Page 9 of Slay King

“Morning,” I said as I walked over to her.

The way she followed me with her eyes nervously but with a glint of pleasure had me forgetting the shit I was currently facing.

“Good morning,” she replied softly.

I reached for her hand and wrapped it in mine. “You gotta be hungry. Come eat,” I said, tugging her closer to me. “I’ll fix your plate.”

“Good Lord, let the woman breathe,” Maeme scolded from behind me.

I winked at Rumor before sliding a hand to her back and turning to face Maeme. “I was just being a gentleman, Maeme.”

My grandmother rolled her eyes and set the orange juice on the counter. “You have work to do. I’ll get Rumor fed. You can go.”

I had a meeting with the others at the Shephard Ranch. Blaise Hughes would be there on a video call. It wasn’t a meeting I wanted to be at, but I was required. Since it was me they were forcing to be fake engaged to Scotlin. All to weed out her father’s mole and to find out who had been leaving the notes on her car, stalking her. It was more than likely the same person, and the sooner he was found, the sooner I could stop pretending with Scotlin.

“I got twenty minutes,” I replied, not looking in Maeme’s direction.

“Go,” Rumor told me. “Don’t be late.”

I wanted to tell her about Scotlin before I left, but with Maeme breathing down my neck, it wasn’t going to be possible. I’d tell her tonight. Back at the cottage, where I wanted her. Not here with my grandmother making it difficult.

Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to Rumor’s lips. “Be at the cottage this evening. I’ll bring dinner,” I whispered.

She nodded.

I’d talk to her then. This was all going to be fine.

“Glad you could join us,” my father said, giving me a pointed look when I walked into Stellan Shephard’s office.

“Maeme cooked breakfast,” I replied with a shrug, taking a seat on the sofa beside Wilder and across from Thatcher, who was grinning at me, clearly not buying my excuse.

“It’s true then?” Wilder asked beside me. “You have caught feelings for a woman? I thought they were talking shit.”

I glanced at Wilder, willing him to shut the fuck up before looking at Stellan. “You want a recap on last night, or do I wait until the call with Blaise?”

Change of subject. Hopefully.

“You left Scotlin last night and went directly to Rumor,” my father pointed out.

“I left her at my fucking house. Isn’t that enough?”

Stellan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “Scotlin’s safety is important.”

No shit. “I’m aware of that, and my house is safe. Not to mention the security that her father has on her.”

Stellan raised an eyebrow. “You are her security. The others are just there for looks.”

“They’re former Marines. One was a fucking sniper,” I pointed out.

“And you’re the goddamn Mafia!” my father shouted.

“Easy, Ronan,” Barrett Kingston said to my father, holding up a hand to stop him. “King always gets the job done.”

Thank you, Barrett!

“Yes, but before, he was never locked on a piece of ass,” my father shot back.

I was standing before I knew it. My annoyance had morphed into a full-blown rage. “Don’t,” I warned him. “Don’t call her that again.”

---