Page 70 of King of Desire

“It’s all right. I don’t have much of an appetite.”

I keep walking and he follows. The family resemblance to Honeyeh is undeniable, as is the pleasant demeanor.

So different from my family.

“What other symptoms do you have?”

“Not much energy.” We reach the kitchen, and I take out some eggs and bread. I know that his problem stems from an overproduction of bile that has scarred the liver, but I’ll get more of the particulars from the doctor tomorrow.

“How’s the gaming system?”

“Awesome,” he answers, a big smile tugging at his lips.

“That’s good. Feel free to use the pool whenever you like.”

My phone chimes letting me know someone is at the gate. I look at my phone, a limo sitting just outside.

The phone rings in my hand. I pick up on the first ring. “Hello?”

“It’s me,” Win says in his deep baritone. “Open up.”

I hit the button, swinging the gate open.

“I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

I scowl at my phone. “I have real time updates, Win. It wasn’t longer than ten seconds.”

“It’s harder to get in here than it is to access Windsor,” he fires back.

I hang up, not wanting to listen to his grousing. He’s completely out of the fray in England, where the gates are purely for show. If he wants to change jobs, I’m game. I’ll take Honeyeh and Darius to England. Sit and watch it rain while I bark at Win to make more money.

I hit another button on my phone to unlock the front door. Mrs. Raith doesn’t work on Sundays and I’m not answering, especially not for him.

I could have the house staffed all the time, but I like the break. Perhaps I’ve been craving some normalcy for a while now.

I hear the front door close. “Darius, can you go meet my brother?”

“Sure,” he gets up from the stool at the island and starts for the entry. The two of them enter the kitchen a minute later.

Win looks even sterner than I remember, his face more deeply lined. “Eggs?”

“It’s dinner time in England,” he answers.

“Check the fridge,” I wave behind me. “I had a benefit on Friday. If there is nothing in this fridge, my guess is the staff kitchen is still loaded to the gills.”

He grunts his thanks. “You want something too?” he asks Darius.

“Is that okay?” Darius looks at me.

“Of course. Help yourself.” The coffee pot beeps.

“Tell me again how you know my brother?” Win asks Darius as they reach the connecting doorway.

“My sister works for him.”

“Worked,” I call out. “She’s my girlfriend now.”

Both of them stop, turning back to me. Darius wears an excited grin while Win gives me a fierce glare.

---