Page 16 of Knight

“Okay! Allez!” Marion’s voice comes from behind the crowd. “Let us all return downstairs for refreshments. Damien is … coping.” She looks over her shoulder with a glare as starts leading the crowd away, murmurs filling the space.

“King?” Lea pushes through, her face turning red when she sees me between them. “Come on, let’s finish getting you cleaned up.”

“Oh, and Jo?” Isaac looks at me, a hand on his poofed out coils. “You should go, baby.”

“Yeah,” I say, grabbing the key from the counter as I pull my jacket tighter around me. “I get that.” Walking by the boys, I meet Damien’s manic-like eyes on the way out. When our gazes lock it still sends a wave of electricity through me, his eyes softening for a second. I’m angry but I wish this would all disappear so we can go back to the way things were before.

The crowd’s whispers grow.

“That’s the girl.”

“Isn’t she with the Archibalds?”

“That’s what happens when you’re poor.”

Damien and Christian are right. The adults here are no better than their kids.

“Jo?” Allie’s voice comes through next, purple hair pushing through the small crowd. Her eyes bounce between us. “What the fuck?”

Giving Lea a nudge I bolt out of there before anyone can say another word. When I get to Allie, I grab her arm, leading her out of the room. “Damien happened.”

* * *

I’m still stunned.

Still in awe.

“If we didn’t think Sebastien’s death would fuck King up more than he already is, we’d be lying to ourselves.” Allie’s being honest as she adjusts the frames on her nose, but she’s right.

“Didn’t think King could get any more twisted,” Nate says, his words muffled as he munches on a slice of pizza. “I hear he was pretty fucked up when they found him.”

We finally made it to Emilio’s but my appetite is still MIA and this conversation isn’t helping. A large cheese pie sits in front of us, a pitcher of beer next to it. My sunken cheek pushes into my palm, elbow on the table, stomach still in knots. Willow took one for the team and stayed back with the Archibalds and I owe her one. Nancy’s losing trust in our agreement to show up prim and proper for their engagements which puts our home at risk. We can’t afford that.

I’m so much more confused than I was this morning. So much more exhausted. I’d say I’m heartbroken but I’m too stubborn to admit that. Having my eyes on Damien was a slip on my path, a dead-end detour. I’m aware of the key sitting in my jacket pocket and I’m hoping it gives me answers. Or is that a dead-end too?

“You gonna be okay, Scandal?” Nate nudges me under the brown table with his knee.

No. “Mhm,” I mutter instead, taking another gulp of beer. At least this is heavy enough to keep the hunger at bay.

“Don’t mind my idiot brother,” Allie says, resting her head on my shoulder in our booth. “He means well but he’ll always ally with the Kings. No matter what.”

Of course. Everyone here has everyone else’s back, but not mine. The words slip out of my mouth, “And your alliance is with your brother.”

“What?” Allie lifts her head off my shoulder and Nate immediately lifts his cup to his mouth, eyes wide, turning away. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Here we go. “Well, for one, you didn’t tell me he’s your brother until I found out on my own.”

“Yeah, and I told you why.” Her eyes search mine, her nose ring shining under the vintage hanging lamp. “Jo, I thought we were cool.”

Fuck. Letting out a sigh I apologize, “Sorry. It’s been a rough day.”

“Yeah, girl,” Nate says. “Tell me about it.”

“Tell you about what?” Christian walks in like he’s on a runway, shrugging his overcoat off his shoulders.

“Speak of a devil,” Allie sits up, making room in our booth. “Can you please tell Jo I’m not out to get her with you?”

“She’s not out to get you with me,” Christian shoots without delay. He smiles, sliding in next to Allie with what looks like a fresh cut under his eye. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t leave it like that back there.”

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