Arranged love

EMILEE

“MR. YAN?” I say, walking over to Titan and Bones. I didn’t say goodbye. I refuse for it to end this way with me hating her and so many questions unanswered. I was so mad, but now it all seems for nothing. But I can’t let it go that she kept secrets from me. I’m an adult, not a child. Why wouldn’t she just tell me?

“Ms. York. I was just informing the Kings that I’ve been calling you.”

I say nothing because I’ve been avoiding him.

“We need to set up a meeting.”

“I’m busy,” I state.

He nods once. “Yes, but this is important.”

“More important than burying my mother?” I arch a brow.

His eyes soften, and he licks his lips nervously. “It’s about your mother’s will …”

I hold my hand up to stop him. “I already know she was married to George. And I’m aware of the will. There is nothing for us to discuss.”

With that, I walk past them and out of the church. I make my way down the stairs and to the waiting black sedan by the curb.

“Em? Em, wait!” I hear Titan behind me.

I ignore him and open the door, but he catches up to me, grabs the door, and shuts it. “Hey …” I spin around to face him.

“How long are we going to do this?” he asks.

I hate how good he looks dressed in his all-black suit. His hair slicked back and sadness in his eyes. How much I miss him. And how there is a hole the size of Texas in my chest. I’ve never felt more alone. I’ve never needed someone to hold me before, but I’d give anything for him to. But a part of me just won’t let that happen. Now that both of my parents are dead, there’s nothing left keeping me here in Vegas. My apartment hasn’t sold in Chicago, so I need to go back there. That has been my home. That’s where I belong now. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You. Me. Don’t leave like this. Right now. Talk to me.”

I remove the sunglasses from the top of my head and place them over my eyes. I don’t want him to see me crying. “Don’t worry, Titan. I know I’m nothing special.” I slap his chest twice, and then yank open the door before falling into the car.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The first tear rolls down my cheek as we drive away, and I hear him calling out my name. I plan on going home and being alone for a few weeks. I’ve never needed anyone before, and I sure as hell don’t need him now.

TITAN

“You have to give her time, Titan,” Bones says from behind me. “First, her dad and now, her mom.” He sighs. “It’s a lot.”

“Yeah.” I nod in agreement. “I guess not everyone hates their parents like we did.”

I was never close with my mom or my dad. My mother was a drunk who loved her addiction more than she could ever love me. My father was married to Kingdom. He lived for it. He also died for it. My mother drank herself into a coma, and my father was killed in his house. The killer was never identified, but I think it was someone in his inner circle. There was no sign of a break-in or a struggle. They found him dead on his living room floor with a single gunshot wound to the head. Whoever did it took pity on him.

The only thing he left me was Kingdom. Twenty-five percent of a multibillion-dollar business.

I didn’t want it, but that didn’t matter. I was an only child, and I was to carry on the legacy. Just like the rest of the Dark Kings.

Bones, Grave, Cross, and I had our future planned for us before we were even born.

“This is who you are,” my father once said. “You were born a king, and you will die a king.” It was utter bullshit. But I stepped up and took over his position. As did the others. Mr. Reed is the only remaining original Three Wisemen alive. But he retired years ago, signing over his shares to his sons, Grave and Bones.

“I only hate one of my parents,” Bones mumbles.

We don’t speak of his mother. She was a saint in a world full of devils. But there’s a saying-the good die young.

“Titan?”

I let out a growl at the sound of my name.

“What?” I snap.

“Please give these to Miss York.” Mr. Yan holds out a set of papers. “I have tried to reach George, but he’s not returning my calls.”

“Yeah, well, get in line,” Bones growls.

Mr. Yan frowns, shoving his glasses up his pudgy nose. “You’re looking for him as well?”

We don’t answer.

He runs a hand through his jet-black hair. “I tried to explain to George that Mr. York did not have a will.”

Bones and I exchange a look. “What do you mean?” I ask.

“Well, Nick hadn’t come to me to set up his arrangements. But George was persistent that Nick had, in fact, a trust. He had seen it.”

“So how did you get it?” Bones asks.

“George found it. In the safe at the York residence.”

I yank the papers from his hand and shove him away from us. “Hey …”

We ignore him. “So the trust that George presented to Emilee was a fake?” I say.

“Obviously, but it still doesn’t make any sense. Why he would use a fake when he was technically already married to Nancy?” Bones adds.

“But … we spoke to Luca. He said that the trust was legit. So maybe George knew about them, but Yan didn’t?” I offer.

“Fuck,” Bones hisses.

“He wanted Emilee, but why?” I go on. “Why force her and not just try to seduce her?”

He shrugs. “Maybe he knew she’d see through his bullshit? Or maybe he didn’t want to wait the amount of time that would take. In that time, Em could find out that he was married to Nancy. And poof, his plan would be exposed.”

I bow my head and run my hand down my face. I have a fucking headache. “We need to find him. We need answers.”