Page 46 of The King's Boy

I couldn't believe the relief I felt when I saw Malloy and a couple of other men standing just down the hallway from King's study. "I am so glad to see you." Strangest words I had ever spoken in my life. "Where is everyone?"

Malloy shot a look at the study door before grabbing my arm and leading me back to the entry way. "What are you doing here?"

"I live here."

For now.

"I thought you were shopping."

I waved my hand toward the pile of bags.

"Do you still have King's credit card?"

My brow flickered. "I do."

Why did he care?

"Why don't you go do some more shopping or take your friend Brandy out to dinner?"

I pulled my arm free and crossed it with the other one over my chest. "What's going on, Malloy? Why are you trying to get rid of me?"

"I'm not."

A thread of anger infused my words as I stated, "I may look empty-headed, but I can assure you I am not. What is going on?"

"Business."

"Try again." Business did not explain why there was no one in the house.

Malloy's eyes narrowed as he stared at me, and I just knew he was contemplating wrapping his hands around my throat.

"Just tell me already."

"Fine," Malloy huffed. "King is in a very important meeting with the head of one of the other families. They are negotiation a peace treaty between us and them."

"Okay, so what's the problem then?"

"Someone tried to break into the estate. They have already taken out two of our perimeter guards."

"Is that why no one is in the house?"

"We moved all the house staff to the safe room until we can catch whoever is doing this."

My eyebrows shot up. "They are still out there?"

"I have men searching the estate right now, but it's not safe until we find the intruder."

"What does this have to do with you hanging out around King's door?"

"We need to get word to King about what is going on out here, but we can't let the others know. If they knew there was an intruder on the estate while they were here, it could tank the peace talks."

Malloy dug something out of his pocket and then held his hand out to me. A small black earpiece sat in the palm of his hand. "I'm trying to figure out how to get this to King without the others knowing."

I didn't fully understand why Malloy didn't just go in and whisper in King's ear, but I didn't understand a lot of the shit that went down in the mob world. It was all pretty stupid to me.

"So, you just need to get an earpiece to him?"

"We need to get an earpiece to him and in his ear without anyone else knowing," Malloy explained. "King has no idea what is going on out here, and he needs to know."