Kingdom Fall

One

The words “my wife” rang in my head. Even I was surprised I’d said it. After the judge had suggested Lizzy sleep off her intoxication, she’d protested wildly. She’d gone as far as performing an unrequested sobriety test by walking in a straight line and touching her nose with her eyes closed, which convinced the judge. We’d been married on the spot.

What came the next day had changed everything. When she found out who I was, she was pissed. The marriage license had been on the judge’s desk, but she’d been focusing on my unusual middle name of O’Conchobhair and drunk enough not to notice the rest.

After her declaration that we were done, I’d expected a letter from a lawyer requesting an annulment. When that hadn’t happened, I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know why I hadn’t gotten a lawyer to end the farce of a marriage either.

“Your wife? You’re married?” Kalen asked while Griffin gave me a hard stare.

My keys bit in my palm as I squeezed my hand into a fist. I didn’t owe either of them an answer. More importantly, we were wasting time. Lizzy had been taken. I marched toward my car, prepared to take any action necessary to get her back.

I released my fist, not wanting to draw blood. The keys dangled in my hand and that was how Kalen was able to snag them away from me.

“You are in no condition to drive, Connor,” he said, and my glare had no effect. “How many drinks have you had? Do you want to get arrested and sit on the sidelines while Griffin gets your lassie back?”

“Wife,” I grumbled, knowing he was right.

“Wife. I’ll drive you—”

“To my place,” I said, reaching my Dodge Viper.

It was weird getting in on the passenger side. For the first time, I was riding, not driving.

“I might have to get one of these,” Kalen said as he settled behind the wheel. “Is it still a one-of-a-kind?”

He was a car collector and mine was a concept car I’d been able to get my hands on. But that didn’t matter. “Just drive,” I groused.

He said something in Scottish Gaelic I couldn’t understand. I wished I spoke more of the Irish Gaelic my mother hadn’t bothered to teach me so I could say something back he wouldn’t get, and we’d be even.

Thank fuck, Kalen drove with purpose. Then again, he, out of anyone, would understand the fear I felt, considering what he’d gone through with his new wife.

“Griffin will meet us there.” Before I could object, he continued. “There’s nothing there. I don’t know what you heard, but Griff and Lizzy are just friends.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him. I also didn’t think he was lying. Though Griff had grown up with Kalen like brothers, something I hadn’t had, I trusted K. My guess was he didn’t know the extent of Griffin and Lizzy’s relationship. It was even possible Griffin hadn’t told him all of it.

At boarding school, I’d had a few allies, but never friends. My fate had been sealed on my very first day. That day, I’d been taught to trust no one. After Eliza’s betrayal, my circle of trust was down to just three: me, myself, and I. If it wasn’t for Bailey, Kalen and I wouldn’t be where we were today. He’d never admit it, but I was sure the woman had thawed his heart with her golden one. She’d likely nudged him to work on being the brother I’d never had. He’d gotten lucky with her.

“Connor,” Kalen said.

I glanced up to see we were at the security gate of my garage. I handed him the card key and rattled off the string of numbers he needed to gain us passage inside. As the gate closed behind us, I smiled. Griffin would be forced to look for parking. At a time like this, it was the little things that kept you going.

Only I spotted Griffin ducking under the gate before it fully closed. He’d grabbed his car and caught up with us in time. I sighed and caught Kalen’s grin.

“Sorry, little brother. We’ve got your back.”

I didn’t think Griffin did, but he was a professional. Otherwise I wouldn’t contract security for my club out to him.

By the time I exited the Viper, Griffin had caught up to us.

“Your presence isn’t needed,” I grumbled before eating up the distance to the elevators.

“I could say the same,” Griff said, catching up to me.

Kalen held up a hand. “Stop. This is for Lizzy.”

Our silent truce lasted until we stepped on the elevator.

“Does Bailey know where you are?” I asked Kalen. “It is your wedding night.”

He glared at me and held up his phone. Apparently, he was texting his bride. “Even if she didn’t, I know my wife. She’d want me to find her best friend above anything else.”