Page 87 of We Three Kings

Balthazar

“Son, I—”

Too fucking mad to care about disrespecting the man I used to idolize, I flip my palm up at my father. “I don’t want to hear it.”

He slams the sides of his fists down on my desk where I’ve been ignoring him for the past hour as I failed at attempting to work and he succeeded in driving me fucking crazy as he paced.

Fuck that.

He wants to fight, we’ll fight.

I shove out of my chair so hard the wheels squeal across the hardwood. “What? What the fuck can you say that will fix this?”

The anger pulsing in his body matches mine, and he snarls at me. “If you give her time, she’ll accept this. She’s the one who freaked out and wanted to leave, remember? I didn’t do a damn thing. So it’s not me, it’s her. She wants us too but is just scared of admitting it to herself.”

Damn it. I wasn’t there but my dad doesn’t lie. If he said he didn’t make a move on her, then he didn’t. She spooked herself.

Because she wants us too.

The jealousy I expect doesn’t explode inside me. If my father says he feels that way about her, he’ll love her the way I do. He won’t be selfish or try to steal her away. We’ll figure out a way that works for all of us.

Once she lets us.

I grab the arm and yank my chair back, dropping to the worn leather. We’ve disarmed and avoided a nuclear meltdown.

For now.

The wick might light again from what I inform him. “I will try to be patient but if she won’t acceptus, I’m going to fight for her to take justme.”

His steps cease but he remains mute. With his back to me, I can’t read his expression. Doesn’t matter. She’s mine. “You and London set this up and I’m following through. She’s perfect for me as a wife and you as a daughter-in-law. I won’t risk losing that.”

Seconds pass without a response. I guess the conversation is over until he sighs.

“If she doesn’t want me, then she has to tell me that herself. If she does, I’ll accept it.”

His answer pisses me off. The burden shouldn’t fall on her for him to back down. Especially since she’s such a soft heart and would never want to hurt his feelings.

Knowing her, she’d probably accept him to avoid any confrontation. I open my mouth to tell him exactly what I think about his edict, when my phone pings.

Angel.

As I read her message, I swear I can hear the anguish in her words. She’s heartbroken and trying not to do the same to us.

Motherfucker.

“She broke up with me.”

Technically, us. But right now I’m pissed as hell and only care about myself since he’s the one who ruined this for Seraphina and me. “I’m going over there.”

Too busy arguing with him, I wasn’t watching her the way I should have been. I promised myself I would never make that same mistake again after motherfucking Casey. But I can’t lie. The thought of losing her has me out of my mind and not thinking clearly.

I tap the icon for the cameras and scan her small apartment.

Empty.

My pulse scorches my body.

Where the fuck is she?