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Tears spilled from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. I didn’t even bother to wipe them away, because I couldn’t bring myself to move. My arms felt like they were weighted down on either side of my body and my legs felt like Jell-O.
“Why, what’s happening? I’m going to need to know one hundred percent of what’s going on if you want this to happen.”
Bishop nodded, his palm cupping his mouth and his eyes boring into mine. My eyes stayed locked on his, as though he and I were the only ones in the room. “Katsia is rebelling against the Kings and has gone rogue. We have reason to believe she’s trying to build her own army and plans to either expose us, or fight us, or both.” He leaned forward, his eyes darkening. “You see, I can’t have you here when all this shit blows up, because she will come for you first, and then? She’ll find out about Micaela.”
The realism of everything hit me like a ton of bricks. My legs finally gave way as I curled up on the cool kitchen floor, drawing them to my chest.
“Madison,” my father started, since he had been quiet. “This has to happen. You’re too important.”
Bishop’s boots came into view, but I didn’t look up at him. He knelt beside me and his finger hooked under my chin, tilting my head up to face him. He searched my eyes. “Do you see the importance of this, baby? I could have gone another route to drilling things into your brain, so I really hope you listen to the orders I give you.”
“You were going to break up with me?” I whispered, searching his eyes as more tears overflowed.
He gave me a small smile. “Almost.”
“I’d kill you,” I stated matter-of-factly.
He laughed, his straight teeth flashing, lighting up the room. I didn’t laugh. I didn’t even smile because I wasn’t kidding. “You laugh, but I’m not joking. I can’t—” I shook my head as terror crippled through my veins at the mere thought of Bishop not being mine.
“Hey!” he snapped me out of the spiral that had started to spin inside my head. His thumb pressed over my bottom lip. “Yes, I was going to do that.”
“What changed?” I asked, wiping the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand.
His lip kicked up in a grin. “I remembered that I love you and I promised you that I would change the things I could change—that’s what.”
My heart warmed, and the hiccups that had formed slowly started to subside. “Ok.” I nodded, standing to my feet. “We will go, but where? I’m not leaving the US.”
Bishop shook his head. “No, but I need you way the fuck out of here, somewhere no one would guess… so I have a plan…”
I narrowed my eyes. Nate couldn’t contain his laughter anymore, his chuckles practically vibrating off the walls.
“Good to see your taste in décor is still as shit as ever, Joseph.”
I spun around to see Bishop’s mom standing there, pushing her sunglasses over her short dark hair. Then her eyes came to me. “Hi, sweetie.”
“Oh,” I purred, and then when I registered what she was doing here, my eyebrows shot up. “Oh!”
“Yes! Oh!” She smiled, and then walked to Nate, leaned down, pecking him on his head. “Lucky your taste in women has improved, Joseph.”
My dad rolled his eyes. “Always a pleasure to see you, Scarlet.”
She smirked. “I know.”
Sometimes, I forget that my dad and their generation probably had stories on stories of the drama they lived through being Kings and associates.
Tillie chose this time to enter the kitchen. My eyes automatically flew to Nate.
“Oh, who is this!” Scarlet started toward Tillie with a smile on her face.
“Mom…” Bishop warned. She pulled back, a pout on her lip.
Nate slowly went to Tillie, his eyes remaining on her. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until Bishop said, “Breathe, you’re turning purple.”
I let out my breath.
Nate started. “I hate you. I will always hate you. You didn’t once try to contact me and tell me what the fuck was going on.” Tillie went to open her mouth but his hand flew up to silence her, just then I noticed Tate and Daemon sink into the background. “I’m not finished. I fucking hate you, Tillie. More than I’ve ever hated anyone, and for as long as you live I am going to make your life a living fucking hell, and hey...” His eyes dropped down to Micaela before coming back to Tillie with a sadistic smirk on his face. “Looks like you’re stuck with me for at least eighteen years.” Then he took the baby from Tillie who was visibly shaking as tears rushed out of her. As soon as Micaela was in Nate’s arms, he coos sweetly at her. As if he didn’t just verbally annihilate the woman who gave him his daughter. I get his anger, I understand why, but I’m still fuming for my best friend.