Page 23 of Wicked King

Jia jolts up, her chest heaving but a defiant mask firmly in place. “I will rule the Four Seas per my birthright.”

A chorus of murmurs ripples across the room.

Wei Guo stands and the calm pervading my insides suddenly vanishes. My heart kicks against my ribs in a desperate attempt to flee its skeletal binds. My lungs tighten, invisible bands lacing around my organs until I’m suffocating.

Oh shit, I can’t do this.

As if the old man can feel my fear, he slants a narrowed glare in my direction and plants his hand on my forearm. His long fingers tighten around my jacket, and I’m trapped.

“My granddaughter is right.” Wei Guo levels every male in the room with a biting glare. “Jia Guo is next in line to lead the great Four Seas, and I trust you will respect her as you have all the males before her. The true spirit of the dragon bleeds through her veins.”

A faint smile tips up the corners of Jia’s lips, and the mad chaos battering my chest slightly subsides.

“However,” he continues, “it is my belief that even the strongest can be made more powerful with the appropriate ally standing by their side.”

Jia’s eyes grow wide, the profound midnight suddenly a bottomless abyss.

Guo jerks me forward so I’m wedged between him and Jia, the move surprisingly quick for such an old man. “There will be a new alliance forged in marriage between the Guos and the Rossies. Together, our two enterprises will work side by side to the mutual benefit of all.”

Jia’s mouth curves into shock as a gasp escapes that pouty mouth. Damn it, I know I’m an asshole, but all I can picture are those luscious lips wrapped around my cock. The dread surging in my gut dissipates a little more as heat streaks below my belt.

Dio, I can’t wait to fuck my new wife.

CHAPTER 12

SHOCK OF BETRAYAL

Jia

No. No. No. This cannot be happening.

The shock of betrayal steals the air from my lungs, a sting so brazen I’m left standing there with my mouth gaping like an imbecile. I can’t even summon the courage to glance over at the asshole beside me. Marco must have known.

God, how long had Yéye been planning this?

I attempt a glare at my grandfather, but the big Italian brute blocks my path. It takes every ounce of self-restraint I possess not to shout and curse at my traitorous grandpa. The public affront would not be tolerated in our world. But how could he do this to me? Hot tears sting my eyes, a whirlwind of fury, anger and indignation battering my insides. Why would he pretend to give me a choice, when in the end, I truly had none?

“Relax, spitfire, you don’t want to cause a scene.” Marco’s breath sails across the shell of my ear, his shoulder brushing mine.

“Don’t fucking talk to me,” I hiss.

The corner of his lip curls, confirming what I suspected. He knew all along. Of course my grandfather would go behind my back and seek out a marriage arrangement with whom he considered a suitable male. How could I be so stupid to think otherwise?

“Well, this is quite a surprise.” Jianjun clears his throat and motions for the rest of us to sit.

No, shit. The words nearly spill out. In my frenzy, I hadn’t taken a moment to assess the expressions of disbelief painted on the faces of the circle of males around the table. The look of utter outrage carved into Lei Wang’s countenance makes this almost worth it. Almost.

Jianjun turns his wary gaze to my grandfather who seems entirely unruffled. As if marrying off his only granddaughter to the Italian mob is a normal occurrence. God, I’m so angry. And hurt. I shove down the pain tightening my ribcage and focus on the rage. Anger is strength, while the hurt won’t help me at all. It will simply make me weak, and now, I must be stronger than ever.

“How quickly will this arrangement take place?” Jianjun finally asks.

Hao Wei quirks an interested brow as the question hangs in the air.

Yes, how long do I have? Enough time to plan an escape?

“The details have yet to be solidified,” Yéye replies. “But once they are, rest assured you will all be invited to the grand celebration.”

Celebration? Is he completely delusional? Maybe my grandfather inhaled more of that poisonous smoke than we thought. My mind jumps back in time to the attack at CityZen. Was that why Marco had saved me? Was he simply assuring his prized wife would be around long enough to perform her duties?

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