Page 25 of The Kings
“You tell me.”
“Can’t do that. I like sex. I love it. We don’t need to be dating to bang, if that’s what you’re worried about. We can do that again soon. It was hot as fuck. But let’s keep it casual, hmm?” I punch him on his shoulder to make my point.
To my dismay, his face falls. “Casual.”
“You don’t like casual?”
“Not when it comes to you.”
Without letting me respond, he stalks off back to the house, his back stiff, and fuck him, but now I feel bad.
How dare he make me feel guilty for not wanting to take things further?
Pissed off, I hunch my shoulders and march off to class under a thundercloud and everyone would be wise to stay the fuck out of my way or else.
14
RAPHAEL
I sneeras Tarquin strides back into the kitchen. His hair’s a mess, cheeks flushed with more than just the sprint after Eliza. I’m convinced they had sex last night, either before or after their little ambush party, but I won’t ask, and he’s not talking. He’s fallen for her like a chump. Sighing, as I know this is true about me as well, I am at least trying to keep my distance from her.
“Are you done now, Tarq? We’ve got bigger problems. David Grenville. That bastard’s still breathing, and we can’t afford to fuck around.”
Tarquin straightens up all business. He knows when it’s time to stop playing.
I push off the counter, my muscles tense, ready for action. “This isn’t just about us; it’s about keeping Eliza safe. She might act tough, but she’s in the crosshairs because of this power game we’re playing at Castle University.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“James has a strategy. But it means being smart, not just fast and furious.” I grab a knife from the block, flipping it in my hand, feeling its balance. “We do this clean. No loose ends. Wewant the entire underworld to know what happens when you come at The Kings, or worse, their soon-to-be Queen.”
Tarquin’s gaze shoots to mine as he hears my words.
Yeah, I said them because fuck. Who am I kidding? Eliza will be Queen here. We all know the Queen overrules the King in the only game worth playing. But make no mistake that she will be ours.
Oliver’s brow creases as he leans over the table. “David’s got to go, and soon. He’s a serious pain in the ass.”
James nods, fingers drum, the sound sharp and urgent. “We need to strike hard but clean. David’s a fucking leech, sucking on our territory, threatening us and her.” He leans on the counter. “We need more intel on David,” he says quietly. “Movements, routines, patterns. We can’t rush this.”
“Playing it slow isn’t my style,” Tarquin interjects, the muscle in his jaw twitching with impatience. He pushes away from the wall, fists resting on the table as he leans forward. “We should hit him now, hard and fast. Take him out before he even knows what’s coming. It’ll send a clear message—mess with The Kings, you get the axe. He wasn’t fucking about last night.”
“Yeah, which begs the question, why didn’t you fill us in on it?” Oliver asks, giving Tarquin a filthy glare.
“She didn’t want me to.”
“And?”
“And that’s it.”
“You’re fucking whipped,” Ollie mutters. “You never keep stuff from the rest of us. We could’ve ended this last night.”
“Yeah, we could’ve, and then Eliza would be seen as a little princess who needs help. She had backup. She had me. That was enough for now.”
“Only now, David will be gunning for her.”
“And instead, he will find us.” I interrupt. “This isn’t a spat. David crossed a line, trying to take her out. He changed the rules, and that isn’t going to fly on my watch.”
“Exactly,” James says. “This isn’t about being the biggest badass on the block—it’s about strategy.”
