Page 39 of His Kingdom

“What are you doing? Why are you mad?”

“Answer the question, Charlotte. I want to know who did that,” I tell her as I continue to pace back and forth across the carpet.

“I… I went outside, and Owen was there. He wanted to talk to me,” she says.

I pull out my phone and call Sammie. He answers on the second ring. “Boss?”

“Round up Carlo and Emmanuel. We have a hog to roast.”

“What? Fuck? Really? You sure?” Sammie asks.

“Do I sound un-fucking-sure?” I yell before hanging up. Then I storm into my closet, pulling the suits aside to unlock the safe. I reach inside and grab a pistol and a knife.

“Wait… Why do you have a gun?” Charlotte is behind me. “Why do you have all those guns? That’s a lot of guns, Louie. What are you doing?”

“Go back to bed,” I tell her.

“Oh, sure, I’ll just go back to bed when my boyfriend seems to be losing his damn mind and is… Whatareyou doing? Loading up with weapons?” she asks me.

I pause and spin around. She’s standing in the doorway of my closet, wearing nothing but a pair of black lace panties. “Say it again,” I groan.

“What are you doing?” she repeats.

“Not that part. The boyfriend thing, say it again.” I stalk towards her.

“It was a slip of the tongue. I didn’t mean that.” Charlotte averts her eyes. “Sorry.”

My fingers press under her chin, tipping her face upwards until her eyes connect with mine. “I like it. Being your boyfriend,” I tell her. My voice somehow manages to sound calm, even though I’m fired up on the inside.

“You mean that?” she questions before quickly adding, “It’s too soon.”

“I don’t say shit I don’t mean. And since we’ve established you’re now my girlfriend, you have to understand that I’m not about to let some fucker get away with hurting you. No one, and I mean no one, puts their hands on you, Charlotte.”

Her eyes widen. “You can’t do anything to Owen. He’s a cop, Louie. You’ll get in trouble.”

I laugh. “Sweetheart, I don’t give a fuck if he’s the goddamn Pope. He hurt you. He’s gonna feel that tenfold.”

“Please, just come to bed. You’re mad, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone out. I should have just stayed and waited for you like I said I would. I don’t want you getting into trouble over me. It’s not worth it.”

“Charlotte, you are more than worth it. Whoever put it into your head that you’re not… is a fucking idiot. You. Are. Worth. It,” I emphasize, hoping my words sink into her. “I’ll be back. Now, go to sleep.”

“Louie, this is insane. I told him to go home. He’s not sticking around town. Just let it go.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to agree with her, for her benefit. I can’t lie to this woman, though. “I won’t be long.” I grab hold of the back of her head and press my lips against her forehead again. “Please stay here,” I say and step around her. Stopping at the bedroom door before I turn and look at her again. “Why didn’t you come back here? When you came up?”

“I don’t have a key to get in.” She lifts a shoulder.

Opening my wallet, I pull out the spare master key. “This will get you into any room in any of my casinos,” I tell her as I drop the card on to the bedside table. “I want you here when I get back.”

* * *

By the time I make it downstairs, Sammie, Carlo, and Emmanuel are waiting for me. “You guys ready for a barbecue?” I smirk.

“Always,” Emmanuel answers without even questioning why we’re about to go after a cop.

“Is she okay?” Sammie asks, knowing it has to have something to do with Charlotte.

“He grabbed her. Fucker left a mark on her,” I tell him through gritted teeth.

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