Page 8 of Wicked King

I swing the door open to leave, the familiar, light tinkling of the bell overhead momentarily easing my nerves. Ari bought it a few weeks ago insisting we had to have one now that we were so close to opening CityZen. I hated to disappoint her, but with my fickle creative muse having vacated the building, we were nowhere near the grand opening. I do love that bell though.

Scanning both sides of the sidewalk, I catch no sight of Nico Rossi and proceed onto the sidewalk. I wait for the relief to set in, only it never comes. Am I that terrified of the idea of ruling the Four Seas alone that I’ve warmed up to the idea of an arranged marriage?

No, absolutely not.

Then again, after the encounter with the slimy Lei, the gorgeous Italian is looking less loathsome.

Grandpa nudges me in the side, drawing me from my musings. “Jia, will you tell me what thoughts are swirling in that busy mind of yours or must I guess?”

He always knows me so well.

“I suppose I’m simply considering all my options.”

“Very well, as you should.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek and tug on the ends of my long-sleeve blouse with my free hand, a habit that used to drive my father wild, which only made me do it more. If he insisted on marring my arms as punishment, then I would remind him every chance I got.

At this point, I can’t even figure out what my realistic options are. Completely avoiding my birthright no longer seems a legitimate route. Unfortunately. I pause at the crosswalk as we wait for the light to turn red. “What do you think are the best options, Yéye?”

“I believe the choice is simple, child, do you wish to rule by yourself or share the burden with another?”

“I don’t wish to rule at all.” The traitorous words burst out before I can snap my jaw shut. Though, truth be told, it’s no mind-blowing confession. My grandfather knows me well enough to have understood this all along.

“Sometimes in life we are called to assume a duty from which we take no joy.”

I grunt, the completely inappropriate sound escaping my loose lips. My grandfather was born a male in the Guo family. He had the opportunity to make his own future. He wrought the beginnings of one of the most infamous Triad syndicates in the great city of Manhattan. What did he know about being forced into things?

Grandpa’s long, wrinkled fingers close around my shoulder. “Jia, you may be wise for your age, but you are still very young. When I was twenty-three, I thought I knew everything too. It was your grandmother who reminded me every minute of every day that I knew nothing.” A rueful smile curls his lips, and those dark eyes twinkle. My father used to say the only time he’d ever seen his own father smile was in the presence of his wife, and later, after she passed, only for me.

“So you think I should get married?”

My mouth must twist into a pout because his grin grows wider.

“I believe you will come to the best decision for not only yourself but also your people. It may not seem like it, but those men look up to you. Whether you like it or not, you are a Guo, and therefore you are their ruler by blood.”

“Tell that to Lei Wang. He’s chomping at the bit to evict me from the throne.”

“That is not how I understand it. On the contrary, I heard he wishes to marry you.”

A groan squeezes through my clenched lips. “He’s awful, Yéye, just vile.”

“Then I believe your choice is clear.”

The light finally turns red and I step onto the crosswalk with my grandpa at my side. Right. I would just rule over a gaggle of unruly, bloodthirsty Chinese men alone? And juggle my burgeoning fashion line? It sounds like a logistical nightmare.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to dip your toes back into the Manhattan mob scene?” I toss him a wink.

“Oh goodness, no, Jia. I’ve only been back to the city for one night and already I miss the tranquility of home. Over fifty years creating and leading an empire is far too long. Your nainai was right, I should have retired long ago. I would have been able to spend more time with her before she got sick…”

I tug my grandfather tighter into my side and squeeze his arm. When I was young, I believed him to be indestructible. I would see how others bowed down to him, practically kissing the floor he walked on. He mellowed over the years, but it’s only now as an adult that I realize we all have our weaknesses. My grandmother was his. He walked away from everything the moment she needed him.

My father was no such hero.

“That’s what I want, Yéye, what you and nainai had.” I realize my mistake the moment the words are out. A smirk stretches beneath his wild mustache.

“And you know, treasure, that our marriage was arranged in China when we were nothing more than children.”

I hiss out a breath. “Things were different back then.”

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