountain off of my back. For a moment, the impossibly heavy weight hangs in the air. And I’m not sure if Rozalia will catch it for me.

“You just said you lost the evidence.”

“I was lying.”

“Do you do that a lot?”

“Maybe we should end this night before it takes a turn,” I grunt. I’m about to stand up when Rozalia raises her hand, stopping me.

“Don’t go,” she says. “At least, not until the next round gets here. I’ve got some good news.”