“How’s the bride to be, Kai?” He taunts.
I narrow my eyes, “Settling in.” I lie.
Mirth dances in his green eyes, “Is that so?” He swipes a hand over his mouth while the other menaround the table look on, “She sounds a little screechy.”
My mouth kicks up as I remember her blush and then the anger that bloomed almost immediately after. “Concentrate on the game, jackass,” I snatch the decanter from them, “You’re losing.” I eye the meager stacks he still has in comparison to the rest of the guys.
I know them all, there’s Dean, sitting in the chair closest to the fire, a dangerous man who has been in my inner circle since I took over nearly six years ago and my lead hacker, Killian his brother is opposite Bast and then there’s my cousin, Stefan, in the chair closest to me. He watches me more intently than the others, likely waiting for a slip up since he’s up next to take over should something happen to me, or I don’t go through with this wedding.
Our relationship, at most, is tense but since I have no choice but to keep him high on the pyramid, I deal with it.
“You buying in?” Killian leans back, placing his cards down on the arm of his chair.
“Not tonight,” I take my seat behind the desk and straighten up the items on top, adjusting the leather-bound notebook and run my hand over the embossed family crest on the front. It’s an image you’ll see throughout the estate, a shield with a crown at the tip, a raven perched on the left with the family initial in the center and the motto, artistically scrawled in black letter in a ribbon below.
Memento mori.
Remember death.
“Trouble in paradise already?” Bast pushes more.
As much as the fucker annoys me, he’s been my closest friend since we were kids. Killian, Dean and Bast are the only men I trust other than Abe who’s unusually missing. He always plays on poker night.
“Where’s my grandfather?” I ask.
It’s Stefan that answers with a shrug, “Old man said he had business to handle. Canceled last minute.”
Abe Farrow was the only Farrow to never sit on the imaginary throne of this industry. When his time came, he decided to hand the reins to his younger brother instead. He’s always been a member of the council, just never the lead despite our traditions. Since his brother never had kids, after he retired, the throne went to my father, Abe’s son, and now it’s with me after my father found himself in an early grave six years ago now.
I have no siblings.
Abe and Stefan are the only remaining family I have left. And I’ll be dead before I let Stefan take this business over. The slimy bastard will ruin it.
When my time is up, I plan on having an heir to take it over from me, I guess I just have to convince Olivia long enough to spread her legs for me to put a baby in her.
I shake my head, dislodging the thought as I pull out my cell and fire off a text to my grandfather. He’s old, almost eighty, but the stubborn fool refuses to lessen his duties.
Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as sitting back andwatching the world fall at our feet. There were appearances to be had, balls and galas and interviews that were required so we could masquerade as the law abiding citizens the world believes us to be. There are thousands of businesses under the Farrow branch, each one serving one purpose. To clean the money we make through the hitlist database.
And Abe likes to put on a show. He always has.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying not to imagine what ludicrous stunt he’s attempting to pull. It’ll have something to do with the wedding, I know it.
Add meddling to his list of qualities.
“I guess you and little Olivia didn’t hit it off straight,” Bast throws a couple chips in the center of the table, “And you thought she was a quiet little lady.”
“She is,” I say, “I expected some push back initially, but we’re still getting married on Sunday and it’s her in my rooms upstairs.”
“But notyourroom.” Killian quirks a brow.
“Give it some time,” I kick back, “It won’t be long before I have her on her back.”
Sebastian lets out a chuckle, “Now this is a bet I’d like to put money on.”
I shouldn’t.I shouldn’t.
“Yeah, how much?”
