Page 39 of The Spare (The King Dynasty #2)

Chapter twenty-one

Everything is Different

" G ood morning, sir," my assistant Taylor greets me as I walk onto my floor at the infamous King Dynasty building.

"Morning, Taylor," I respond, walking briskly past his desk. "It's a great fucking day!"

"Indeed, Mr. King."

I feel absolutely amazing, energized by Melody almost sucking the soul out of my body last night.

I smile, because who would have thought she had all that in her?

Turning the corner, I'm so busy lost in thought replaying last night while heading to my office door when I see it too late. It's cracked.

I stop dead in my tracks and look up at the ceiling on a prayer for peace, feeling that irritation crawl up my spine because he's in there.

Hendrix.

I blow out a deep breath and clench my jaw, trying with everything in me to keep my attitude happy and in check. Pushing through my office door, I walk straight past him where he sits in one of the barrel chairs at my desk, opposite where I sit.

I ignore him, grabbing the remote off my desk, and clicking on the monitors that line the wall opposite my desk.

"Good morning, Mas-"

"What do you want, Hendrix?" I snap, folding my arms and watching the numbers tick across.

"Why do you have to be such a dick, Mason?" Hendrix asks with an irritated look on his face. "I don't understand you sometimes."

"Because," I snap, lowering my eyes to look down my nose at him.

"I literally told all of you not to contact me for awhile, and here we are not even a full forty-eight hours later.

Not only have you disregarded my request and blown my phone up with about a hundred texts and phone calls, you're now smack dab in my fucking face, unwanted. "

Hendrix's expression morphs into one that's weary and long suffering as he takes a deep breath, and then holds his palms up. "Mase, we're family."

"Are we, though?" I say, cocking my head to the side and eyeing him.

He recoils his head and throws me a hurt look, making me feel like an asshole. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean!"

I clench my jaw and work to get a handle on my feelings towards him. The resentment has got to go away at some point. "I'm sorry I said that. It was wrong of me. "

Tense silence becomes almost suffocating before he finally breaks it. "Mason, what do you expect from me?" Hendrix asks softly. "I'm your brother. I've only ever tried to protect you the best I know how."

"Uh, maybe to actually listen to what the fuck I want." I lean forward and narrow my eyes at him. "For once."

He shakes his head, and I see now he looks a little weary. The skin around his eyes is tight, and he's got a harsh set to his mouth. He needs to groom his beard. "I was doing what I thought was the right thing to do."

"Yeah, well, your 'right thing' broke Melody's heart. And hurt me. It almost cost me everything."

"Come on, Mase. Can you cut me a little slack here? Isobel's upset with me that I've kept your feelings about Melody a secret and so is everyone else for interfering."

"You expect me to feel sorry for you, pendejo?" I scoff, pulling out my chair and sitting in it. "Go on ahead and get that notion out of your head because it's not happening."

His fingers drum on the arm of the seat and he clenches his jaw. "So, is she okay?"

I turn on my desk monitor "She's fine. Now get out."

Hendrix stands up, turning to the side and walking to the door without another word. He looks dejected, an expression I don't remember ever seeing before on his face.

I sigh, shaking my head. "The wedding's on Saturday," I call out, seeing him stop in his tracks before turning back hesitantly. His blue eyes meet mine, and I feel bad that I was so viscous with him just now.

I can see he cares; I'm just… hurt.

"Am I still your best man?" he asks in a quiet voice that stuns me.

My eyes freeze on the screen before slowly sliding up to meet his. The fucker knows how to get to me .

My heart strings pull, and I tighten my lips at the feeling. I only like it when Melody does that. "Yes, Henny. Now, please leave me alone so I can get some work done. The market opened five minutes ago."

Some of the dejectedness leaves his features, and his eyes warm up a little. He gives me a respectful nod and then pushes through my door. Leaving me in peace. Not for long though, because my thoughts immediately return to my fiancée.

