Page 90

It didn’t matter that Ambre wasn’t an Offering. His father was the King at the time, and whatever Guy wanted, Guy got. He married Ambre, trapping her in Harmony Heights, and when she realized how he’d manipulated her, he trashed her passport so she couldn’t leave. Then she was pregnant with Alexandre, with Bas coming fourteen short months later, and she gave up on leaving Guy.

She never petitioned the Order for an escape, either. However, the old guard turned on the King. Led by my uncle,they decided that because Guy married out of the Order, he wouldn’t be allowed to succeed his father as King. They gave him the choice to abandon Ambre, he refused, and that’s how Jack wormed his way into being Mitch Reynolds’s heir.

Then Mitch… died, Jack took over the Order, and Guy Reynolds did it all for love.

For obsession.

For a woman that he’d sacrifice anything for…

And Jack has hated the Reynolds family ever since.

“How are your parents?” I ask.

“Worried that Alexandre is still going to fuck up the Claiming ceremony deadline. Yours?”

“Vacationing in Hawaii.” I laugh a little under my breath. “They still don’t know I’m married.”

“That’ll be fun when they find out.”

That’s what Bas thinks. “I figure they won’t need to know until Loni has our first kid. They’re so oblivious to anything I do, I doubt they’ll even notice if I shove a crying baby under their noses.”

“Wow, Adrian. I mean, I know you were fucking, but you knocked up her up already? Before the Claiming? I guess that’s one way to make sure she has to accept you, but?—”

“Nope,” I cut. “Not pregnant. Not yet.”

“What’s the matter? You shooting blanks? Or is she insisting on a condom? Some of my girls won’t let me fuck ‘em without one. Ans, sure, they may be Used, but if they ask, you gotta wrap it up.”

Only Bas would casually talk about his hook-ups at a place like Martino’s. And since he is…

“No. She knows better than to think I’ll let anything get between us. Not even a piece of rubber. But she’s got an IUD. For the next two years, I can nut in her whenever I want without worrying about being a daddy before I’m ready.”

“Good shit, buddy. Congratulations.”

I shrug, then gesture over his shoulder with my chin. “You ready to order? Looks like they finally realized I sat myself down.”

“Yeah. I told Walt that I was waiting for a guest. I probably should’ve had you go up front, but that’s fine. I’m not in any rush.”

If I didn’t have that meeting today, neither would. “Do you know what you want?”

Bas looks over his shoulder at the curvy blonde approaching with her order pad. He winks at her. “Hey, Polly. Do me a favor, would you? Put me down for the usual.”

She flushes even as she smiles shyly at Bas. Normally, he won’t use his good looks in his favor, but when he’s comfortable around someone, he can be even more charming than I am.

“You got it, Mr. Reynolds. And for your friend?”

I never even bothered picking up the menu. “I’m not picky. Whatever Bas ordered, that’s fine with me.”

“Two Waldorf salads, dressing on the side. Sparkling water, twist of lime. I’ll put your order right in.”

I look over at Bas.

He gives me an impish grin.

“Sounds great.”

Polly’s flashes a smile my way, far less genuine than the one she gives Bas, and then she’s gone.

“Hey. I got us a table outside on purpose.” He nods at my ear. “You can smoke over here if you want.”