Page 94 of King of Ruin

“I told you how I’m broken too. Just because my scars are in the inside doesn’t mean they aren’t there.” My whole family is hearing this but I won’t hold back from her. Not now.

“But that’s exactly why you should pick someone else. Someone you don’t have to take care of like you do me.”

I stand up straighter, reaching for her, running my fingers down her cheeks. “Did it ever occur to you that what I need, whatI’ve always needed, is someone who doesn’t think of herself? Who wants what’s best for me?”

“I…” Maddie’s eyes go wide.

“And in putting me first, it leaves me free to put her first too without worrying that I’ll be taken advantage of.”

“Roman,” she whispers. “That is so…”

But I pull her close, wrapping her in my arms. My lips capture hers, her arms winding around my neck.

I know we have an audience, but I don’t care as I kiss her over and over. Finally, I pull back and speak against her lips. “No one has a better heart than you, Maddie Reid.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Roman

After Maddie leaves,Mason and I get down to business. Not only do we hammer out the contract for Maddie, we start discussing the particulars of transitioning the casinos to Nia and the pieces we’ll need to create a nonprofit division.

I don’t look at my brother, I stick to the subjects at hand and so does he.

It’s not until we’re wrapping up all we can do today without paperwork from this lawyer or permits from that city official that he lets out a long breath, “Roman.”

“Mason.” I square my shoulders giving my brother a hard stare across the table from where we’ve been working. “Let’s not do this today.”

“Why not?”

“Because it will end with more bruises.”

Leo has been mostly watching us from the corner. He runs the nightclubs so he’s well aware of most of the business particulars we’ve been discussing.

But unlike Leo of old, he seems content to do his part and stay out of any trouble that doesn’t concern him.

Marriage suits him unlike any man I’ve ever met. Which is so fucking crazy, because he’s the last man I expected to ever see domestically content.

Mason lets out a long breath. “Look. I’m sorry, all right?”

I stare at my brother. “For which part?”

“All of it. I’m sorry I left you to care for Mom.”

“You’ve already said that.”

Leo sits up straighter. “I’m sorry about that one too. Mason has a good excuse, being in Massachusetts putting the pieces in place that built all of this. I was just a fucking selfish asshole who was having fun chasing pussy around casinos.”

That puts a half smile on my face. “I appreciate the honesty, Leo.”

Mason shakes his head. “In some ways, you held the greatest burden of us all, holding up Mom and Arabella while we were both starting our lives.”

I don’t say anything, there isn’t anything to say. Mason built this business. Leo, he took the brunt of our father’s death. We all did our part.

But Mason isn’t done. “I thought I was giving you a gift, grooming you to take over.” He lets out a long breath. “But when I met Charlotte, I told myself that you were ready to take on a greater role, but it wasn’t about you at all. It was about me.”

He winces and I know that he is truly sorry and owning up to his part. “I didn’t mean to hurt Maddie in my effort to keep you free to run Kincaid Enterprises. But for the record, both of you are capable.”

I cock my head to the side, surprised to hear Mason say anything like this.

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