Twist of Fate (Kings of Chaos 6)

“Why even mention it?”

“She was spilling her guts to me, and I felt like I was lying to her. It didn’t jive. This isn’t some girl I’m banging. I love her.”

“Holy shit. Has Prince Charming found Cinderella?”

“She’s more like Maleficent ... not evil, just misunderstood and not about to take anyone’s shit. She’s a black lipstick and black clothing then flowing gowns and glass slippers.”

“Jeez, look at your face.”

“She showed me the future I could have. I can’t let her go. I knew she was upset.”

“What happened?”

“She said she wasn’t sure we could fix things between us.” I gesture to the curly haired blonde behind the bar.

“What can I get you?” the blonde asks.

“Bring me a bottle of whiskey.”

“I’ve been where you are. You have to give her time to digest. You blindsided her with the life and a misguided youth. It’s a lot to take in. Didn’t you say she was a bit sheltered?”

“Thanks to her control freak father, yeah?” The blonde returns with a bottle and sets it down with a shot glass. “My thanks.” I raise the bottle in salute.

“So give her time.”

“It’s like my arm has been cut off. I sleep for shit, and I can’t help expecting the worse. It’d be poetic justice if she left me.”

“You can’t think like that. It’ll drive you crazy. You want to do this long term?”

“I’d kill any man who tried to take my place.”

He chuckles. “Oh yeah. You got it bad. Hunker down, drink some beer, stay calm, and remind her why she can’t live without you every chance you get. You’ll wear her down, and if it’s not real, you’ll get tired of it.”

“You don’t think this is karma?”

“No, little brother. If anything you’re owed not the other way around. You got failed. I know you don’t feel that way, but it’s true. I can repeat myself like a broken record, and it won’t matter until you decide to make your peace with it.”

“How did you?”

“I knew I was going to let anything get in the way of me and D’Rose. I always knew she was going to be my wife one day. The thing I regret most in my life is leaving her standing at that altar alone. I know it couldn’t be helped, but she went around for years thinking I didn’t want her. I’ll never forgive Dad for that.”

“How did she get over everything?” I ask cautiously. My father had made his wife’s life a living hell going up. The only brown-skinned baby born to a brother, she’d been a target for his racism and spite.

“I don’t think she ever will. What was done was despicable. It’ll never be okay. She moved past letting it affect her life. As a counselor, she’s equipped with a lot of coping mechanisms. You should bring her up and let her meet Dixie. She’ll break her in gently.”

“I think I’ll take you up on that,” I say thoughtfully. D’Rose might be the only person who could answer her questions.

Joel pulls his phone out of his cut and snickers. “Speak of the devil.” He answers the phone. “Hey. … Yeah, my brother is right here. You want to talk to him?”

‘Xia’ he mouths, handing me the phone.

“Hello?”

“I don’t like the way we left things. I do love you, Shayne. That’s never been in question. I’m still trying to deal with everything, and I’m mad as hell at you for lying. I thought you were the one person I could trust to be straight with me. When everything around me was going to hell in a handbasket with my family, you were my rock. Finding out you had a completely different life and a questionable past shook me. I don’t want you to go off pissed and do something stupid.”

My lips twitch. “And you think you don’t know me.”

“Oh, God, am I already too late?”