Page 66 of Steal a King (Five Kings 2)

Lucas

I’m not sure what’s happened to me, but since Ella came into my life, everything’s changed and now I can’t let her walk away.

This brunch is getting in the way of the rest of my life because I’m keen to have a discussion with Ella that will change everything and that terrifies the shit out of me. I’m not a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, I don’t do feelings and shit, but I’ve changed and it’s down to her. Ella Quinn was always the woman who would drive change, I think I knew that the moment she stared at me through those beautiful eyes the day we kidnapped her.

We will figure it out. We have to because when I heard she may be leaving to go on a trip with her sister and some douchebag she’s never met; I was irrationally angry. Over my dead body is she spending time with another man and so I need to do anything it takes to keep her and if that’s on her terms, then I’ll have to accept them.

Somehow, we make ourselves respectable and Jason my driver knows better than to open that door until I give him the signal. So, almost as soon as I knock on the glass separating us from him, he opens the door and I grab Ella’s hand. “Come on, honey, I’ll try to make this short and sweet.”

She sighs heavily and as she steps into the sunshine in her pretty yellow dress, my heart fills with emotion. Squeezing her hand hard, I feel so proud to walk beside her. She’s beautiful in every way that counts and is like a breath of air, like a summer breeze as she smiles into my eyes. “Come on, how bad can it be? I’m guessing you’re overreacting as usual.”

Rolling my eyes, I growl, “I’ll remind you of that when this is over.”

Adam and Penelope live in a colonial-style house on the best street in Vegas. Huge houses dominate a pleasant district, and Adam has obviously spent a shed load of money on keeping his bride happy. Beautiful lawns and manicured perfection greet us as we head toward the large front door, flanked either side by huge trees that are adorned in lights that I’m sure transform the façade in the dusk. As if by magic the door opens as we approach and I see Adam looking resigned to what we shall receive, holding the hand of his elegant wife Penelope.

She is an attractive woman, that’s undeniable, but I always found her a little aloof, cool and unemotional. She is certainly beautiful and would make a good politician’s wife. Elegant, well connected and extremely polite, outlined with a hard defining edge that emphasizes her character in a bold line.

“Lucas, how lovely to see you.”

She swoops in and kisses me on both cheeks, and I smell the scent of a woman who is trying a little too hard.

“Penelope, you are looking good as always.”

I return the greeting and she smiles. “You always were a charmer; I can’t imagine why you are still single.”

“He isn’t.”

Ella reminds me why I love her as she interrupts, drawing Penelope’s gaze to her with a sharpness that surprises me a little.

“Oh, forgive me.” Penelope turns her attention to Ella and her gaze runs the length of her as she blatantly checks her out. Ella just stands her ground and smiles. “Thank you for inviting us.”

She emphasizes the ‘us’ and Adam laughs, moving in to kiss her on both cheeks and then shakes my hand.

“Penelope, this is Ella, remember, I told you she was coming.”

Penelope nods. “I thought you said she was his assistant, obviously you got that wrong as well, darling.”

I feel a prickle of irritation on Adam’s behalf as she snaps at him and he sighs. “We should fetch our guests a drink, darling, they must be in need of one, I know I am.”

He winks and Penelope apparently remembers her hostess duties and smiles. “Of course, please, let me introduce you to the crowd, Lucas. Adam, maybe you could make sure, um, Ella, wasn’t it, has a drink?”

She hooks her arm through mine and makes to propel me into the room like a prize and Adam throws me an apologetic look, which is nothing like the one Ella throws Penelope. It makes me smile as they follow us through into a large open plan space that leads through to a vast garden where a pool glitters like a jewel outside.

My heart sinks when I see that half of Vegas apparently required an invitation and I am soon lost in a sea of ambitious bitches as Penelope introduces me to just about every available woman in Vegas and even some that are not.

I lose sight of Ella almost immediately and feel bad about that. She must be hating every second of this, and as I make all the right noises and smile when required, I decide to do everything I can to move this on so I can get the hell out of here.

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