Page 58 of King of Sinners

Home. It is my home. And with startling clarity I know for a fact that wherever my home is, Charlotte belongs there too.

I step up behind her, holding her hips in my hands as I place a soft kiss where her neck meets her shoulder.

She stiffens and I know whatever was between us this morning, is still there. It’s time to clear that shit.

I want Charlotte to be warm and comfortable in my arms. I want her to be safe, and I’ll do whatever it takes to give that to her.

I don’t take my hands away, if anything I tighten them, giving her a squeeze before I slide my arms around her waist. “Whatever your making smells unbelievable.”

She relaxes a bit. “That’s good.”

“Where did you learn to cook like this?” I’m well aware of what her budget has been.

She shrugs, picking up the knife and starting her preparations again. “Not many Asian restaurants in Nebraska. And you know me, I like things just so.”

It’s true. She has the eyes for detail that can elevate anyone in life. I sweep my hands down her belly and then back around her hips, kissing a trail along her neck. I breathe in her scent.

Here’s the truth.

I built this business from the ground up. My dad was in debt. I scraped the money together to buy that first club, made it a massive success so that I could get the collateral to buy another and another.

And the shell company. It was originally to hide us from the Italians and Toni Carcetti.

In those early days, it was my sheer force of will that made us a success. If my family wants to take my empire away from me, I’ll let them have it. Then, I’ll build another. And this time, I’ve got several assets that are in my name alone. Like this building. In and of itself, it’s worth a small fortune. I won’t be starting from negative, and I won’t need anyone’s help.

If I’m headed down the same path as my father, to death and destruction, then I’m going to die happy.

I think of Charlotte that first night. When she’d kneeled before me and told me she was ready to die, just as long as it was me who did it.

I suck in my breath, straightening up. She was ready to end it with me right then. I think I might finally be there too. If I’m headed to my end, she’s going to be next to me.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, her brow scrunched as she looks over her shoulder again.

I give her a smile. No malice, nothing but joy. “Not at thing, princess. Not a damned thing. In fact…”

My phone rings, shrill and loud from my pocket, and I lift it out to send the call to voicemail. I don’t care who it is…

But Roman’s name has my brow scrunching as I debate whether or not to answer.

We were just together. He wouldn’t be calling unless there was a problem.

Keeping my other hand on Charlotte’s hip, I keep her ass firmly in the cradle of my hips as I pick up. “What?”

But Roman doesn’t snark back. Instead, he lets out a loud breath of air. “It’s Leo and it’s bad…”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Mason

My heart stutters in my chest. As angry as I still am at Leo, he is my brother. “What’s happened?”

Charlotte’s knife clatters to the counter and she’s spinning to face me. She must have heard the worry in my voice because it’s now written all over her face. I hook her waist pulling her close, which is her cue to wrap her arms around my chest.

“Fuck. I don’t even know where to begin,” Roman says and his voice actually shakes.

My throat closes along with my eyes. “Tell me.”

“He went on a bender last night. Hopping from casino to casino, hitting all the major families and making a ruckus. Spent millions. Broke things. Pissed everyone off. And now…”

---