Page 56 of Cannon (King Family Saga #3)
The opening night of Queenstown B&B was going well.
I stood on the balcony overlooking the main hall of Queenstown Luxe, watching the crowd below as they mingled, glasses of champagne catching the light from the crystal chandeliers.
Her vision had finally come to life. The old Victorian mansion had been transformed into something magical, something that belonged entirely to Queen and me.
The grand opening was everything we’d planned for.
Photographers from upscale travel magazines snapped pictures of the restored woodwork, the custom spa facilities, the gourmet kitchen where our executive chef prepared farm-to-table cuisine.
The buzz in the industry had been building for months, with waiting lists already stretching into next year for the luxury wellness retreat that promised both exclusivity and healing.
I adjusted my custom-tailored suit, still not entirely comfortable in clothes this expensive despite my bank account. Old habits die hard. When you’ve spent years surviving on nothing, it’s hard to feel natural in thousand-dollar shoes.
“There you are.” Queen’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as she glided toward me, looking like a goddamn goddess in her gold floor-length gown that hugged every curve. “Hiding from our guests?”
I pulled her close, breathing in her scent. “Just watching. Taking it all in.”
She followed my gaze down to the crowd. “Can you believe we actually did it?”
“You did it,” I corrected, pressing a kiss to her temple. “This was your dream.”
Queen leaned into me, her body warm against mine. “Our dream now.”
Below us, I could see Nori holding court near the bar, already three drinks in but handling herself like the businesswoman she’d become.
Sylk Road’s rebrand under her ownership had been a massive success, transforming the strip club into one of Harlem’s hottest nightlife destinations.
She caught my eye and raised her glass in a silent toast.
ZaZa stood nearby in deep conversation with one of our investors, her gestures animated as she explained something about the property’s sustainable energy systems. At twenty-two with her business degree nearly complete, she’d grown into a confident young woman who’d somehow managed to finish school and was working as a choreographer in New York.
“Hunter and Josiah look handsome,” Queen said, nodding toward the two boys standing awkwardly by the dessert table in their first suits.
I felt the familiar ache whenever I saw them, the bittersweet knowledge that they weren’t mine to raise, but they were still part of my life.
At twelve and seven, they visited during school breaks and summers, helping with the horses and exploring the property’s trails.
Mia had kept her word about keeping me involved, and for that, I’d be forever grateful.
“They’re growing up fast,” she continued.
“Too fast,” I agreed, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
Across the room, I spotted my brothers, Riot and Creed, standing with their wives.
They’d been my unexpected allies these past couple of years.
Blood I never knew I had until Tessa’s letters found me in prison, revealing the truth about who my father was—a powerful man murdered by Silas before I was born.
Riot caught my eye and raised his glass, that trademark King smirk on his face. Beside him, his wife Allure glowed in a silver dress that hugged her pregnant belly. Their second child. My niece or nephew.
Creed stood more reserved as always, his arm around Sloane’s waist as they chatted with some investors. They’d been instrumental in getting Queenstown Luxe off the ground, leveraging King Industries’ connections to secure permits and contracts that would’ve taken years otherwise.
“The Banks just arrived,” Queen whispered, squeezing my hand. “You ready for this?”
I took a deep breath, my eyes finding the small group that had just entered the main hall.
The Banks. My father’s family. People who shared my blood but knew nothing of my life until recently.
Four siblings I’d never met until six months ago when I decided it was time to connect all the pieces of my past.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, straightening my shoulders.
The Banks ran the DMV and up until recently thought their father died in a regular car crash. I let them know that it was Silas King who tampered with his brakes and made the deadly crash happen. We’d talked a few times but we were all apprehensive about getting to know one another.
But I was growing and maturing in new ways. I wanted to know my family and reconnect to all the things that were stolen from me. And so far, I knew they were forces to be reckoned with.