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“Not to me,” Kate replies, taking his proffered hand and giving him a polite smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She might be used to speaking on a level with me and the other guys who work for Carter, and has the ability to put us all to shame with her cursing, but she sure as fuck can switch on the role of obedient, respectful daughter when she needs to. I think I prefer her sass, frankly.
“Oh believe me, the pleasure isallmine,” the King replies, lifting her knuckles to his mouth and running his lips over them as he drinks her in.
Kate stiffens, her gaze shifting between the King and her father who just gives her a bland, approving smile. What in the actual fuck is going on here? If any other man, potential business partner or not, tried to do the same they’d have a fucking bullet in the brain before they could even blink.
“This is Beast, my second in command and head of security,” Carter says, introducing me officially to the fuckwit even though we met before at Nine Lives. I didn’t like him then, and I sure as fuck don’t like him now.
“Beast,” the King replies, side-eyeing me because he’s busy mentally undressing Kate with his hand still wrapped around hers.
I grit my jaw, my fingers curling into my palms as a rush of fucking anger bolts up my spine. It’s just as well the dicksplash drops Kate’s hand and sits down right at that moment, otherwise I would’ve taken great pleasure in knocking the cunt out.
“Princess,” I growl under my breath, uncertain why I’m taking my anger out on her but unable to help myself. It’s not her fault that the King’s a fucking predatory bastard with a penchant for beating women, and he’s looking at Kate like she’s his next fucking meal. I pull out a chair for her, and to her credit she doesn’t react to my shitty attitude. She just gives me a guarded smile instead.
“How was your business trip?” she asks Carter evenly, though the look she gives me as I sit beside her is unmistakably one of confusion as much as it is suspicion. Kate senses something shady going on as much as I do, she’s just better at controlling her emotions and hiding her reactions than I am.
“It was very successful,” the King answers. The fact Carter doesn’t punch the dick for speaking on his behalf is telling. My fucking spine goes rigid. “Your father and I have come to a very agreeable business deal that I’m looking forward to completing very soon.”
Kate looks at her dad, who’s grinning like a fucking moron. Is he on drugs? The guy looks wired. A quick glance around the restaurant tells me we’re alone and this isn’t some elaborate ruse to jump us all. Still, I’ve not got to where I am today by resting on my laurels. This King fucker is up to some shit, and Carter is neck deep in it.
“I see, and what might that be?” she asks, picking up the menu and glancing at it.
“Well, here’s the thing—” the King begins, but Carter raises his hand and cuts him off. Thank fuck, there’s the Carter I know and respect. My shoulders relax a smidge.
“Not tonight. Tonight we’ll enjoy a meal together. There’s been enough business for one weekend,” Carter says, motioning over the waiter.
The King nods. “You’re absolutely right, of course. There’s time to go over our deal at a later date once everything is fixed in place and contracts are signed, yes?”
“Indeed,” Carter replies, before instructing the waiter to serve the wine.
My fuckingbullshitometorstarts ringing in my ears like a fucking foghorn. What the horseshit is going on? What contract? I’m Carter’s second in command for a reason and usually I know everything that’s happening when it comes to his business. So why the fuck am I suddenly in the dark?
“Boss, is there anything I need to be aware of?” I ask, as the waiter moves around the table and takes everyone’s orders. When he reaches my side I point to some random shit on the menu having no idea what I’ve just ordered, given it’s all written in French. I’m not fucking hungry anyway.
“We’ll have a discussion later, for now let’s enjoy this meal,” Carter replies, taking a sip of his red wine. I’m pretty sure the bottle costs more than your average weekly wage. He’s really pushing the boat out for this prick.
“So, Grim, tell me about the subjects you’re studying at school?” the King asks, focusing his slimy, good-for-nothing bastard attention back on her. “I must say, I’d have placed you a little older than school age…”
He allows that comment to hang in the air and I can’t help but notice how Carter shifts in his seat, avoiding eye contact with Kate, let alone me. The fuck kind of comment is that anyway?
Kate folds her hands in her lap and looks the King directly in his eyes, taking her measure of him. “I’m no longer atschool, Mr…” she allows her voice to trail off.
“Just call me King,” he replies, licking his lips as he watches her.
She nods. “As I was saying,Mr King, I’m not at school. I left college this summer and I’m learning the ins and outs of the business. In fact, right now I’m going over the plans for the Tales rebuild, ensuring the architect has everything in place ready for when the builders come in. Isn’t that right,Father?”
Carter nods, seemingly oblivious to that little tell. Kate’s pissed. She never refers to Carter as Father, it’s either Carter or Dad. To look at her now you wouldn’t know it though. She’s poised and cool as a fucking cucumber, not to mention smoking fucking hot. Which is a big fucking problem, given the King is staring at her in a way that makes me want to pick up the steak knife resting beside my hand and stab it into his motherfucking eye.
King shifts in his seat. “Is that so? Carter tells me you’ve quite the business brain, that you’re smart.”
“Smart enough,” she agrees coolly.
Smart enough to suss this guy out in less than ten seconds, that’s for damn sure. Kate might think no one knows her, but I do. I know that right now her inner warning bells are going off just like mine are. You don’t grow up surrounded by criminals without knowing very quickly who you can trust and who you need to shoot in the motherfucking head when the time is right. This guy has a bullet with his name etched on the surface just waiting to blow his brains out. Not that I’d share my thoughts with her, after all, her dad’s my boss and whether I like it or not I have to respect his decisions, even if I don’t fucking like them.
“You want to run Tales when you’re older?” he asks, cocking his head at her.
“I’m learning the business so I can run Tales alongside my fathernow,” she retorts, jerking her chin at the waiter and tapping the wine glass. “You seem to have forgotten to pour me some.”
