The woman to my left laughs and I take a look at her. She’s a replica of a Playboy Playmate. Platinum blonde hair that doesn’t stop until it hits her ass, bright blue eyes, long tan legs, and big fake breasts. She reminds me of Lucy in a way. Back when she took care of herself.
“Now this I have to hear,” Jenson says.
I sigh, focusing back on the group. “I got into a fight with my father, so I went to Vancouver for the weekend to party. Well, what was supposed to be two days ended up being two weeks. Most of it was a blur. But Cross came after me when I didn’t return and found me in a run-down motel alone. Turns out I had lost over five hundred thousand in a poker tournament and had crashed my private jet because I hadn’t put fuel in it. Thankfully, I had parachutes and bailed out before it crashed.”
Most of it is still blurry, but what I was able to put together was that I crashed shortly after takeoff on the way home to Nevada. And that’s why I ended up spending more time inVancouver than I had intended. When I didn’t return on time, my brother had sent Cross to fetch me.
“Oh, my gosh,” Jess places her hands to her face. “Was anyone hurt?”
“Nope. It’s lying at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.” I know I got lucky. Someone was looking out for me that day.
Two years ago
I sit at the conference table on the thirteenth floor of Kingdom, drinking Pedialyte out of the bottle. I haven’t even been to bed yet. Partied until sunrise with Cross last night, and just when I was headed home to go to bed, my brother messaged me to meet him here.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, staring at Bones through my sunglasses. My eyes are sensitive from partying, and the bright fucking sun beaming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows is making my head pound.
“It’s just us,” he answers, staring down at his cell while sitting at the head of the table.
I lean my head back and pull my hoodie up and over my face for more eye protection. “Why are we here?”
“Dad wanted to meet us.”
I place my hands on the armrests and push to stand, knocking the hood off my face. “I’m out.”
He jumps to his feet. “Grave.”
“Save it,” I say. “I don’t give a fuck what Dad wants.” He knows that. That’s why he didn’t tell me he would be here.
I step in front of the glass double doors to exit the conference room right when they open. My father steps in and I stiffen when my eyes go to what’s standing next to him. It’s a woman. My father always has them coming and going, but he neverbrings them to Kingdom. And he sure as shit makes sure to never be seen with them in public. Too many eyes and ears always watching and listening for the next big story.
“Who the fuck is this?” I ask, ripping off my sunglasses.
My father smiles at me and it makes my skin crawl. He’s called me here just to piss me off. “This is Francesca.” He lifts her left hand and I see a massive fucking diamond on her ring finger. “My new wife.” His smile widens, his blue eyes lighting up with excitement. “And your new mother.”
I had never wanted to fucking kill him more than I did right then. For some stupid reason, Bones stopped me from ramming my fist in his face until he was no longer breathing. I ran out of the conference room, jumped in my car, drove to our private hangar, and took off in my jet. I had my pilot’s license. Now I wish I would have taken the time to hire someone. Maybe I wouldn’t have crashed my seven-million-dollar jet trying to get back home.
My father and Francesca’s marriage was annulled by the time I got back from my two-week binge in Canada. Turns out, she found him in bed with her sister and his airtight prenup saved him from having to give her a fucking penny.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Jess says with that fucking caring smile on her face.
I can’t figure out if I’m moody because of lack of drugs, or because I feel like a caged animal in this elite daycare.
“Want to share more?”
“Huh?” I look over at the Playboy Playmate. “What did you say?”
Her blue eyes glance around the room. “Everyone left, but you just stayed seated. I thought maybe you had more you wanted to share.” Her eyes come back to mine. “If so, I can listen.”
“Oh, no.” I notice we are the only two left in the room. “No, I’m done.” I hate a lot about this place, but most definitely the group sessions. I don’t need to tell these strangers anything about me. Most things they have read in headlines.
I stand and stride out of the room, turning right to exit the side door. Stepping onto the patio, I pause and take in the view of the tennis courts and sprawling golf course.
“Want a cigarette?”
I glance over to see she’s followed me outside. “No, thanks. I don’t smoke.” Not anymore.
She gives a soft chuckle. “Yeah, me either.” Lighting the end of the cigarette, she takes in a drag and blows it out. “But when they take everything away, you have to find something to pass the time.”
