Page 29 of King

“She’s better off alone than with you Luca,” Allie says. She turns to me. “Lay low, I’ll be back in a second.”

I nod before she walks away, Beth dragging Luca with her but he looks back with a smile that makes me laugh. He calls back, “I’m only going with them because King will make an example out of me otherwise.”

Beth tugs him around and they disappear through a white arch.

What the fuck did he mean by that? The mention of Damien reminds me why I’m here in the first place.

What do these rich assholes know about my parents?

I head back to the kitchen with a little more sway in my step. I try to go unnoticed as I fill up the cup a little more and head out into the rest of the mansion.

The room on the other side of the foyer is big enough to house a full family. It’s black and white like the entryway, pot lights shining from a dark wood ceiling. There’s a group of teens doing lines off a shiny grand piano. The space still looks classy. Even with students all over the furniture. Some have even turned the middle of the room into a dancefloor.

From the living room, there are two large glass doors opening out onto the back patio. It’s lit up like a fairy garden, big ass pool glistening against the stone fence. More students line the small hot tub next to it.

I still haven’t seen Lea or Allie, but a few of Lea’s minions are lounging in the tub. Isaac is amongst them, another boy by his side. They’re sitting at the edge of the pool, laughing at a girl who’s lifting off her bikini. They both have cups in their hands and I figured they’d be a good place to start. Especially since I spot a joint in Isaac’s hand. But first, I need to find a bathroom after all this whiskey.

Heading back the way I came, the first bathroom I find has a locked door. Someone’s gagging on the other side and my shoulders drop before my eyes land on the staircase. Considering all the people on the first floor, the second floor looks like a better option.

I'm too tipsy to care about the comments I hear as I climb the steps. When I reach the second-floor balcony, I walk down a long hallway looking for a sign of a bathroom. The black and white theme continues, Sebastien’s accolades between more art on white walls.

A couple comes out of a black door giggling, staggering towards the stairs.

Bingo.

I’m quick to handle my biz before I wash my hands in the gold sink. Considering who I saw leaving, I skip wiping my hands on the black towels. Taking my cup off the stone counter, I leave the bathroom with a look down the hall.

My eyes land on two black doors, “Sebastien King” on a gold plate. Moving towards them I'm hoping they're open. Fuelled by whiskey, excitement runs through me when I hear Damien’s voice down the hallway. Looking back at the office door, then down the hallway, I follow the sound. The closer I get, the stronger the smell of weed is and the louder music gets, an old Marilyn Manson song on low volume.

“He’s full of shit!” Damien sounds angry, irritated. I’m starting to think this is his usual demeanour. “He never listens to me!” He’s sniffing as he speaks. Slurring like he’s already had a few too many. “Fuck!”

SMASH!

“Dude, chill the fuck out,” Christian’s voice comes next.

“Fuck that!” There’s another crash, like glass hitting a wall. “If we use the money from the Evergreen deal with the Huangs we can invest it in way better things than Edwin’s shitty fucking campaign! Why do they need that kind of money anyway? Fucking idiots. He’s going to run his own business into the goddamn ground!”

Another loud thud makes me flinch, but so does the mention of my mom’s old company. The Evergreen Group. What deal is he talking about?

A ringtone comes from the room and Damien clears his throat. “Hello? Dad, listen, we can do so much more with— no. I’m not drunk. Wait. That’s not the point!”

“The sexy spy strikes again,” a voice is in my ear and this time I know it’s Isaac’s.

Turning to look at him, he’s still dripping wet from the torso down. It's a sexy look if his eyes weren’t blasted to hell. Giving him my cup, I put my finger to my lips. “Ssh, you’re going to get us caught.”

Isaac looks behind me before he smirks. “Too late.”

When I turn around, Damien is standing in the doorway, phone to his ear. He’s glaring at me with hell in his eyes. “Dad, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take out the trash. And it smells rancid.”

Nine

Damien drops the phone, his eyes narrowing into slits, “Or is that the natural scent between your legs?”

He’s in a white t-shirt and dark jeans. The usual, but it’s the first time I’m seeing his tattoos in full.

While I have a sad excuse of a half-sleeve on my forearm, Damien has both of his filled out. One side has a detailed decaying skull, the design moving into his hand and fingers. The other side looks like it has a tattered map and a compass, all impressively detailed.

“Dude, C’mon.” Christian appears behind him in a blue shirt with green palm trees. It brings out his eyes. Like Damien’s, they’re glazed but he isn’t as sweaty as his fellow King. Less agitated too.

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