Lord King (The King)

Not that I believed evil existed solely because Ten Club was created. It was like King had said: evil would always exist. But this? Ten Club was a cancer.

In short, my options were to stop the Seers or let things happen. Neither sounded great.

After a short plane ride on King’s private jet, which he’d so generously left on standby for me back in Miami, I arrived to my dad’s house via Uber.

Funny. Why did I say “my dad’s” house? I still lived here. Officially. Maybe it didn’t feel like my home anymore because I’d changed so much. A few weeks ago, I was nothing more than a little mouse everyone wanted to stomp on.

I lugged my suitcase to the front door of our dark green ranch-style home with neatly pruned trees and a freshly mowed lawn. It was wonderful to have the house like this again. For months after Dad’s accident, the yard was a nightmare of weeds. Inside hadn’t been much better. But with Dad laid up and me working all the time, cleaning and yardwork had taken a back seat. Now everything looked spotless and cheery. It felt good having Dad back, living life and driving trucks again. Work was important to him.

“Dad? Where’re you? I’m home!” He was supposed to be off on Sundays.

“Jeni, that you?” he called out. “In my bedroom!”

I followed the short hallway past my small room, where I parked my suitcase and purse, before entering the master. My father was doing arm curls in the mirror by the closet, his sandy blond hair all sweaty.

I tried not to laugh. “Hey. What’s going on?”

“Ah. Trying to get a little muscle tone. Impress the ladies, yanno? Watcha doing home so early?”

I’d lied and told him I’d taken a temp job in San Francisco for a few weeks because my boyfriend, King, was considering relocating. I wanted to try the city on for size.

I sat on Dad’s springy queen-size bed. “Actually, I came home because I need to talk.”

“Uh-oh. I know that look, Jeni. Something’s wrong.” His light brown eyes went wide, and he set the dumbbell on the floor. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

Damn, Dad. Can’t you let me work up to that? With a sigh, I looked down at the floor. “Yes, but—”

“Jeni!” Dad darted over and leaned down, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. “I knew you and King were a good fit. The way he looked at you—I know love when I see it.” He let me go.

King did not love me. But when Dad had met him, King still had no recollection of Mia. Whatever desire he’d felt for me then was long dead now, never to be resurrected. Unlike him.

“He’s not in love with me, Dad. That’s why I’m here.” I exhaled sharply, dreading this conversation. “I need your advice.”

Dad sat next to me on the bed. “You’re not thinking of getting rid of the baby, are you?”

“No. Not at all.” I placed one hand protectively over my stomach.

“Good. Because I’ve always wanted to be a grandfather, so if you’re worried about support, I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

God, I so loved that about him. It was why he and my mother had been inseparable. Two peas in a pod. They were “give until it hurts” kind of people.

My eyes teared up. I seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Hormones. “Thank you, and you know I’m here for you, too.”

Dad took my hand, and that was when I saw the gold ring. He’s still wearing it. Another reason for me to dread this discussion.

The ring used to belong to King, but he’d given it to Dad in order to heal him. An act of goodwill toward me when King needed my help.

Dad remembered none of the details, because King had put the whammy on him—told him he’d had a bad accident and was all better now. But how would my dad react when I told him the truth? While I slept completely unaware in the other room, King had smothered my dad with a pillow. That was how the ring worked. You wore it, you didn’t age. If you happened to croak, it would bring you back in a shiny new body. This “man” my dad loved so much for me had, without hesitation, snuffed out his life to prove himself.

“Dad, I have so much to tell you. But before I start, I want you to promise two things.”

“Okay.” His brows pulled together.

“Keep an open mind, and don’t have me committed.”

“Jeni, what’s wrong?” His voice was saturated with worry.

“Everything. Everything’s wrong. And the problem is, I’m not so sure if I should change it.” That was the question, right? Do nothing. Or fight to keep everything the same. Total insanity.

“I’ve never seen you like this. What’s going on? If King hurt you, I’ll kill him.”