Page 72 of The Lost Kings
Scotty adjusted the ice pack and squinted at Kingston. “How do you know all of this?”
“You’re not the only person who has intel and connections, old man,” Gio replied on behalf of his brother.
I stole a quick glance across the room and noticed Juan andTaylor give one another a loaded look, one full of concern and mild panic if I was reading the way Juan’s jaw pulsed correctly.
Scotty shook his head before standing tall and tossing the ice pack down. “Don’t stick your hand in the fire, kids.”
Gio snickered again, shoulders shaking. “Why? Because we’ll get burned?”
“No.” Scotty paused before glancing at me. “You’ll get branded. That world is a curse, and once you dip so much as a pinky in, it’ll never let you go.”
Kingston snapped back, “Then why the fuck have you raised Presley inside of it?”
My face flushed the smallest amount, knowing their concern was right but also knowing I’d made my choices, and I was okay with them. No one forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do. But did that mean the boys had started getting involved with the mob?
My mind played back the conversation they’d had in Adrian’s house when he’d said their name was familiar.
“We’ve recently had business together.”
What had they done?
“So what’s the plan then…you pulled Presley. Is there an immediate threat to her that we should know about?” my dad asked, his gaze softening as it landed on me.
Scotty shook his head. “Other than his initial request at needing an alliance was disingenuous. It makes me nervous that he has an ulterior motive.”
Kingston scoffed, finishing off his beer. “Of course he has an ulterior motive, he wants to fuc?—”
“Find another way to say that, Son,” Juan quickly interjected, with a bite to his tone.
Kingston’s jaw feathered but continued on. “I saw the way he acts with Presley. I believe his feelings for her are real, but I’m also positive he has an ulterior motive. I doubt you all knew the town he’s in is completely under his employment. The bistro café, thebookstore, the market…even the vendors. They all work for Adrian, every single place you went, you were being watched, Elvis.”
Something cold and foreign moved through me, almost like a snake had found sanctuary between my ribs. Adrian hadn’t lied to me, but he hadn’t once told me about any brothers, and he feigned that he pitied my father…maybe that was more true than I realized, and he didn’t need an alliance.
Maybe he had been telling me the truth this entire time.
My uncle adjusted his ice pack. “Well, for the time being we’re on high alert. He knows where we live, which means we need to leave.”
That was on me, but I still didn’t have a bad feeling about Adrian. No matter how hard I tried to muster up the things he could be capable of, or all the horrible things the head of a mafia family could do, I still had affection for him.
“He’s not a threat.” I found myself arguing. Everyone swung their gazes over to me, and two pairs of eyes burned as they pinned me in place. I slowly stood and tried to explain where I was coming from.
“Ducking back underground isn’t the answer here. Adrian and I have a real connection, and I’d like to tug on the thread a bit before you bury us, Scotty.”
Scotty gave me one last look before walking toward the main hall. “What did you have in mind?”
“I want to bring him here, invite him to meet all of you and see if anything shifts. If he’s going to draw his brothers into it, then we’ll be ready, but if not, then perhaps there’s still an alliance on the table here.”
“Over my fucking dead body!” Kingston yelled.
Gio briskly stood. “You swore she’d never be subjected to an arranged marriage. She’s eighteen years old.”
“I’m old enough to make this decision on my own,” I argued, stepping closer, “And you two have been gone too long to have a say about this, one way or another.”
“It’s not like we didn’t try to get in touch with you,” Kingston sneered.
I ignored him, keeping my focus on Scotty. He watched me carefully before giving me a simple nod.
“I trust you, Presley. If you think it’s a good idea to invite Adrian here to meet your family, including the twins, then by all means, arrange it.”
