I sighed.
When it came time for me to meet their King, I was more than ready. The sooner I could get to the bottom of what was happening, figure out where my father was and why my mother and Lilah had to die, the better.
But my heart fell when Taz walked into the room with another man behind him. The moment Taz stepped out of the way, my mouth immediately grew dry.
Those eyes.
I would know them anywhere. They looked misplaced in the muscular body they now sat in. Years ago, this man had been a tall, lanky kid with wild eyes. The last time I’d seen them, he was being held back by his older brother, Malik.
Tarek Jonas had been so pissed off at me that day, I knew if Malik hadn’t been there, he would have torn me limb from limb.
The day everything exploded, I thought I’d won. I smirked, egged him on. Repeatedly, Malik lost hold of Tarek and he made for me again. But Malik always managed to get Tarek under control until they were off the property. I’d waved at Tarek then headed inside to demand the chef make me a pizza from scratch.
After he was finished, I changed my mind and dumped the entire pizza in the garbage.
No, getting rid of The Jonas’ was a situation to celebrated with a night out full of underaged drinking and maybe a make-out session with someone else’s boyfriend.
The rage I had seen that day was still in Tarek’s eyes. Only now, it simmered under control like a volcano they believed to be dormant.
Only now, I was mature enough to know I should be scared.
“I’m going to leave you guys to talk,” Taz said, while heading for the door.
I grabbed Viper’s arm as he turned to follow his friend.
“You’ll be fine.” Viper encouraged. “Cobra is good people.”
But I wasn’t so sure.
“Ellie?” Viper whispered my name.
“Hmmm?”
“You have to let me go.”
I reluctantly released him, smiled but slowly died a little inside.
Tarek Jonas was sexy as fuck. I wasn’t sure how else to put it. His green eyes still burned with the anger of a thousand suns. His body—oh gawd that body.
“Um…” I cleared my throat but didn’t move. “You’re King Cobra.”
He said nothing.
Instead, he walked to the window, shoved his fingers into his pockets and stared out. The silence had to have been for a breath, but it was like an eternity. If I didn’t know he was there, I would have probably missed him. He was unmoving, still, yet he cast such an overwhelming shadow over the space. It was hard being in the same space as this version of Tarek Jonas. Everything about him turned me on, even the anger in his eyes.
“I never would have expected it to be you. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be here. Um—I could ask them to find someone else or just wait for the police to—”
“Tell me about your father in the last year or so.” His voice tight, like the unexpected the roll of thunder on a sunny day. I must have jumped a foot in the air. Thankfully, he was facing away from me and didn’t see my reaction.
“Tarek I—”
“Your father.”
I trembled, wanting nothing more than to fall to my knees in front of him, give him all the control. All my adult life, I’d never felt that way with any other man. The things flowing through my mind weren’t Godly. They were naughty, taboo and probably illegal in most places. But deep down I know I was being an idiot. Not only were those feelings and thoughts inappropriate for the situation I found myself in, but Tarek was off limits, he’d always been off limits.
I didn’t deserve to be thinking of Tarek in such a way. I was surprised he’d even agreed to take this job. After what I’d done to him and his family, I figured he’d just let me die. The thought alone broke me until I saw the badge on his hip. He was only doing so because it was his job.
I was gutted again.