I pull out my phone, seeing Melody's beautiful face on the screensaver.

It's one I took two years ago on her eighteenth birthday.

She's staring up at a flock of birds flying above us, and her eyes look like liquid pools of honey in the sunlight.

I'd snuck her out of school that day in her second to last week of high school and took her on a picnic at the park.

We talked and laughed all day at everything and everyone.

People watching, getting ice cream. Talking about Mariah, Hendrix and Isobel's daughter.

That's the day she told me she didn't know if she wanted kids.

It's also the day she told me she got accepted into California State, and I'd looked at apartments to be close to her because I was going to follow her come hell or high water. It was the day her heart was broken when she was told no.

I think it's also the day the light started to leave her eyes.

Needing to hear from her, I swipe in my password and pull up our text thread.

How's your first class, love? -Mase

Five minutes later, I'm dumping some stock for a client when the text comes through.

Boring, would much rather be back in bed. -Mel

I bet you would. How many miles did you say you ran this morning? –Mase

She was up before me this morning. I rolled over promptly at five to see her side of the bed empty. A quick trip to my in-home gym room showed her on the treadmill, pounding away at the machine. I immediately got dressed and joined her, lifting weights while she got her cardio in.

I could only manage four today. Not my best. -Mel

I sink deeper in my seat, flicking my eyes to the monitors on the wall and making sure everything's good. I know exactly why she wasn't at her best, so I don't even play coy with her with my response. I'm blunt, letting her know what to expect tonight.

I wouldn't count on you being at your best tomorrow, either. -Mase

The bubbles appear and disappear for five solid minutes before disappearing completely. She doesn't respond. A wicked smile spreads across my face, because I want to dig under her skin and torture her like she did me last night.

I actually think you might need to put it out of your mind that you're going to be at your best for a while, sweetheart. I'm planning on breaking that beautiful cunt in sooner rather than later. -Mase

A knock sounds on my door before it opens, and my mother breezes through. I'm up fast, rounding my desk and holding my arms out to her.

"Madre," I greet, pressing a kiss to her cheek .

"Mijo," she says, flitting her eyes down my body. "I had to come to make sure you were okay."

I place my arm around her shoulders and lead her to the sofa that has the best view of the city. "Do you want a drink, mamá?" I ask, walking over to the drinks cabinet and pulling down a glass without waiting for a reply, mixing her a soda with grenadine. "Have you seen Henny yet?"

"No, mijo, I came straight here," she says, accepting my drink. "I actually came here yesterday too, but your receptionist informed me that you didn't come in."

"No, I didn't. I stayed home with Melody yesterday."

It's only ten in the morning, but I fix a double shot of whiskey, needing it to survive the next hour with my mom.

Though my mother is softhearted, I get my emotional streak from her.

When I was younger and had a hot-headed temper, she was always the one to seek me out, usually hiding out in a random room of the house.

Where everyone else made it worse, she always knew what to say or do to pull me out of it. Sometimes it took hours, but she never left me.

"You didn't answer any of my calls, Mason. I'm hurt."

And there it is.

She doesn't care that I lost my shit in her home the day before, or that I kept a secret from her at all. She only cares that I cut myself off from her.

My eyes flit to my mother's, who's staring at me with a look of carefully veiled pain, waiting patiently.

Walking over, I sit down carefully on the plush cushioned couch across from her, crossing my legs and taking a sip of my drink. Needing the liquor.

"Por favor, mamí," I say, trying to appeal to her gentler side.

It works; her eyes soften just a bit. I look down at my drink.

"You know how hard being in this family has been for me at times.

It wasn't on purpose. I just was angry, and I needed time.

But like everything else, this family never respects what I want.

That is why I'm so fucking upset all the time, mamà. "

My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it.

Mother puts her drink on the table in front of her, getting up and sinking onto the cushion next to me.

She takes a second to smooth her dark blue pencil skirt down her thighs before leaning over so close I can smell her familiar perfume.

