Page 46 of Sins of a King

“And what excuse did she give you? She didn’t tell me anything.”

“That’s all I can say about it then. It’s for Ash to tell—when she’s ready.”

“My parents are not happy.”

“Yeah, I can imagine.”

John came from old money. Marrying him would’ve pleased her parents. Maybe she hadn’t really loved him after all, and that’s why she had cheated on him. I knew it wasn’t as simple as that, but only Ash could enlighten us.

“I think I’m ready for a real drink,” Jack said.

“There’s a bottle of rye. Help yourself.”

While Jack rooted around in my kitchen, the shrill sound of the buzzer filled my tiny apartment. I hopped up and pressed the intercom button. “Hello?”

“It’s me.”

His sensual brogue wasn’t diminished in the slightest by the old, crackling speaker. His voice had desire licking along my nerves, but it came with a bout of anger, too. I hadn’t seen Flynn in the three days since he’d abandoned me in his casino in the name of business. Not even a text or phone call to apologize for never returning. I understood that things in life came up, but to go completely silent? It was rude. And I’d had nothing but time to stew over his absence.

“I have company,” I said, trying not to snap. I didn’t want to be a shrew, yet I didn’t want him to think he could just show up and I would be there waiting for him.

“If it’s Ash, I’d like to come up and say hello.”

“Not Ash.”

There was a pause on the other end of the intercom and then, “Is it her brother?”

“Yes.”

Another pause. “I still want to come up.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Can we not have this conversation while I’m outside and you’re in your apartment?”

“You can’t just show up here and expect me to be available—”

“What’s going on?” Jack asked from somewhere behind me.

I released the intercom button and turned to him. “That was Flynn.”

“He comes to your apartment.”

“Yes.”

“What’s going on between you two?”

“I don’t know,” I said truthfully. We were in some kind of gray area where the rules changed on a daily basis. I couldn’t keep up, and it was exhausting.

“You should let him in. I’ll go,” Jack said, setting his glass of rye on the coffee table.

“No. Please stay.”

“I don’t think that would be good. For any of us.” He came to me and briefly kissed my cheek. “I’ll keep you posted about what my guy finds. Okay?”

I nodded and was getting ready to see him to the door when there was a knock. “I didn’t buzz him in.”

“Well, someone did,” Jack said, shrugging on his light jacket.