King of Depravity: Chapter 32

For the next three days, Chloe and I relax in the South of France. It’s magical. We eat, we walk on the beach, we make love, and we talk.

Not of danger, not of darkness, but of light and hope and plans for the future. Chloe has pleaded sick with all of her professors, and as she never misses class, they’ve given her extensions.

But I try to press upon her that she can just take the classes again next semester. Or switch majors.

She has a gift, one she’s been hiding because she’s been afraid to fail. That’s no way to live, and if there one thing I can give her, it’s the chance to make her dreams come true.

Lazing on the beach, I watch Chloe in the water, admiring the sun-kissed honey of her skin. France is much laxer about tops on the beach, but Chloe leaves hers on. There is no way I’m letting another man see those gorgeous tits. And the tan lines are also fantastic.

She swims into the shore, her hips swaying as she works her way out of the water, twisting her hair up on top of her head.

The beach in front of the house is pretty quiet, but a few men walk by, both giving Chloe a long look.

I get it. She’s stunning.

But I rise from my chair, tattoos on full display as I glare. They get the message and keep moving, but I head for the shore to meet her, determined to station myself at Chloe’s side.

But I’ve no more than reached her side when my phone starts chirping.

I haven’t missed the sound, in fact the break has been restorative. I’m not certain I’ve ever taken a regular vacation before, but this is something Chloe and I are going to do often.

I haven’t felt this alive, this happy, or relaxed for a very long time.

Chloe fishes my phone out of the bag she’s set between our chairs and hands it to me.

I grimace when I see Triston’s name. But I only hesitate for one more second before I answer. “Hello?”

“Killian,” his voice holds a tightness that instantly sets me on edge.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m adding Mason to the call.”

Ten seconds later I hear Mason’s deep voice, “Killian?”

“Here.”

Chloe is looking at me with deep concern. I sit it in the chair and take her hand.

Mason lets out a long breath of air. “Temptation, our club, was destroyed last night.”

Chloe gives a soft cry before she covers her mouth with her hand. She clearly heard.

My jaw goes granite hard. “Who?”

“We think the Russians, but we don’t know for certain. We’re looking into it, but we could use you here in Vegas.”

I look at Chloe. I’d be taking her back into a war. But she gives a faint nod. She understands.

These are my brothers. If they’re in a fight, I need to be at their side. I can be pissy with them all I want, but if this is life or death, they’re going to need me.

“I’ll fly back tomorrow.”

“I can send the jet for you,” Mason offers.

I grimace. I’m keeping this location private. It’s Chloe’s escape if she needs it. “I’ll take it. Pick up point in Paris?”

It means we’ll spend the day on trains and then planes, but it’s worth the extra hassle.

“Of course. And thank you, Killian. I know why you left, and I know the part I played in making Vegas less hospitable, and I’m sorry for that.” He lets out a heavy sigh. “I wish you’d been here. If you had, I doubt this would have happened.”

“How bad is the loss?”

“Two injured, no dead, but the club is a complete rebuild.”

Someone was sending a message. They’re not letting Mason win Vegas without a fight.

“I’m glad it wasn’t worse.” The Smiths have picked their side. We’ll rule Vegas with the Kincaids, but we’ll twist ourselves so deeply into their operation, they’ll never get us out. And in doing so, we’re going to own a very large piece of the pie. I don’t need Triston’s charts to tell me that.

“Me too,” Mason answers. “So…what time should I have the jet arrive?”

“Late. We’ll need the day to travel.” Which means, if he was attempting to figure out our location, we could be anywhere in Europe by what I just shared.

I hear his pause and then his light chuckle. “You really give nothing away, do you?”

I smile. “But you’ll keep trying, won’t you?”

He murmurs in appreciation. “See you in a few days,” he says before he leaves the call.

“Killian?” Tris asks after the line clicks.

“I’m here.”

“Are you worried about Mason and what he might be able to do to us?”

“No,” I smile at Chloe before getting up from my chair. “But I’ll keep an eye on him. I know he’s got more resources than us but we…”

“What?”

“We’ve actually been trained for royalty. And no one knows how to keep power like a royal.”

I hear the squeak of Triston’s chair as he leans back. “Well said. Enjoy your evening with your queen.”

I hang up, moving back toward Chloe, her body on full display as she suns herself in her lounge. I plan to enjoy my queen to the fullest.

Not just tonight.

For the rest of my life.