Memories of hours spent being held in her arms as she comforted me as a child swamps me with just one smell, causing tears to well up in my eyes.

I blink them back.

She's the only one who knows the depths of my pain, always there for me when no one else cared. But even she couldn't get Father to look at me differently.

Her hand covers mine, and she waits until I bring my eyes back to hers before speaking.

"Mason, we are so proud of you. You've come a long way, and maybe…" she trails off, looking to the side a bit uncomfortably. "Maybe your father could do a better job of showing you so that Henny doesn't feel the need to step in all the time."

I grunt, taking a deep drink of my whiskey.

Because honestly, if I had to pick between Hendrix or our father, I'd pick Hendrix every time over our father's wrath. Truth is, I think Father gave up on me a long time ago. It was only because of Hendrix that I was able to stay afloat long enough to manage to garner any success.

I owe him a lot. A lot more than a lot, especially regarding Isobel.

That guilt I carry that's never far rears its ugly head, causing me to tighten my fingers on the crystal tumbler in my hand. A muscle twitches in my jaw as new emotions swamp me, and I feel even worse about how I treated him this morning.

Mother talks, drawing my attention back to her.

"You know deep down that Hendrix loves you, and he's doing the best he can at trying to fill some very big shoes. Shoes that are almost impossible to fill. And he's trying to make sure that he keeps everything together while he's at it," Mother says with tears in her eyes.

Always trying to keep the peace.

"I know, mama," I say, simply tossing back the rest of my drink.

"You and I both know you aren't telling me anything I don't already know.

" We sit in silence for a minute because I'm unsure of what to say.

I look over at her. "Madre, is everything set for Saturday? Did you get those roses for Melody?"

She breaks out into a bright smile and pats my hand. "Yes, mijo. It's going to be perfect. You better be glad I know a friend of a friend because pulling a glamourous wedding off in three days is no easy feat."

I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm sorry, mamá. I just wanted to give her the wedding of her dreams, considering we've waited so long and all." I glance back over at her. "How much do I owe you?"

Mother scoffs, rolling her eyes and standing up.

"Oh please, your father told me to tell you it was his pleasure.

And let me tell you, it was quite pricey, too.

" She gives me a wink before reaching down and drinking the drink I made her.

"Now," she says, handing me her empty cup.

"My only request is that you stay at the reception dinner. "

I laugh. "I make no promises, mama, but I'll try," I say, getting up and giving her a kiss on the check. I walk her out and watch as she makes her way to the elevator bank, hitting the up button.

Going back to my office chair, I sit back and pull out my phone.

You're going to break me? -Mel

I smile, feeling my dick jerk and swell in my pants.

Oh baby, I'm going to absolutely break you off tonight. All I can think about is your delicious pussy. -Mase

Like I broke you off last night?-Mel

Oh fuck, this woman. I chuckle.

Worse. Way worse. You're gong to pay for your behavior last night. -Mase

You're going to punish me?-Mel

Focus on your class, sweetheart, and get your assignments for tomorrow. You're not going. -Mase

The bubbles pop up quick.

Mase, I can't miss anymore school. I can only miss four days a session. And I already have missed one. -Mel

Well, you're going to miss tomorrow too. -Mase

I put my phone up and go about my day as usual and pick her up from campus at four p.m. on the dot. She tosses her backpack in the backseat and then slides in smoothly.

"Hi, baby," I say, leaning over to give her a kiss. I take her lips thoroughly. She moans into my mouth and puts her hand into my lap, grabbing my crotch. I growl into her mouth, nipping her bottom lip. "You trying to get thrown in the backseat? "

"I don't think you can fuck me right back there," she whispers against my lips.

I pull back. "Is that a challenge?"

Her brows rise, and she flushes, looking nervous. "No."

I smile. "Ah, maybe another time then."

Pulling her hand off my dick, I entwine our fingers as I pull out into traffic. Intent on fucking the shit out of my fiancée as soon as we get home.