Page 22 of The King's Boy

Spencer's mouth dropped open. "You can't just decide that."

I smirked and let out a little snort. He didn't know me very well if he thought I ever asked permission before doing something. Yes, I took orders from those back in Ireland, but only if I felt that they were the right orders.

I never did anything I truly did not want to do. It didn't make me a lot of friends, but I didn't care. I refuse to compromise my personal moral code for anyone.

Those in charge of the Irish mob weren't always happy with that. My life had been threatened more than once. I usually shrugged and told them to do what they felt they needed to do. I still wouldn't budge.

It wasn't that I cared little for my life. I did. I liked breathing. I just refused to live with regrets.

Taking over O'Donnell's territory was as close to a regret as I had come in years. This place was a complete mess, leaving me to wonder why Ireland had waited so long to remove the O'Donnells from power. They had to have known the O'Donnells were all idiots. I'd yet to meet one with a lick of sense.

"I bought a house." House, estate, same thing. "You'll like it."

Truthfully, I had no idea if he would like it or not, but it was a pretty spacious place considering it was in Queens. I couldn't think of many people that wouldn't like it.

Spencer continued to complain about being kidnapped for the remainder of the drive home, but he made no move to get off my lap. That right there told me that all of his words were merely bluster.

I couldn't have been happier about this turn of events.

When we pulled through the gate of the luxurious estate, Spencer's mouth snapped shut.

"Better than a hotel room."

Spencer nodded absently. "I'm surprised you found a place this big inside the city limits."

I was too.

"I drove past it a couple of weeks ago and liked the look of the place, so I offered the former owners a deal they couldn't refuse."

Spencer glanced at me, one eyebrow raised.

"No," I huffed, feeling slightly insulted. "I didn't kill them. I paid them ten million dollars."

Spencer snickered. "Yeah, that would do it."

"I don't kill everyone I come across, you know."

"Well, you haven't killed me yet, so..." Spencer shrugged.

"You haven't pissed me off yet, so..." Not that I would ever harm a hair on his head, but he didn't need to know that.

Spencer turned to fully face me, a curious look on his face. "Really?"

I frowned in confusion. "Really what?"

"I haven't pissed you off yet?"

"No." If anything, I was amused by his antics. Most people were so careful with their behavior around me, not wanting to offend me or make me angry. Spencer was just Spencer, which I appreciated.

Spencer's grin was blinding. "That is so cool."

Yeah, cool.

More like amazing since most people pissed me off as soon as they opened their mouths. I tended to not spend a lot of time around idiots.

Blood was really hard to get out from under the fingernails.

Once the car came to a stop in front of the large white stucco mansion, the guard at the door hurried down the steps to open the door. I kept Spencer in my arms as I scooted out of my seat and then stood.