AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I take it that you’re disappointed I’m your father?”
“That’s a fucking understatement. Who wouldn’t be disappointed? A man who uses kids to do his dirty work. A man who sells girls, who deals drugs. A man who murders innocent people, who threatens the ones I love. Are you even fucking human?” I sneer, knowing all that I have left are the sting of harsh words. Not that they will make a difference, given my father has no heart to break. I turn to look at Ma Silva, my anger spilling over to her. “And you, you evil fucking witch! How could you do this after everything you said?” I point at Connie, who flinches. “You sold us out and now you’re handing over your own granddaughter to the King? Just like that?”
Ma Silva looks at me, a flicker of something in her gaze that makes me believe that everything isn’t as it seems, but whatever I saw, she shuts it down quickly.
“Connie will make a wonderful companion and I have no allegiance to you, child.”
“Bitch,” Sonny snarls under his breath.
“What about Malakai?” I ask, my voice rising. “Doeshemean nothing to you?” Isawthe way Ma Silva was with him. There was affection between them. How could I have been so wrong?
“Malakai is a thorn in my side. Connie has had her fun. Now she will fulfil her duties.”
“Grandma!” Connie shouts. Tears well in her eyes, but Ma Silva refuses to look at her.
“Speaking of which,” the King interrupts, looking bored. “Where is that bastard cousin of mine?”
“Cousin?” What the fuck?
“Yes, Asia, he’s a Bennett too, though he’s refused the family name favouring his mother’s… In fact, he’s not the only other Bennett you’ve met.” The King smiles evilly, but I refuse to be drawn into his games. I refuse to ask who he’s talking about even though a part of me needs to know.
“Bring Grayson in!” The King barks out to one of the guards who nods, spinning on his feet and leaving the room.
Grayson? I thought the King was Grayson?
This time Ma Silva flinches. Her gaze flicks to mine, real fear apparent in her eyes. “He’s here?” she whispers.
The King laughs as he rounds on her, slapping her so hard around the face that her head snaps violently to the side. Connie cries out, standing abruptly only to be forced back into her seat by a guard that appears behind her.
“Sit the fuck down,” the King snarls at her. “The sooner you learn to obey me, the better. Your life may very well depend on it.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Eastern whispers under his breath. He’s moved in closer, Sonny flanking my other side.
“I’ve no idea,” I hush back, confusion setting in.
Ma Silva rubs at her face and I see the look that passes between her and Connie. It’s filled with regret, love, compassion, fear, and I see a tiny glimmer of the old woman I met today in her gaze.
“It’ll be okay,” she promises her granddaughter, then turns to me with a sorrow-filled gaze, before addressing the King. “This ends now. It’s time to stop. I won’t see you hurt these children.”
The King laughs. “I knew it! You had this all planned out, didn’t you, Ma? You think you could fool me? You think I wouldn’t see through your act tonight? I knew you wouldn’t give up Connie to me. Always so soft-hearted, always helping the waifs and strays. I bet you already care for these kids. Always trying to fix the broken, aren’t you?”
Ma Silva nods, straightening her spine. “God knows I tried to help you over the years. None of these children deserve your hatred. What kind of monster are you?”
Her response has me breathing out a sigh of relief, which is ridiculous given the circumstances. She turns to look at me. “I’m sorry, Asia. I was trying to buy us some time.”
The King sneers. “Did you honestly believe that I wouldn’t notice Malakai scouting this place? You’re an old fool,” the King spits before turning his wrath to me. “And you, Asia, have brought me the one person I’ve been chasing for years. Let’s see just how much your veins truly run with Bennett blood when you fulfil your part in the bargain and kill the bastard.”
“You want me to kill Malakai?He’sthe person you were talking about when you wanted a life for a life?”
The King laughs hollowly. “No, not Malakai, though he too will die tonight. It wasalwaysthe Black Sheep. That is, Mr Carmichael to you.”
“Why? Because he killed one of your men for murdering his brother?”
“No, I told you why, because this ismykingdom, not his.” The King slams his fist against the table making the plates and glasses shake.
“His?”
He ignores my question, anger running his mouth. “I’mthe rightful heir, not Grayson, not my older brother.”
