Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“Hey, Alexa,” Grave starts.
“Hmm?” She looks at him, slowing her chewing.
“Do you mind staying on at Crown? That is, until Lucky’s is back up and running, and I can find someone else to take over?”
She looks at Cross, confused, and then back at him. She swallows her food. “I don’t mind, but I don’t want to take that away from you.”
“You’re not.” He reaches over and takes April’s hand, bringing it to his lips. He kisses her knuckles, and she blushes. “I want to come home and be with my wife after a long day at Kingdom.”
Alexa starts nodding. “Yes, sure, that’s …”
A silence falls over the room, and April starts laughing.
“No!” Jasmine breathes, her palms slapping the table. “You got married without us?” she asks in disbelief.
“No, but …” April holds up her left hand and smiles brightly, showing off the massive diamond on her ring finger. “We have a wedding to plan.”
I always knew Grave wouldn’t be able to continue running Crown. As a recovering addict, I thought it would be too much temptation. The alcohol alone would be a distraction. We’re not stupid. Although we don’t deal in drugs, we know they are passed around inside the clubs.
“I don’t understand.” Derek looks around quickly. “What does this have to do with me?”
“Well, I want to offer Crown to you,” Grave states.
Everyone looks over at the guy, and he sits up straighter. His eyes widen as he points at himself as if there’s more than one Derek in the room. “Me?” he asks.
“Why not?” My brother takes a drink of his Monster. “You helped Alexa run Lucky’s, right?”
Derek nods, eyes still wide with surprise.
“Alexa will have the new club opened soon, and she won’t be able to run both. I don’t plan on stepping back into Crown. So …” He shrugs. “This makes sense.”
Some shit went down with Alexa and Lucky’s—the bar she was given when Lucky passed away. It’s currently under construction. But Cross is determined to have it open and better than ever as soon as possible.
“I’ve already spoken to the other Kings, and we think it would be a good opportunity for you,” Grave goes on.
He had messaged us about this last night while I was sitting on the beach waiting on Mia to wake up. We were all in an agreement that keeping Derek close was a good idea. And what better way to do that than putting him to work at Kingdom. Where we can have eyes on him at all times.
“That’s …” He looks over at Cross, who just stares at him, flipping open his Zippo, not giving his feelings about the matter away. He couldn’t care less. If need be, Cross would set him on fire right here and now. “A great opportunity.” Derek swallows nervously. “But Lucky’s was on a much smaller scale—”
“I spoke to Alexa this morning.” Grave interrupts him. “She said that she would continue to work there with you until she opens the new club. That way, you won’t be doing it on your own right off the bat. It’ll give you time to get some training in.”
Derek runs a hand through his dark hair. “That would be great.” He nods to himself. “Thanks, guys.”
“Then it’s decided,” I say, ready to get this meeting over with and on with my day. I need to bury myself into my work to get the pretty brunette staying in my beach house off my mind. I want to kick myself in the ass for not setting up cameras there. If I had, then I would have the option of watching her whenever I wanted. No matter how creepy that makes me sound.
Cross closes his Zippo and reaches out, slapping his hand on Derek’s shoulder, and he flinches at the contact. “Fuck us over, and I’ll kill you. Do you understand?”
“Oh, I would never …”
Titan gives a rough laugh. “We’ve heard that before.”
“I promise.” Derek throws up his hands. “I won’t let you guys down.”
With that, I get up and exit the conference room, not bothering to say anything else. People can talk a lot of shit. I’m about action, and only time will prove him right.
Making my way back to the private elevator, I step inside and push the button for the fiftieth floor, pulling my cell out of my pocket. I go to her name and hover over it. I feel like I should call Mia. She’s probably even more scared now after speaking to Luca. He just reiterated what I had told her—she’s on her own.
He was a wreck when he came to me for help. We both knew I was her only hope and that it wasn’t a good thing.
“What do you mean she’s your sister?” I demand. “Since when do you have a sister?” Maybe she’s adopted like his parents adopted Oliver Nite.