Page 77 of Just My Luck

Not really, no.

“Yeah.” I looked away and exhaled. “I don’t fucking know.”

He lifted a shoulder. “All right. You know I’ve got it covered here. Just do what you need to do.”

I nodded, grateful for my devoted employee, and pulled my phone from my pocket to send a group message to my siblings.

It was time to have a serious talk.

We need to meet... all of us. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.

MJ

Brewery?

Somewhere private. Royal, can we meet at your place?

One by one my siblings agreed to meet at Royal’s house that evening. Unable to sit still, I gathered my things and decided to head straight to Royal’s place. The walk was only about two miles out of town and, given the gorgeous sunny weather and cool breeze, I could clear my head before I faced my family.

By the time I arrived at Royal’s house, the sun was sagging low in the western sky. His neighborhood was a quiet mix between dated historical houses and newly built summer homes. His driveway was straight and tidy and led to a cobalt-blue home with a rounded arch-top front door.

I shook my head as I followed the path up to his front door. Only Royal could pull off the white picket fence and dormers—complete with flower boxes—considering their contrast to the devil-may-care, heavily inked persona my brother put out into the world. Part of me suspected he liked being a nonconformist.

I climbed the steps, and my knuckles landed on the door with heavy knocks. After a moment, Royal opened the door with a grin, stepping aside to invite me in.

“Hi, come on in. JP is already inside. Whip and the girls are on their way,” he said.

I dipped my chin and slinked past him. His home was bright and clean, and for the first time, I realized how incredibly tidy he was, but chalked it up to being a bachelor who worked odd hours. My thoughts briefly flicked to the constant cleanup of snack wrappers, socks, and rogue marker caps that had started filling my own home.

One by one, my siblings arrived, with our littlest sister, MJ, arriving last. She swept into his house without knocking and immediately propped herself on top of the kitchen island.

She pointed across the space into the living room. “What’s with the tripod?”

Tucked into the corner was a tall black tripod with a ring light. All eyes slanted toward Royal, who shifted in his boots and scoffed. “It’s nothing. Just filming some tattoo ideas. Doodles.”

“In the living room? There’s not even a table to sketch on.” MJ’s eyes narrowed into little slits. “That’s weird.”

He took a breath and released it with a huff. “I use a sketch pad. The lighting is better in there. Why am I having to explain myself to you?”

I eyed him, noting the large picture windows in the kitchen and the late-day summer sun streaming in. I saw through his bullshit, but what he did in his own house was none of my business.

MJ seemed to buy his excuse, and she rolled her eyes at his impatient, brotherly tone. “Whatever.” She turned to me. “So what gives, Abel? Your texts are freaking me out.”

I stuffed my hands into my pockets. “I have information from John Cannon, the private investigator. It’s... well, the information he had was disturbing.”

In near silence, we stared at each other as I let the seriousness of my tone sink in.

MJ looked at each of us with soft, worried eyes. Sylvie had found her quiet confidence, and her chin was raised, ready to withstand whatever reason I had called us all together. Whip paced, seemingly unable to contain the energy that danced through him. Royal stood with his tattooed arms crossed over his chest and waited while JP’s hands were tucked into the pockets of his slacks.

It wasn’t often all six King siblings were in a room together. Over the years it became apparent that it was easier for my father to control us if we were isolated, even from each other.

But that’s over now.

“There’s news, and also a little speculation.” I glanced at each of my siblings. “But I need to know we’re in this together. That we can trust each other, because after tonight, things are going to change.”

My eyes landed on JP, cautiously watching his reaction. His hard eyes were level, and he nodded.

“Right now it looks like our father was married before Mom. In fact, he had a family.” Murmurs rippled through the group, but I forged ahead. “There is no evidence that his marriage to our mother was ever legitimate. I don’t know how much Mom knew... but I think either she found out about his wife or maybe gave him an ultimatum of some kind. I don’t know. I think Mom pushed him too far, and he made the problem go away.”

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