Page 2 of Hostile King

We down the liquor at the same time and take a moment to let our previous conversation about Carina not belonging in our savage world settle in silence.

“I shouldn’t have brought her here,” I finally admit. “When she returns to Bogotá, I want a team watching over her day and night.”

“For how long?”

“As long as it takes for those fuckers out there to lose interest in her.”

He sets the glass on the oak side table beside him and stubs out his cigarette. “Understood. I’ll personally pick out a team.”

I tear my gaze away from him and stare at the exit, craving her closeness and feeling off-balance in the knowledge she’s not really mine. Not when I have to let her go.

Knowing she’s with Matheus fires up unwanted demons. If this is how I feel when my brother is minding her, how the hell would I react when she finally takes her money and leaves. And worse, when she meets another man—holds his hand, kisses his lips, sucks his dick.

He’d die a horrible death.

Fuck, I’m a pathetic mess.

I never thought this obsessive behavior would happen to me. Not over a girl. Only now it has, and I’m more mentally destitute than I was before. Death is so final, so cut and dry. The person no longer walks on the same plane. Their existence is erased. Here one minute, wholly absent the next.

But to watch someone you care for exit your life with the air still filling their lungs, to know you can never touch them again, and that you must adore them from afar—that’s the worst head fuck of all.

I’m itching to stand beside her, to run my fingers over her heavenly skin, and feed off the flying sparks we create.

“I need to get back to our guests.” I head for the door.

“No worries.” He glances at his mobile phone. “That’s weird…”

My brows snap together. “What is?”

“Spitfire wants a word with me on the helipad.” Shane’s eyes drift upwards. “Something’s up. The pilot only messages me when he’s confirming times and routes.”

My spine straightens instantly, a twinge of danger pinching my gut. “Take Gio. Have him stay on the periphery with a rifle. Phone me the second you find out what he’s after.” I move into the hallway. “I’ll check in with Dré and Matheus to give them a heads up.”

Carina.

Storming through the home I can’t wait to leave, my shoes clip the solid floor welcoming a fast echo. Shadows move with me, suddenly appearing as threats. The distance separating me from her feels like miles. Harmonious music irritates me like a rash, the discord of each note a tragic melody for my pitiful state.

I check my gun is still in place behind my back and realize it’s fully showing now that my jacket is sitting in Papa’s office. It won’t go down well if I burst in on the party with my golden revolver on display. I should hide it from sight, but I don’t.

My instincts are buzzing, warning me of trouble.

I stride into the room searching the faces, but I don’t see her. I stop at the doorway, my heart thumping and my breathing heavy. Shane appears behind me and without saying a word, goes straight to Giovanni. While they talk, I scan every corner until my panic-stricken gaze picks out Matheus.

He looks up, glances behind him, and then starts walking my way.

“Where the fuck is she?” I demand, fisting my hands.

He shrugs lightly, unsure why I’m so highly strung. Yet mentally preparing his response to placate my pending eruption.

“She went to the ladies’ room, Tommy.”

“Alone?” My voice frosts with annoyance. “It was a simple fucking request, Mat.”

My brother scowls at me. “I told her to come straight back. You know how long women take to sort out their makeup, brush their hair…and remove their panties.” He chuckles briefly trying to lighten the mood, oblivious to the tightly wound knots in my stomach.

I don’t hang around to determine how long she’s been out of sight, rotating like a tornado and storming back the way I came.

“Tomás?” Matheus shouts after me.

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