Page 33 of Wild King

“She’s inside. Do you mind me asking what you need her for?”

The gigantic man picks up his suitcase and begins walking away without answering me. I have no choice but to follow him since this is the most excitement I’ve had all day here at prison. He has to nearly bend over to get through the front door, and as he makes his way through the house, I can’t help but be thankful my grandparents decided on ten foot ceilings.

I point toward the office and say, “Maybe down that hallway. Do you know Salem?”

He shakes his head. “No, but I’m told I’m supposed to report to her.”

Rage begins to build inside me. So he’s not her boyfriend. He’s here to work for her, and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s doing something that’s going to piss me off.

He practically blocks the entire doorway to the room where she’s working, so from behind him I loudly say, “Salem, this guy seems to think he should be here. What the hell is this about?”

I can’t see her but she answers, “I’m not sure. Who are you?” she asks the giant currently doing his best impression of a wall.

Finally, he offers more information than his name. “I’m Nathan, and I’ve been hired to work here for the next three months. Matthias told me to report to you when I arrived. It’s nice to meet you.”

Fucking Matthias! Of course, he’s behind this. Is Nathan supposed to keep me in line during my incarceration? What the fuck is he? A bouncer? Great. Nothing like having your own personal security guard with you twenty-four seven.

I slip under the giant’s arm into Salem’s office and barely contain my anger at this news as I say, “Did you ask for this? Do you really think you need a guard to protect you from me? Trust me, lady. I have no interest in anything that has to do with you.”

Her eyes wide, she shakes her head. “No! I have no idea what’s going on. Give me a minute to find out. I’m sure it’s nothing bad. Just give me a second to get Matthias to explain this.”

I don’t believe a word she says, but I’ll wait to hear what that rotten brother of mine has to say. She gets him on a video call, and I swear I want to throw her laptop across the room when I see his smug face staring back at me through the screen.

“Hey, Salem. What’s up?”

“Hi, Matthias. A man named Nathan just arrived. He says he’s here and you know why. I’m confused. What is his job supposed to be?” she asks sweetly.

It takes every ounce of willpower to stop myself from exploding as I wait for him to explain just what the fuck is going on. The behemoth stands just inside the door staring at me like I’m something he plans to either crush or eat. I can’t decide which, but I’m leaning toward him eying me up at his afternoon snack.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to call you about this. Nathan is there to ensure Kellen stays put. My brothers and I thought you could use some backup since we don’t want you to have to physicallyforce him to stay there. He’ll be staying in one of the bedrooms upstairs, and if there are any problems, I’ve told him he has permission to handle them appropriately.”

Each word my brother utters makes me hate him more than I ever dreamed possible. He hired a bodyguard to make sure I stay put? Is he fucking kidding?

I step in front of Salem and glare at Matthias with his goddamned smile that makes me want to kill someone. “You hired this guy to force me to stay here? I swear to God when I get the chance I’m going to show you how pissed off this is making me.”

“We want to make sure Salem can do her job.”

That answer only enrages me more. As if I’m going to be a hindrance to her doing her job.

“You better sleep with one eye open, brother. That’s all I’m saying.”

He starts to explain himself, but I’m not interested in hearing any more of his bullshit. It’s only going to make me angrier. I storm past the mountain called Nathan and upstairs to my room, slamming the door behind me.

Not that a closed door could keep that guy out.

Pacing back and forth across my temporary bedroom, I feel like the top of my head is going to blow off I’m so enraged. Who the hell do my brothers think they are sending a guard to make sure I stay here?

It’s not my brothers. It’s only Matthias. He may claim it’s all three of them, but it’s him. I know it. Ever since he took over as head of King Industries, he’s been a megalomaniacal tyrant. Why my father gave him so much power baffles me. He created a monster, and I’m the one he’s tormenting the most.

Whatever he and Salem think they’re doing, all I know is I’m never going to forgive either of them. And when I get away from here, I don’t want to see them or my other brothers ever again.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Salem

I closemy laptop after my video call with Matthias ends and turn around to face my new housemate. Wow, he is big. Even his head is big, and I swear even though his blond hair is short, there’s more of that than on other people too. I have to tilt my head back so far to look up at him my neck hurts. Where did Matthias find this guy?

“Sorry. Things are a bit in flux here at the moment,” I say, unsure how to explain that Kellen hates me, even though I’m trying my best to make sure he’s welcome in society again sometime soon.