Page 50 of Wild King

After getting his soda and my root beer, I set them on the island and sit down to eat. He doesn’t say a word for a long time, which isn’t unusual since Nathan and I rarely have any conversation other than what I may need him to do at any particular time, but as I sit thinking about Kellen and wishing he might join us, the bodyguard finally begins to talk.

“You know, I get the feeling you don’t really need me here. I don’t mind. Mr. King is paying me really well to basically be herefor nothing, so it’s given me some time to work out and get a lot of running in. But I’m not actually sure I’m needed.”

I nod, understanding why he feels that way since I don’t really think he’s needed here either. His dark eyes fix on my face, and I sense he would like me to explain why he was hired for this job, but I’m not sure, to be honest. Clearly, Matthias believed we required someone like Nathan here while I do my work and Kellen lays low, but I don’t know why.

“To be honest, Nathan, I’m not sure why you’re here, but if you’re getting paid well and it’s not too hard on you, I say enjoy your time out here.”

As I say that, I realize I don’t know much about the large man who lives here with me. Well, other than he’s as big as a house and looks like he could bench press a bus.

Curious and not sleepy yet, I ask him, “Are you from the city?”

With a big smile, he shakes his head. “Not really. I live in the Bronx, but that’s never felt like home. I’m originally from out here, as you call it. I have to admit being here in this house has made me miss the area.”

“Do you know the King family? I mean, before Matthias hired you to stay here with us?”

Kellen’s never mentioned he knew Nathan before we all started living here. Did he intentionally keep that from me? If so, why?

Nathan nods, and his expression grows serious. “Everyone in this part of the world knows the Kings. They’re the wealthiest family around. Not that having all that money has made their lives perfect. Half of their family is gone already. I remember when Mrs. King died. All my mother and her friends could talk about was how she left behind five boys and a husband and how Mr. King was going to need someone to help him with all of those kids.”

In all my research, nobody’s mentioned Kellen’s mother or her passing. All they ever talk about is his father and his success in business. And there’s never been any mention of a new wife after Mrs. King died.

“When was that?” I ask, wondering how old Kellen was when he lost his mother.

Nathan looks around the room like he’s searching for the answer to my question before returning his focus to me. “Hmmm, let me think. I want to say that had to be twelve or thirteen years now. I was fifteen, I think.”

I quickly do the math in my head to determine Kellen was around twelve when his mother passed away. That’s a hard age to lose someone so dear to you. I can’t imagine what that must have felt like. Then he lost his father and brother last year in a matter of months.

Nathan is right. The Kings have tragically lost half their family.

“I had no idea,” I mumble while I think about how I’d handle all that loss. I’m not sure I could.

“It’s sad. Some people said they’d be fine since they had all that money, but money can’t replace your mother. Mr. King never remarried, and I remember hearing gossip that things fell apart in the months after she died. It fell to the people who worked for them and the two oldest, Matthias and Theo, to make sure the three youngest sons were taken care of. That’s tough. They were mourning too.”

My heart hurts hearing this about Kellen’s family. “So you didn’t know any of the King boys personally?”

Nathan smiles and shakes his head like my question is ridiculous. “Nah. My family didn’t have that kind of money. The Kings went to a private school. I was a public school kid. Those two groups didn’t hang out much with each other.”

A noise in the hallway gets my attention, and I see Kellen appear in the doorway to the kitchen. Instantly, I hope he didn’t hear us talking about his family. We meant no harm, but I don’t want him thinking I’m gossiping about their sadness.

“Were you having trouble sleeping and felt like having some pizza too?” I ask.

Nathan turns in his seat to look in Kellen’s direction and then quickly gathers up his plate and soda bottle. “Time for me to get some shut-eye. I’m going to have to run to my apartment tomorrow morning because I need something, so if you want me to pick anything up while I’m out, just let me know.”

He hurries away before I can say goodnight, and Kellen walks into the kitchen with a strange look on his face. “That was weird. The guy acts like I have the plague. What’s that about?”

When I don’t answer, he laughs and says, “Well, it could be that he thinks I wanted my friend to mow him down with his car, which I didn’t, but he doesn’t know that.”

“I’m sure he was just tired,” I say, hoping to convince Kellen it’s nothing personal.

With a shrug, he sits down in the seat where Nathan had just been and looks at the box of pepperoni pizza. “Dude stole a slice of my pizza.”

“I don’t think he knew it was yours. I think he assumed both pizzas were for all of us.”

“First, he robs me of my pizza, and then he sits here telling stories about my family. I think I’m starting to dislike dear Nathan.”

Cringing at the news that he heard what we said, I quickly try to explain myself and Nathan. “He wasn’t saying anything bad. Honest. He was just telling me about how he’s from around here, and then when I asked him if he knew your family before taking on this job, he said everyone around here knows your family. He meant no harm, Kellen.”

My explanation seems to make him happy, and he sighs and says, “It’s okay. Nothing he said wasn’t true. You could have asked me if you wanted to know about my past, though. I’m right here, and trust me, it’s not like I’m busy.”

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