Page 48 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)

Chapter Forty-Seven

Kaleb

I follow my father through the foyer, my eyes tracking his every movement whilst I listen to the sounds of Sophia and Jaylen's footsteps behind me.

As we walk through the hallway, he stops and glances at the steel door to the right, frowning.

"Kitchen is to the left," I tell him, urging him to continue walking so that he hopefully doesn't ask any questions.

He turns to me, raising a brow at my gruff tone, and then continues down the hallway and into the kitchen, where Jericho is waiting for us with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

"Afternoon, Father," he says, nodding at the man before me.

As my father stands in the centre of the kitchen, his eyes scanning every surface, I step to the side and motion for Sophia and Jaylen to walk past me into the kitchen.

Jaylen walks straight over to the fridge, pulls out a plate of food that Myra has prepared, and leans against the counter as he uncovers the food and starts shovelling it into his mouth.

Meanwhile, Sophia hesitantly walks into the room, her hands clasped together in front of her as she walks towards one of the stools at the breakfast bar.

Both my father and Jericho watch her as she takes a seat, and I grind my teeth together as I see my father's cold gaze scan her body.

"Did you find a dress?" Jericho asks, leaning on the counter opposite her.

She nods, lifting her eyes from her lap to look at him.

"Yeah, it's in the car."

"Good. I'll get Myra to bring it inside and have her find me a matching tie," he says, a slight smile on his face as he speaks to her.

I assume he can see how tense she is and is trying to make her feel a little more relaxed.

"Do you have somewhere more private where we can go so that we can talk?"

The smile drops from my brother's face as his eyes slice over to where our father is standing.

"We can talk in here," he states, taking a sip of his drink and standing to his full height again.

My father pointedly glances at Sophia and Jaylen, raising his brows in question.

"We're married, and he is her bodyguard, so it's fine that they're here for this conversation," Jericho says, narrowing his eyes.

"I understand that, but they're King's. They have no business hearing Rossi conversations," my father spits.

My shoulders tense and I clench my fists as anger seeps into my bones when I see his disgusted, venomous eyes on my girl.

"Sophia is a Rossi," Jericho barks loudly, causing Sophia to jump in her chair. "Besides, you were the one that orchestrated the marriage between us that united both families together, so I'll say it again, it's fine to have this conversation here in their presence. If you're not happy with that, then you can leave, and we will have this conversation in your office another time."

My father purses his lips, visibly unhappy with the way Jericho has spoken to him.

"Very well," he grinds out, stepping towards the breakfast bar and pulling out the seat beside Sophia.

He sits beside her and her body stiffens as her head drops back down so that she's staring at the counter.

"Move!" I shout, stepping towards them and fixing my fierce glare on the back of my father's head.

"I beg your pardon?" he says, swivelling around on the chair to face me.

"I said move."

He frowns at me, amusement dancing in his eyes when he sees the evident fury on my face.

"Why exactly should I move?" he asks, tilting his head to the side as he examines my tense stance.

"You're making her uncomfortable," I state.

"Oh, don't be so ridiculous," he replies, chuckling as he turns to her. "I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I sweetheart?"

His arm moves towards her as if he intends to place his hand on her shoulder, and I see red.

A snarl of rage escapes me and I lunge forward, grabbing his arm before his hand can come into contact with her, holding it tightly as I scowl at him.

"You do not touch her," I hiss.

He smirks up at me, twisting his arm to try and loosen my hold, but I don't let go.

"You seem awfully protective over your brother's wife, son."

"You were one of the ones that appointed me as her secondary bodyguard," I grunt. "I'm doing my job."

He yanks his arm towards his chest, but I still remain stoic, digging my fingers into his skin and keeping his arm in my clutches where I know he can't get anywhere near her again.

"Kaleb, stand down," Jericho says, drawing my attention away from the man seated in front of me.

I glower at my brother, subtly shaking my head.

He looks towards Jaylen, motioning with his head in our direction and I watch from the corner of my eye as Jaylen puts his plate down and walks over to Sophia, taking her hand in his and pulling her out of her chair and walking her over to the other side of the kitchen where he was previously standing.

"Stand down," he says again, this time softer.

I sneak a glance at where Sophia's now standing with Jaylen and then slowly retract my hand from around my father's arm and take a step back and my muscles relax slightly now that she's further away from him.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" Jericho asks, walking around the counter and sitting in the seat Sophia just vacated, purposefully putting himself in my father's direct line of sight and blocking Sophia from his view.

My father's suspicious gaze swings my way for a moment before he looks back to Jericho and stands from his seat.

"I just wanted to come over here before the auction tomorrow to make sure that you were all prepared."

"Prepared for what exactly?"

"Well, after the attack on your wedding day and the attempted attack whilst your wife was last out shopping, I think it's safe to assume that the Garcias will know about the auction and be planning something for tomorrow night," he muses, buttoning his blazer and smoothing his hands down the sides.

"I don't think we'll have an issue at the auction, but despite that, I have arranged for extra security to surround the perimeter from both families," Jericho assures him.

"I'm glad to see that you've thought ahead and already adjusted things. I also wanted to make sure you and your wife are prepared for your first appearance together. That is if you'll be allowed to touch her whilst your brother is around."

He smirks at me, expecting a reaction, but I don't give the bastard any satisfaction, keeping my face and body relaxed.

"I have that under control as well. As you heard, Sophia has her dress, I'll have a matching tie and we'll be sure to mingle with everyone at the auction," Jericho tells him, choosing to ignore his comment about me.

"Well, that's great, but you'll have to do more than match each other's attire and walk around talking to people. This marriage has to sell. We need the whole city to believe that this isn't a hoax, and from what I've seen of you two so far, you don't even look like acquaintances, let alone a happily married couple."

"This is the first time you've seen us together since the wedding," Jericho retorts.

"That's exactly the point, son. You haven't publicly been seen together in weeks. I suppose you could pass it off as being in your own little bubble away from the world, enjoying being newlyweds, but it means you'll need to be more convincing tomorrow night. Perhaps I could suggest dancing together after the auction has ended and the music plays, that'll surely look cosy and romantic."

"Like you'd know anything about being romantic," I scoff.

He chuckles and shakes his head finally stepping away from the breakfast bar and looking like he's ready to make his leave.

"I know plenty about making things seem romantic when they're not, I had plenty of practice over the years whilst I was with your mother."

His comment raises my hackles and Jericho shakes his head, silently telling me to settle down.

"Okay," Jericho says loudly, placing his hand on my father's shoulder and guiding him towards the kitchen doorway. "Is that all you wanted to talk to us about?"

"For now, yes, but I think I ought to have a meeting with you both after tomorrow to talk over a few more things," he says as they leave the kitchen and disappear down the hall.

"Oh, thank God," Jaylen breathes, slouching against the counter and rubbing his hands across his stomach as he groans in discomfort. "Please, if we're ever in a situation like that again, don't let me pick up a plate of food to make myself seem busy. I feel like I'm about to explode."

Sophia laughs softly before turning to face me, her wide, blue eyes scanning my face as she slowly walks over to me.

"Are you okay?"

Instead of responding with words, I step forward and open my arms, wrapping them around her and pulling her into my chest.

Her arms wind around me and I sigh as she softly runs her hands along my back.

"Now I'm okay," I tell her, pressing a kiss against the top of her head.

Jaylen makes a sound of disgust from across the room and groans as he stands to his full height.

"You're making me feel sick with all that gooey shit."