Page 31 of The Heir

"Solutions.Yes, Father. I know."

Father nods his head and lets me go, gesturing for me to go back to my seat. As I load my plate I glance over at Mason, who's putting a bite of eggs in his mouth looking thoroughly bored as usual. I take in his black hair, winged eyebrows, dark eyelashes, and full pink lips. Teresa and Mason took after my mother's genes, boasting darker more exotic looks. I got my dad's light brown hair, blue eyes, and stocky muscular build.

Piercing him with a stare, I wait until he puts his eyes to mine before speaking. "I talked with Joaquin on the way, and if I hear one more time that you're trying to get in with Balducci, I will hunt your ass down myself and take you out."

Mason rolls his eyes at me. "Bro, what's it to you? You have a life! Leave mine alone!"

"Because we're not a criminal organization!"I snap, my stern voice raising loud over the others at the table as I chastise him. Though I am at the end of my rope regarding him and his behavior, it feels good to let out some of this steam I feel. I point my knife at him driving my point home. "You keep it up and you'll embroil this family in scandal, and get us caught up in shit that we have nothing to do with. We all have workedtoo hardto keep our name above board and keep the influence that we have just to have you go and fuck it up, because you don't want to work hard to find your own path. It should not be Teresa and I's burden. It's not fair to us, Mason. And it's not fair to all theothers in King Dynasty who came before us. Not to mention, it would hurtMadre.Is that what you want?" I glare at him, letting him know I'm not fucking around.

Mason throws down his napkin and stands up from the table, glaring at me. "You are not my father, Hendrix!"

I stand back up as well, raising my eyebrow at him."No, but I wont hesitate to put you in your place if you keep fucking around.That's what family does, Mason." I hold up my finger and point to him. "I'm giving you six months to either join my business, or give father or I a business plan so you can start something on your own. We're done with this shit. You're twenty-four years old, you should be getting something established right now."

"Or what, Hendrix?Or what?"He bellows across the table at me.

I narrow my eyes at him, my voice hard and to the point."Or,Father and I will cut you out of the will and take away your inheritance. You want that life so bad, you can have it without this family's money, or influence."

Mason takes a step back, shooting a look at father who is still eating in peace.

Father and I already had this discussion months ago, trying to give Mason a chance to find himself. But, instead of utilizing the time given, he's still fucking off trying to join the Balducci mafia family. My latest phone call with Joaquin was the last straw. Madre's face looks pinched as she stares down at her plate trying not to cry.

Mason's always been the black sheep of the family. Been in more trouble than I care to even talk or think about. This is part of the reason why I don't come around as much, Mason makes me want to break his face open.

"You can't do that!" Mason snarls at me from across the table. "You're not the fucking head of this family."

Father sits back and pins us both with a stare."Sit down."We both sit, but I am pissed. "Mason, what your brother has told you is true. Your mother and I have tried to give you space for you to find your own way, but son, we do not want a life where you are constantly running from the law, having a slew of enemies across the globe. Wondering if one day the phone is going to ring in the middle of the night telling us our son is dead-"

"Father-"Mason goes to interrupt but father moves fast.

"Hey!"he snaps in a hard voice that begs no argument, eyes narrowing as he tilts his head down and glares through lowered brows down the table, affectively making everyone tense up. No one wants to get on father's bad side, ever."I am speaking. This is my house and you will shut your mouth, give me the respect I deserve, and wait until I am finished. I am about sick of you, boy."

The maid discretely sees herself out the side door as Madre presses her napkin to her eyes, sniffing. Brody looks away, clearly uncomfortable, and Teresa blinks away tears of her own at his harsh, unforgiving tone.

I reach for my water, wishing I had whiskey, becausefuck.Mason knows better.

Father's soft spot is for women, his wife, and Teresa.Notmen. And that's including Mason and I. He never budged aninchon his expectations of us, even as children. That's why I butt in so much into Mason's business, it's bettermethan father. He should have just let me handle it. Mason's eyes fly to mine, holding my stare. I give him a small, encouraging head nod.

"Lo siento, papa." Mason says quietly, tightening his lips.

My eyes roam his face thoroughly. For a second I'm proud of him for keeping his cool because father has reduced usallto tears at this very dinner table a time or two more than I'd like to admit. Even me.

Everyone is quiet for a second, but Mason is so mad I can feel the smoke from across the table.

"You get your ass together and you get it togetherquick.This is our last warning to you, Mason." Father sits back in his chair, places his hand over mom's, who is still crying quietly into her napkin. The worry my brother has given her I'm sure has taken years off her life.

"Excuse me." Mason leaves the dining room without another word. Leaving us to it.

I want to go after him, but there's only so much coddling that you can do before a person is infantized. When everyone returns to eating, my thoughts go back to Isobel, wondering how she's doing. I pull out my phone, intending to reply to her text from earlier.

We don't have to be together for me to dole out consequences, Izzy. -King

I finish up my brunch with my family and leave, getting ready for this art showing at The Gallery later tonight. At home, I thread the expensive green tie I purchased to match the jeweled tone dress she bought for tonight and smile at myself in the mirror.

Damn, we're going to look so good together.

I can't wait.

Chapter seven

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