Page 9

Family Meeting

Royal

When Birdman told me that my brother was at the mall, I didn’t really believe him. I’d only agreed to fetch Kingston because I knew how my father was. When Birdman wanted something, it was best to follow orders rather than argue.

It surprised the hell out of me when I spotted him lurking near the corner of the Hot Locker, until I saw Kennedy and a thick, little brunette step outside the store. They were completely oblivious as Kennedy passed off a shopping bag.

I fell back, observing the blonde-haired parasite that I called brother in all his glory as he hesitated only a breath or two before following her.

“Fucking dumbass,” I whispered under my breath as I ventured down the hall after them with a huff.

He had no shame. No brakes. No intelligence really. His stocky frame just kept on traipsing past the men’s room without an ounce of concern to him.

The bold motherfucker went into the women’s room like he fucking belonged there.

I snagged the collar of his dark shirt and jerked him back toward the entrance before we ended up needing bail.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I hissed once I got him into the hall.

His low, antagonistic laughter and the way his dark-blue eyes lit up irked me to my soul.

“Shit isn’t funny. You know what the fuck Forty would do if he found out you were bathroom peeping on his daughter?”

“Shut the fuck up,” King snorted, palming his temple like I was giving him a migraine.

He’d always been impossible. I tore my gaze away from him and noticed movement near the entrance of the lady’s room.

“Jesus Christ, she’s coming,” I hissed, shoving him along.

He stumbled out of the food court and dipped into a soap store. I could hear her fast-paced approach, but there just wasn’t time for me to get anywhere. So, I kept my back to her and hoped for the best.

When she didn’t breeze past, my curiosity got the best of me. I turned, only to find her back to me as she gazed down the long hallway.

I should have dipped.

It was the perfect chance.

Instead, I was hypnotized by her blondish-red hair. She’d never looked more striking, and I’d never been more stuck.

I was frozen in place, a sacrifice at her wait.

The fire in her eyes when she rounded on me felt like the floor had suddenly disappeared. I was free-falling.

Her lips were moving, and I tried to make casual conversation, but I felt like she could sense my every thought.

Each sordid one coming more vulgar and forbidden than the one before.

There wasn’t anywhere to go, and there was nothing I could do to stop those thoughts, or the urge to reach out and run my hand through her soft-looking hair.

I was completely at her mercy, until she shoved me and took off again.

“Goddamn, that was a good show. I swear, you wouldn’t know what to do with it if I gave you written instructions.” King taunted, his throaty, taunting laughter digging at me again.

I glared and huffed, completely exhausted by his bullshit.

“Birdman wants you at the house. I’m supposed to bring you,” I clipped.

“Right.” King scoffed, leaving me standing there as he started toward the mall exit.