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He was the same man who’d recruited one of my oldest friends in an effort to “kill” me. So yeah, I was not buying whatever he was selling. Especially not about Mayhem and not on today of all days.
“Son,” he said and I curled my fingers into a fist. I could punch him. Except, I didn’t think one hit would ever be enough. If I started slugging him, I may not stop until I painted the room with his blood.
As satisfying as that might be on a visceral level, I wanted to hurt him. Hurt him like he’d hurt Ivy. Hurt him like he’d hurt my friends.
Like he’d hurt my mom.
“I need to speak to Miss Benedict. She’ll want to talk to me, whether you want to or not. I did you the courtesy of letting you enjoy the show, now do me one and let me speak to her.”
Karagiani raised his brows. Did I want him to intervene? Yes, but I shook my head anyway.
Reeling my temper in, I glanced to where Lainey sat. She was watching us, though she hadn’t tried to intervene. “Mr. King wants to speak to you.” I managed to say it without gritting my teeth.
“Now?” Her chin came up and I could have kissed her. That look dared him to mess with her. But it was literally the last thing I wanted him to do.
“Apparently he feels it’s important.” I didn’t bother to disguise my feelings on the subject.
“Five minutes,” she said, almost a question as if she wanted to confirm I agreed with her. I didn’t. I didn’t want him anywhere near her. But five minutes was as good a limit as any if we weren’t just going with a solid “no.”
“Five minutes,” I concurred flatly as I faced King again. “We have plans.”
“I’m sure you do.” His smirk as he glanced at her just pissed me off all over again. “I’d definitely have plans with her as well.”
Telling myself tonotpunch him wasn’t going to work. Karagiani nodded once then withdrew a step as I backed up to stand next to Mayhem’s chair. King ignored both of us like we weren’t a threat and moved to the other side of Mayhem and pulled out a chair to take a seat for himself.
“Miss Benedict, or do you prefer Lainey?” King greeted her like they were old friends and she shifted in her seat, crossing one leg over the other. All at once, it struck me that her panties were in my pocket and I settled a hand on her shoulder to let her know I was there.
“Miss Benedict is fine,” she informed him in a cool voice. She flicked a look up at me then down to the chair I’d occupied before. I didn’t want to sit with him, However she wanted me in the conversation, not hovering above. I slid back into my seat and she rested a hand on my thigh as I draped my arm behind her.
“Miss Benedict, I apologize for interrupting your evening, but I wanted to extend a courtesy to you since I saw you here with my son.”
I didn’t roll my eyes or snort. He glanced at me, his smirk growing before he focused on her again.
“That courtesy would be?”
“As you know, the Royals are composed of many families you are acquainted with—including your own.”
I went still. What was he doing?
“It’s been a tradition for a very long time—far longer than even my leadership dates.”
That was news to me, and despite the fact she didn’t twitch a muscle, Mayhem dug her fingers into my thigh. “And I care because?”
“Because your sister, Andrea Reed—she’s coming up on her fourteenth birthday very soon. That’s typically the age at which Royals are called up.”
“Are you serious?”
He chuckled, but it was a cold, almost empty sound. “Very serious. You see, Adam betrayed me. He was the Reed legacy, but he turned his back on the deal he made. Turned his back on the Royals. That means there is no longer a Reed heir serving—Andrea will have to do.”
“Absolutely not.” There wasn’t a single tremor to her voice nor her posture as she held his stare. “I’ll take her place—”
“The hell you will,” I snapped before he could respond. “You are not doing a damn thing for him.”
“Andrea’s fourteen,” she argued and I understood that.
“You can’t trust him.” I cut my gaze back to him.
“You should speak to Adam before you make that call, or Ezra—my agreement with their service was I would never tap you, Miss Benedict. While Adam might be a backstabbing son of a bitch who doesn’t hold up his end of bargains, I won’t be…” He looked at me, and all I saw was him telling me to get my stuff all over again.
