Page 44 of King

Zina hands Dante a cutting board while Guido searches through the cupboards for a bowl.

She smiles at Dante, talking quietly to him.

“Your dad’s right, D. Everyone processes things in different ways. You are braver than them, kinder - for how you’ve treated Guido . For giving him a chance. Honestly, thank you.” She reaches up and touches his cheek, her smile soft and warm. “It means a lot to me to know he is close to one of his brothers.”

Dante smiles, his cheeks stretching with pride.

“It’s kind of cool to have an extra brother.Andto not be the youngest anymore.” He laughs.

“Well, he’s lucky to have you.” She grins, “Now are you going to help me slices strawberries or what?”

“Found one.” Guido says, setting a white bowl on the counter. “This should be big enough.”

It’s almost four in the morning, when I wake up with a fright, hearing someone knock on my door. Bolting upright in bed I try desperately to focus on the shadowed figure walking into my room, but I can’t see who it is. I’m tense, ready to defend myself.

“It’s me.” She whispers.

My heart races in a different way. Instead of fright, it’s turned to excitement.

Zina stands next to my bed in the dark.

“Did you need something?” I ask, my voice hoarse from sleep.

“I got a message that I think you should see. It came through earlier, but I was asleep. I saw it a few minutes ago?—”

She sounds nervous.

Throwing the blankets off I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and flicking the bedside light on.

Light spills over her tussled hair and her sleepy eyes. Her lips are pink and slightly swollen. She was sleeping too. Her face is rosy from it.

Fuck.

She really is gorgeous.

Her hand is stretched towards me with her phone in it.

I take it from her and squint at the brightness of her screen, groaning and scrunching my face.

“Oh, sorry.” She says, taking it back with a little giggle that makes my cock stir. She turns the brightness down, then hands the phone to me again.

It’s a message from a sender she has saved on her phone.

My heart clenches tightly in my chest when I read the name.

Emiliano Maritz.

Why the fuck would she be interacting with my biggest rival and enemy.

I look up, trying to read her expression.

She gestures towards the phone. “Did you read it?” She asks.

Emiliano: I understand your stay at the Rivas estate is not going as well as you’d hoped. I can offer you a better place to live. A more welcoming home. Just say the words and I will make the arrangements for you and your son. I told you before, Zina, I’m here for you - whatever you need.

There are no messages in the chat before or after this one.

“What is this about?” I say darkly. My trust in her slipping. “Why are you talking to this man?”

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