Page 40 of Tormented Kings

“Get in the car, Collin.” He looks away, staring forward. Fuck, I just want to punch him in his stupid face.

“So what? You can take off and kidnap me, too?” I snipe.

He slowly turns his head back to me, a blank look on his face. The whole reason he wanted to have this conversion in person is because he doesn’t want to risk being recorded. That's why he says nothing, staring at me with serial-killer eyes. I might not be able to name names, but I know he’s killed people. Guess it runs in the family.

Not anymore. But if it’s him, I really will make an exception.

“Leave your phone and get. In. The. Car,” he demands before rolling up the window.

“Fucking bullshit,” I mutter. I turn the car off and reach over to the glove compartment, grabbing my gun.

I’m not going to shoot him, and he’s not going to harm me. This I know. But I can’t be too sure now, can I? With him, everything is unpredictable.

Grumbling, I throw open my car door before slamming it shut. The passenger door opens for me, and I roll my eyes. “Thanks. Guess chivalry isn’t dead.”

“Watch your mouth with me, boy,” he growls as I slide in and shut the door behind me.

“I had to leave work for this. So, can we get this over with? What do you want?”

A man leans over the seat, causing me to jolt back in surprise. He waves some kind of stick thing over my body, and I frown. “Buy me a fucking drink before you feel me up, why don’t you?”

Glaring at me, he turns to my father and nods his head before sitting back in his seat. If I had to guess, he was checking me for recording devices.

He crosses his legs and rolls up his sleeves before looking at me. Fucker is in a suit and tie like he’s someone important. He’s nothing, no one cares about him. He only likes to think he’s something special. The world will throw a party when he’s gone, and I’ll be pissing on his grave.

“The date is set,” he declares before looking up at me.

“Ah, what? What date?” My brows furrow.

“Your wedding date.” He blinks.

I snort out a laugh. “Wedding? Didn’t know I was getting married. This is news to me. Don’t you think the groom should have a say?”

He takes an annoyed breath through his nose. “It’s been long enough with these silly games, Collin. You're a man now. Start fucking acting like it. Grow up and stop following that girl around like a lost little puppy.” He practically spits the word girl. And by ‘girl’, I know he means Sadie. “She has nothing to offer you; not now, not ever. Her family is poor and has no social standing in this community. Despite her mother’s upcoming nuptials to Mark Taylor, she has nothing to bring to our table.”

She has a whole fucking lot to offer me. Like love, kindness, and herself. I don’t give a shit about money or social standing bullshit.

“Connie has been patient and understanding. You both have been enjoying your young adult lives, getting all your wild ways out of your system. But she’s ready to settle down and have children.”

The idea makes my stomach roll. “That’s nice for her. But I’m not ready for that.”

Lies; I am, just not with her. Because if Sadie said she wanted me to put a baby in her, I’d make it my life mission to knock herup right now. Starting today. Hell, I’d leave this meeting right now and get started.

“Enough!” he snaps. “You will be marrying Connie on February twenty-fourth.”

“And if I don’t?” I know I shouldn’t ask, I know nothing good can come of it, but I need to hear it from his own mouth.

“The little slut you’ve been fucking around with will pay for your disobedience. Clearly, she didn’t take my warning to heart. The little bitch has a big mouth. I take it she told you?”

My hand itches to wrap around the gun in my pocket and put a bullet between his fucking eyes. How fucking dare he fucking demean her.

“Where is the money?” he asks. “It would be a shame if I had to kill her for keeping it when she didn’t fulfill her end of the agreement.”

“There was no fucking agreement,” I sneer. “You told her what to do.”

“And she didn’t do it,” he snarls back. “She’s fucking lucky I didn’t keep my end of the threat. The only reason I haven’t is because of her soon-to-be stepfather. The last thing I need is bad blood between me and the Taylors. That doesn’t mean I won’t make the little bitch’s life hell.

“I’ll get you the damn money.” I curl my lip at him. “She doesn’t want anything from you.”

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