Page 51 of A King So Savage

Callously burying that emotion, he drew on the cigar until the smoke curled around his head. “Sir,” he reminded her with a smirk. “Remember? And I wouldn’t say you are invisible, Ava. There are others very much aware of your existence. People who seek to use you for their personal advantage.”

“They can’t be worse than you,” she huffed, snapping the pages of the newspaper and folding it back into order.

Kingston shrugged. “You might regard me as the lesser of all evils before this is over. You may even beg me to keep you. Hearing the words fall from your lips will be something I might even treasure after you’ve gone.”

Ava’s laughter was sharp with disbelief. “Your reputation as the cruelest of kings is well deserved. And I’ll die before begging you to keep me. I won’t be your little pet.”

“So stubborn. So stubborn and so stupid,” Kingston murmured under his breath. “You’ve no idea how desperate your brother is. How dangerous. You won’t be able to return to your innocuous life after this. There will be a target on you. Right in the center of your chest.”

Ava’s head cocked. “Carson is interested in paying the debt, right? He wants assurance I am still alive before handing over the money. Tell me how I am in danger with my own brother. You said before he would use me to settle this debt, that he would sell me to the highest bidder, but just because you say it, doesn’t make it true.”

Kingston set the cigar down and crossed over to where Ava sat in the chair. Bracing his hands on the armrests, he bent over, caging her in. “Carson cannot be trusted.”

Ava’s eyes glittered like green fire. “Neither can you.”

“You are right about that. We’re bad men. Both of us. All of us.”

“Are you going to record me or not? I’d like to go to the new prison cell you’ve assigned me when this is done,” Ava spat like an angry kitten.

Kingston pushed away with a low growl of frustration. “If you only knew what he’s done, what he’s capable of doing, you wouldn’t be so eager to be free of me.”

“Then tell me. Tell me why I would ever, in a thousand years, be safer with you than with my brother. He’s only ignored me. While you… you’re the stuff of nightmares.”

“Far be it for me to shatter your naïve illusions.” Kingston pulled his cell phone from his trouser pocket. Pushing a few buttons, he brought up the video program and pointed it at Ava. “Hold the paper in front of you, state today’s date and say whatever you want to him.” He hit record and nodded his head. “Go.”

Ava did as commanded. But before Kingston turned off his phone, she stared straight into the cellphone’s lens and whispered, “Carson, if you still possess a shred of decency and any love for our parents, you will do what’s right.”

The tears in her eyes as she added that final statement were nothing less than individual iron stakes impaling Kingston’s heart. It was almost painful to witness Ava’s distress and realize how easily it would weaken his resolve if he allowed it.

Returning the phone to his pocket, he took the paper away from her and pulled her to her feet.

“If your brother possessed a heart, he might actually be moved by that sweet performance. But I know him. Know the type of man he has become. And I know his demand for a meeting is simply a ploy to buy more time. It’s been ten days already. He has no intention of paying off the debt unless he can make money for himself somehow at the same time.”

“Not discounting my brother because we both know what type of person he is, but not everyone has the same devious, larcenous heart as you.”

Kingston’s laugh was darkly cynical. “Yes, they do. Some just hide it better than others.”

She peered up at him. “Carson’s never been an affectionate brother where I am concerned. Other than that one awful incident, where he stopped his friends from going any further for your information, there are worse things he could do.”

“Hehasdone worse. Although it can’t be easily proven. And I know exactly what happened that night. And I know the names and personal details of every man involved.”

Ava scowled. “Unless you can list Carson’s transgressions plainly as well as prove them, they remain simply accusations.”

“So loyal even to those less than deserving,” Kingston mocked, but he held back from voicing aloud the worst of his suspicions. “Do not pin your hopes on Carson saving you. Nor should you trust a word that spews out of my own brother’s mouth.”

“I’ll say it again. I don’t trust you, him, or anyone else here, for that matter.”

Ava returned Kingston’s stare, chin tilted in the mutinous angle which both annoyed and intrigued him. She placed him in a unique position. One that left him with a desperate need to shield her from the ugliness in the world while at the same time proving just how much of a fucked-up monster he was beneath the polished, bespoke suit.

“Are you through with this lesson on how shitty our two brothers are?” Now, it was her turn to mock him in a bitterly crisp tone. “Sir?”

Sliding a hand to the base of her neck, Kingston entangled Ava’s dark golden hair in his fist, holding her immobilized like a rabbit caught in a snare. “I think a different type of lesson is in order, one focusing on obedience and respect for whomever your future owner might be. I’m sure any efforts on my part in the matter will be greatly appreciated.”

Her mossy green eyes narrowed. “You might auction me off, but no one will everownme.”

Kingston’s smile was grim. “How upset will you be when I disprove that foolish notion?”

“Carson will pay the debt, so it won’t be an issue.”

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