Page 77 of King of Depravity

“Fuck that.” I push the words through gritted teeth.

“You scare everyone, Killian. Even more than Mason, they fear you. That’s why they tried to kill you, and I want you to come and be your scariest fucking self. I want them to piss themselves in fear and then I am going to strip them of every motherfucking piece of Las Vegas real estate they own.”

I take a deep breath, considering Triston’s words. Triston is a strong man who shapes our world, makes us a success.

I’d be taking a risk going into a room with the Russians, Mason Kincaid, and Triston. Then again, if what Triston says is true, then this would be my chance to build a life with Chloe here where she can finish school, complete her dreams.

I’ve never been a man who let fear hold me back. “Fine. I’ll be there.”

“Really?”

“Really. Where and when?”

He rattles off the details. We hang up and I return to the bedroom to find Chloe still in bed, still naked, her green eyes searching mine. “Is everything all right?”

The next part of what I have to do is tough. I slide on top of her, settling my weight over hers. “It’s great, baby. We’ve got a meeting tonight to see if we can’t push the Russians from Vegas.”

She gives me a smile and then a long kiss.

Here comes the tough part. “Sweetheart.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to need you to leave Vegas for a bit.”

Confusion clouds her clear green gaze. “But… No… I don’t want to leave you. I’m safest with you.”

I kiss her again, though her mouth is stiff under my lips. “Here is the thing,” I whisper close to her ear. “If this goes sideways…”

“It could go sideways?” she asks, her voice getting higher with her fear.

“I don’t want you here. I want you far away where you’re safe.”

“Killian.”

I get up again and go out to the kitchen. Coming back, I hand her the folder. “Social security card, license, passport. There is travelling money and a Swiss account with enough for you to live on for the rest of your life.”

She stares at the file, a tear slipping down each cheek. “How much is enough to live on for the rest of my life?”

“Twenty million.”

A strangled cry rips from her throat. “Twenty million?”

“I’d have made it more, but I thought you’d be offended.”

She drops the folder and vaults into my arms, still naked. I catch her and then crash my mouth down over hers. I’d love to bury myself deep inside her, but I’ve got a plane ticket to buy. Hers.

“I’m sending you to the South of France. You can attend art school there, access Switzerland if you need. I have a friend, his contact info is in the folder, as is my mother’s.”

“Your mother?” her voice trembles.

“If you’re pregnant, you call her. She’ll help you, no matter what my brothers think about the situation.” I don’t want to let her go.

“I’m not leaving without you,” she cries, her arms locked around my neck.

“If everything goes the way it should, I’ll join you in less than twenty-four hours. If I don’t come, though, you don’t come back. Understand?”

She’s crying again, big tears rolling down her cheeks. “No. I don’t.”

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