Page 142 of Kings & Queen

I could only imagine what she thought about her son’s perceived behavior toward me. Ignoring the urge to explain it, I pulled out my phone. I waited patiently for him to answer, and the words rushed out of my mouth the minute he did.

“Alek, can I ask a huge favor?”

“What’s up? I’m super busy right now.”

Music pumped in the background, and I wondered what he was doing. “I know, and I won’t keep you. But your parents are going to dinner tonight, and I was wondering if I could go with them?”

“Kitten, it’s not a good idea.”

“Oh, okay. You’re right,” I mumbled, looking at Sophia. Shaking my head, I sighed. I really wanted to go.

“Young lady, give me that phone,” she exclaimed, snatching it from my hand.

“Aleksandr, your father and I are taking Kinsley to dinner this evening.”

I sat there dumbfounded as she continued to argue with him, not giving in to whatever he was saying to her.

“There is a 100 percent certainty that you’ll be joining us for dinner this evening,” Christopher said while aiming an amused expression at his wife.

“I’m not so sure, Alek was pretty adamant.” I was a little terrified by this side of her.

“Uh-huh, except he’s no match for his mother.”

I laughed as she said, “Aleksandr, she’s going. Now, you stop barking at me like that. I don’t care what you and your brothers say. If you can’t give me a better reason than ‘because I said so,’ then I refuse to listen to a word you say.”

She paced, voicing her convictions. With each step, her face grew more and more animated. She shook her head and looked at Christopher in exasperation.

“I hear your words, Son, but she wants to go. You can’t keep her locked up in the house. She isn’t Rapunzel.”

She paused, then rolled her eyes at whatever he was saying. Her face grew even more animated, and I almost choked at her next words.

“Really? Really? Well, I don’t see a ring on her finger, so there’s that. I don’t care. She isnotyour property, no matter what you say. She’s an independent young lady who doesn’t need a father to tell her what she can and can’t do.”

A flicker of amusement danced in her eyes, almost making me laugh. I just barely managed to stifle the impulse.

“Well, tonight she can call your fatherDaddyif Nikolai believes that. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life.”

Her words had me blushing ten shades of red, a blend of surprise and disbelief swirling through me. If she only knew how frequently I called her sonDaddy, she’d die. Across from me, Christopher’s laughter erupted, echoing through the room. His amusement only frustrated Sophia. She raised her hand and cut through the air in a gesture for him to stop.

“You tell Nikolai that comments like that will get his name moved right up my shit list. Oh, don’t you worry, Son, you’re still number one on it. Sheiscoming with us,” she seethed, out of breath.

“She is going to get me in trouble.” I laughed.

“Probably. They’re very protective of you. Tell me something. Do they have a reason to be?” He fixed a curious gaze my way. And from the depths of his blue eyes, so much like my Reaper’s, I noted an awareness there.

If I had to bet money, I’d say he knew something significant about me and my life. The picture of the men. Would he know who they were? I had put them from my mind, so much so that I had forgotten they existed. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter who they were—not when I had plans already.

“Not really. I mean…I don’t…No.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, they like being in control, is all,” I said, trying to sound confident in my answer.

With a swift motion, Sophia thrust my phone into my hands. The look on her face was complete triumph and satisfaction.

“Hello,” I said, my voice trembling.

Sophia turned her attention to Christopher, their eyes locked in a silent exchange. A sense of pride shone in his gaze. They practically screamed “Good girl.” Alek’s voice pulled my attention.