Page 9 of Don't Make Me Beg
Luka
Bells chime announcing my arrival as I push through the heavy glass doors with a little more force than necessary to find the room chock full of friendly faces. More like nosey gossips, if you ask me. Fuck, why does everyone in this town have to be so involved?
Of course, the whole town shows up to hear who’s taking the lead for this year’s annual Phantom Festival.
With our family’s company so integral to the community, Kingsley Industries has always elected a festival chairman from within. That job is usually reserved for my middle brother, Roman—he’s the one that has the right attitude and charm for shit like this.
But after putting it on for several years in a row, and since no one else is exactly lining up to volunteer to take his place, we decided the only fair way to choose this year’s chair was to put it to chance.
So, thirty-six hours ago, my brothers and I settled it the most civilized way possible: a rock, paper, scissors tournament.
Naturally, I dominated.
Jett came in dead last.
So you can imagine my confusion when, approximately one hour ago, Roman dropped the bomb in our family group text, announcing me as the head of the festival committee.
Talk about getting blind sided.
I don’t know what the hell happened, but I don’t appreciate them switching it up on me at the last minute, that’s for damn sure. No one in the town takes me seriously as it is, and they really think putting me in charge of the most important fundraising event of the year is the best option?
I need to know whose shit list I landed on to deserve this type of torture because if I’m going to suffer, I’d at least get my money’s worth.
Honestly, I blame my oldest brother, Leo. If he hadn’t drawn so much attention to the event last year, then there wouldn’t be such big shoes to fill. And now he’s fucked things up for everyone.
Okay, so maybe he didn’t exactly fuck things up by falling in love and planning the most successful Phantom Festival this town’s ever seen…but he didn’t have to set the bar so goddamn high.
I do hope he’s drowning in all the pussy he’s getting for following his girlfriend to the other side of the world so she can chase her dreams. Especially since his decision came immediately after he was named the new CEO.
Seriously… I wouldn’t mind if he suffocated in it just a little…just enough to scare him, shake him up from time to time…
This kind of thing is totally out of my wheelhouse, and I know everyone in this room feels the same way.
I’m the fourth-born son of Frank and Mary Kingsley, CTO of Kingsley Industries—only because I’m wicked smart and equally lazy, a powerful combination in the tech world.
I also happen to be the only Kingsley with a criminal background.
I’m a twenty-five-year-old tech guru—the lazy gamer nobody takes seriously unless they have a computer problem—and the most apathetic of the bunch. I know my place, and I know what I bring to the table…and leading a group of volunteers for the largest charity event of the year is not one of them.
It’s not that I don’t care about the town or raising money for charity, I do care about those things and want this event to be a success. I just don’t share the same drive to achieve as the rest of my family. Good enough has always been enough for me. I don’t get caught up in chasing perfection or childish fantasies.
Not anymore.
Irritation flares in my chest as those pretty hazel eyes flash through my memory. I clench my fist at my side. It’s been eight fucking years, and of all the nights for her to waltz back into town, it had to bethisone.
Impeccable fucking timing.
Idle chatter shifts, thinning into hushed whispers as I move through the room, making a beeline straight to Roman.
His smile grows wide when he sees me. “Glad you finally showed up.”
“Sorry, I’m late. I didn’t want to come,” I scoff. “What the fuck happened, dude? You know I won fair and square.”
A smug smile tugs at his lips as he claps me on the shoulder. “Exactly. I wasn’t expecting you to fight so hard for it, but you’ve earned this honor. Congratulations, little brother.”
My mouth falls open, and I glare daggers in his direction.
Roman just laughs and gives my shoulder another pat. “Oh, were you under the impression that we were fighting tonottake the lead?” He leans in, voice low and smug. “You really need to start paying better attention. You know, I think this is going tobe good for you. Maybe we should’ve put you in charge years ago?—"
