“So?”
“So I had no business being nice to you.” He refilled both glasses. “Or fucking you, for that matter.”
I looked away so he couldn’t see the hurt in my eyes. Of course, they could see. I hated being in this house, knowing we weren’t alone.
“No, you certainly aren’t,” said a female voice.
King and I turned our heads toward the doorway leading to the living room.
“Hello, Serina,” King said dryly, like he wasn’t at all surprised to see her. But I was.
I felt my hackles rise. Now I was ready to summon death!
Serina stuck out her lower lip. “King, King, King. Is that any way to greet an old friend?” She was wearing an obnoxious hot-pink pant suit with no blouse underneath. Her blonde hair was up in a ratty bun.
“Old, yes. But you are no friend.” He reached behind him into the cupboard for a clean glass and set it on the counter. “You’re just in time for dinner. Care to join us?”
“Aren’t you going to ask what I’m doing here?” she asked, sounding like a smug bitch.
He raised a dark brow in her general direction. I sensed he wanted to roll his eyes at her, too. “Let me guess. You came here to kill me. Be my guest. Won’t do any good.”
What the hell was up with this chitchat? “Where the fuck is my dad, Serina?”
Slowly, she turned in my direction. “He’s dead. In the trunk of my car. Only way to shut him up.” She looked at King. “Nice distraction, by the way. I really thought he was valuable.” She shrugged. “Nope. I tortured him for nothing. Well, except for my own enjoyment.”
My heart felt like it split in two. I wanted to claw her eyes out.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” she said to me. “He’s wearing King’s ring. He’ll come back, all shiny and new again.”
Fucking bitch! “I’ll kill you.” I lunged, but before I could manage to get my fingers around her neck, something took hold and tossed me across the room. My back hit the wall, knocking the wind out of me.
Gasping for air, I slid down to the floor.
“Serina, behave,” King said calmly.
“She came at me!” Serina grabbed the bottle from the counter and filled her glass.
“And you reneged on your deal with her.” He cocked a disapproving brow.
Serina had promised to leave my dad and me alone if I got King to wear the cuff. I kept my side of the deal, but she’d decided to go looking for me and found my dad instead.
Serina chuckled. “Who gives a fuck? She’s not a club member—the rules don’t apply. Not that it would matter anyway, since I’m in charge now.”
The air entered my lungs again, and I drew in a long breath. My rage renewed instantly. I made tight fists and gnashed my teeth. You’re dead, bitch. I started getting up.
“I would not do that, Jeni,” King warned, not bothering to help me up. “You are no match for Serina.”
“Neither are you, King. Not anymore.” Serina snickered. “And Ten Club knows it.”
“Is that why you are here a day before the party? Because you are so much stronger than me?” A condescending smile crept over his lips.
“I’m here because I want to make a trade,” she said.
“I’m listening.” He sounded bored, like he’d done this before. Probably because he had.
I finally got to my feet and started coming up behind her. King gave me a warning with his eyes. I didn’t know what he was up to, but I supposed that was for the best. Serina shared his gift of mind picking.
In fact…
I tried shoving the thought away, but now that the question popped into my head, I couldn’t stop it. He knew she could read people’s thoughts. So why the hell would he let me in on his plans for tomorrow?
My wide eyes met his. I didn’t mean to tell her. I’m sorry.
Serina’s gaze toggled between us. I was fairly sure she couldn’t read his mind—he was too powerful not to have figured out how to protect himself by now—but she could read mine, and mine was busy thinking. King wasn’t a stupid man. No one got to be his age by being a fool or bad at strategy.
“Jeni is correct,” King said to Serina. “And it is the very reason I planned to make you an offer first.”
Serina cackled with delight. “And what do you have that I could possibly want this time? I already took control of Ten Club without any help from you and your Seer bitches.” Her brown eyes went wide. “Oh, wait. You weren’t planning on offering me all your stuff again, were you?” She swiped a hand through the air and laughed. “I’ve got my own collection of goodies.”
“No. This is a much better deal,” he said.
“Can’t wait. Bring it.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Your life.”
“Sorry?” She laughed.
“I am offering to let you live. Just turn around, walk out that door, go back to one of your many mansions with your dozens of sex slaves, and enjoy your life. Or stay and die along with the other Ten Club members.” He flashed a sadistic smile.
She frowned. “Funny. You think you can take me? Go ahead. Try.”
His smile melted away. “I do not wish to take you. Death does. And he’s standing right behind you.”
The moment he said that, my mind couldn’t help thinking about that night when Randall attacked me and he died, and also the night I killed King. Serina had shown up for the second one, so she’d seen my handiwork.
Serina’s mouth flapped for a moment. “But she…I thought she was…”
“What?” King said, all cockiness. “That Jeni was just another little Seer who channeled energy or predicted the future?” He shook his head. “Who do you think brought me back from the dead after twenty-five years, Serina? Who resurrected me from the bottom of the ocean?”
“You had that ring on,” she argued.
He shook his head no. “You witnessed it yourself the other day when you encountered me with Jeni in my warehouse. No ring. Yet here I am. So choose. Death or life?”
“But what did I do—what’s death want?” She sounded like a child trying to whine her way through getting caught.
“Like the other members of Ten Club, you have been meddling in things you should not. Death wants its pound of flesh, Serina.” He leaned in. “Everything comes with a price.”
“What about you? You’re the biggest offender. You’re a thousand times worse than me.”
“That is not your concern.” He drew a slow breath and stared at her with a drab expression.
Serina didn’t flinch.
“Very well.” He looked at me. “You know what to do.”
“I’m going. I’m going!” Serina started to leave.
“Wait,” I said to King. “That’s it? She fucking has my dad. She tortured and killed him!” Her actions couldn’t go unpunished!
King said nothing. No emotion on his face.
“You’re an evil bastard,” I said to him and rushed after Serina. “You bitch! Give me back my dad!”
She turned just before reaching the front door and held out her hand. I felt a sharp pain inside my head like she was pushing my brain through my eye sockets.