Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
She nods and chokes out. “You’re right. Thank you, Grave.”
“Call me if you need anything. Do you hear me?” Five thousand won’t last her long, but it’s a start.
She reaches up on her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine just as my door opens. “Meeting in five,” my brother calls out.
Nat pulls away quickly and averts her eyes to the floor before I even had a chance to kiss her back. But I had no plan to do so.
I glare up at him. “I can fucking read a clock,” I snap. His blue eyes drop to her legs and slowly look over the back of her as she presses her front into mine like a timid cat.
“Don’t be late,” he warns and then slams my door shut.
APRIL
I’m tired, and I’m starving. I haven’t eaten much. Don’t really have the appetite after all the unanswered calls and ignored texts I’ve sent Ethan. He didn’t even bother showing up at the shop today. Alexa sent me a text late last night inviting me out to the bar tonight, but I declined. I’m not in the mood to be around a crowd.
I stand in the cooler, searching on my phone. I can’t find anything about what the fuck a Queen is or what connection it has to do with Kingdom. I did, however, find out that four Kings own it. Titan, Bones, Cross, and Grave.
He fucking owns a quarter of the hotel and casino, and I’m having a hard time processing that information. The answer has been in front of me the entire time. That’s why Ethan asked if he had given me that card. He was talking about Grave. He knows who he is. Grave holds all the answers I need. I just need to get his cell number off his info that he left when he ordered the flowers for his mother.
I go back to the office and sit down at the desk. Going through the computer, I pull up his information and look at his number. What am I going to say to him? Why would I be calling? Making up my mind, I let out a deep breath before I type in his number on my cell.
It rings a couple of times before I hear his voice. “Hello?” The single word comes out rough. I look at the clock and silently curse myself. It’s still early. I haven’t even opened the shop yet. “Hello?” he asks, sounding irritated this time.
“Hi,” I say and flinch. Way too chipper.
“Who is this?” he growls, getting angrier by the second.
“It’s April. From Roses,” I clarify.
“Oh.” His voice changes to surprised.
“I’m sorry if I woke you,” I rush out.
“No, no. You’re fine. What’s up? Everything okay?”
I frown. That’s an odd question. But I guess so is this unexpected phone call. “Yes, of course. I was just checking in to see what your mother thought of the flowers.”
He’s silent for a long second. So long that I pull my cell away from my ear to make sure the connection isn’t lost. Finally, he speaks in a clipped voice. “Loved them.”
“Great.” I sigh in relief. “I’m glad to hear that.”
He clears his throat. “Is that really why you called, April?”
He’s caught me. I’m like a window, people can see right through my shit. I never was good at lying. Looking down at my black nails, I try a different approach. “I was actually wondering if you would like to grab a cup of coffee. There’s a little shop just a couple of doors down.” I bite my bottom lip to keep from rambling.
“Sure.” He sighs heavily. “I can meet you there in an hour.”
“Oh.” I was not expecting that answer. “I can do that.” I’ll just have to close the shop since I know Ethan won’t be showing up to help. “I’ll meet you there.”
_______________
I walk into the small coffee shop and pick the first round table to my right. There’s only one other person here at the moment in the corner booth, but they have their earbuds in while working on a laptop.
My knees bounce up and down as I try to think of an excuse to bring up Kingdom and ask how my brother fits into the situation. I don’t think saying hey, I googled you last night and saw you’re part owner. Do you know why my brother has a key card to there? Oh, and hey is your brother connected with the mafia? That would be a good conversation starter. Not.
I look up just as a sport bike pulls into the front row parking spot. It’s a Yamaha R1, and Grave is driving. He turns it off, kicks the kickstand down, and gets off it. I watch him walk to the door dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans, black combat boots, and a black T-shirt that shows off his one sleeve and muscular arms. He wears a white hat backward that he takes off and spins around. It has that same black circle and K that sits in the middle. I now know that represents Kingdom.