Page 64 of The Spare (The King Dynasty #2)

Chapter forty

A Mafia Reception

W hat is he doing? I think, narrowing my eyes curiously.

My attention for the last five to ten minutes has been monopolized by a tall, statuesque man with dark-brown hair. He's leaning a shoulder against a stone pillar on the perimeter of the reception hall, occupying the same side Mason and I are standing on, talking with one of his friends.

The man's a handsome guy, from what I can tell by his profile .

He was walking by us when he looked over, distracted by the sound of my mother's laughter. He paused mid-step, and has been cemented in place ever since. Not moving. And that was over five minutes ago.

"Melody, have you heard anything I just said?" I jump as Mason's elegant, slightly accented voice disturbs me from staring.

"What? No." I answer absentmindedly, pushing my flute off at him, refusing to look away from the fascinating man who's a few feet away. "Why won't he just ask her already?" I mumble to myself, folding my arms and tapping my toe.

My eyes slide to where mother stands with William, who's leaned in rather close, putting another glass of wine in her hand.

But he hasn't asked her to dance yet. My face breaks out into a wicked smile, and I decide to stir up some trouble.

Someone's going to ask her to dance tonight if I've got any say in the matter because after my epiphany the other day while we were working out, I've made it my mission to make my mom's life as full as possible.

Starting with getting her laid.

"Careful, Melody, that's your third glass of champagne," Mason warns me.

I hiccup, rolling my eyes. "Whatever, I'm off to frolic in the drama."

"What drama?" he frowns, turning his head to eye the crowd.

"There's always drama at wedding receptions," I tease. "I'm convinced it's all part of the fun. And speaking of…"

"Where are you going?" he asks, tightening his fingers on mine when I take a couple of steps in the Italian man's direction.

"I'm going to get my mom a dance!" I shoot over my shoulder, wagging my brows at him.

Mason gives me a sly smirk, letting my hand go and giving me a wink. "Don't stay gone too long. I'll be looking for you. "

I turn. making my way through the guests and mosey on up to the man who'd stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of my mother. There's two men nearby who look hard at me, and I'm versed enough to know by now that he's got his own security. However, they leave me be, and I turn my attention to him.

He's quite good looking for an older guy. He's so enraptured with staring at my mother that he doesn't even realize I came to stand behind him. Poor guy.

He looks love sick.

I lean into him, tapping him on his arm. "She's single, and her name is Donna," I whisper. "Go ask her for a dance."

His eyes snap to mine, then widen. As do mine at the intensity within his brown irises.

He recovers quickly, his face morphing into a cautious, yet hard mask, reminding me once again that I'm in a room full of powerful men.

I'm a little stuck looking at him, wondering why he seems so familiar to me.

He turns to face me head on in a smooth move.

"Maximus," he says, holding out his hand, and I take it.

"Melody."

Maximus' eyes flick down my face for a second before turning back to resume his prior stance.

"So, how do you know she's single?" He has an Italian accent, and I'm enraptured by the richness of his voice. He waves a hand towards my mom and smiles warmly, and I decide right then and there that I like him.

"Oh, I'm her daughter." I half-laugh at the look he gives me, pulling my hand away and lacing my fingers behind my back.

"You're not Isobel. Can't be," he say sharply, giving me a thorough once over .

"No, I'm not Isobel." I giggle. "Isobel's my sister. See? She's over there." I point to the thick crowd where Isobel stands with Hendrix and Joaquin and his new wife with several security on standby in case anything happens.

I frown, seeing Amelia still hasn't relaxed since they said 'I do' at the alter. She stands next to her husband in her gorgeous white dress, looking a bit like a beautiful deer caught in headlights.

Maximus glances briefly over to where Hendrix is blocking a part of her face. "Nonsense," he says softly. "I'd know Isobel if I saw her."

My brows raise, and I snort.

" Well, obviously not. See, she's right there." I point again. "Gosh, if you pull out a paper and pen maybe I could draw you a family tree," I joke.

Maximus' eyes widen as he steps a little closer and squints, following where I'm pointing.

He goes silent, and I flick my eyes to his, understanding his conundrum.

"I know, I know she looks young, but she's grown, I promise.

" I laugh, placing my hand on his arm, feeling free with him.

"Mom, Izzy and I all do, but she's actually seven years older than me. "

"No, that's… That's not…"" He trails off looking confused. His eyes turn towards me, and he holds my stare unblinkingly for a few heartbeats. Eventually his wets his lips and frowns, tilting his head. "How old are you?"

"I just turned twenty."

His eyes widen, and it's dead silent. Uncomfortably so for several long, drawn out seconds. His head turns back to Mom and William, and a tingle makes its way up my spine at the look that comes over his face as he continues to stare at my mother.

"Is…is something wrong?" I ask hesitantly.

Suddenly I feel like an idiot. What the fuck am I doing trying to set my mother up with a man in a place that's crawling with mafia members? I nibble my bottom lip, feeling stupid.

"If you'll excuse me, Melody," Maximus says in a clipped tone, striding away from me, headed towards my mother who's laughing at something William is saying to her.

The security guys follow, and I frown, looking over my shoulder to see Stephen a couple feet away, and Mason twenty feet away, walking towards me. I whip my head forward again, and pick up the skirt of my dress to haul ass behind Maximus.

I think I manifested the drama unfolding, and it happens as if in slow motion.

William looks over first, seeing us headed towards them.

His eyes narrow as he grabs my mother by the elbow and gestures with his drink towards Maximus, who's moving with more purpose than I've ever seen another person have.

Mom's brow furrows in confusion, then she looks over, her mouth dropping open as she locks eyes with Maximus, and her drink slips out of her hand.

I'm about fifteen feet away when I hear the crystal shatter to the floor at her feet. But what happens next draws me up short.

"Donnatella?" Maximus says in a strained voice, stopping just shy of the glass shards.

Donnatella?

My eyes snap to Mom, but she's stuck in an insanely intense battle of let's-see-who-can-blink-first with Maximus. Looking like she's not even breathing, frozen still as a statue.

"It's so lovely to see you again after all this time. You haven't aged a day. "

Mother stares like a deer caught in headlights, and in the corner of my eye I see Richard striding towards us with Maribel on his arm, both of their faces drawn tight with worry.

Mason's hand slides around my waist to pull me in, and he bends to my ear. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," I whisper back. "I don't know what's going on. I just met this guy, and now he's calling my mom Donnatella!"

He frowns. "Maybe he's got her confused with someone?"

I inch closer as Isobel and King come up beside us, and Isobel has a strange look on her face. She stares hard at Maximus.

Leaning into Mason she whispers out the corner of her mouth, "That man looks familiar for some reason." She glances up at Hendrix, who's already alerting their security to move in closer. "Honey, was this man there when I was rescued?"

"No," Hendrix answers quickly, shaking his head.

"Do you mind telling me who that woman is right there?" Maximus steps back and turns to point at me. His gaze suddenly slides to Isobel, who's eyes widen in shock, before coming back to mine.

"I'm Melody. I just told you-" I reply, but Mom takes a step back and then turns and runs in the opposite direction. My brows rise as Mason and I share a look.

"Melody, I have to tell you something-" Mason starts, but Maximus' loud curse interrupts him, and he runs after her, as does William.

Then Richard and Maribel.

My heart pounds hard, seeing the various guests milling about nearby all turning to stare at us.

Hendrix lifts Isobel into his arms and literally hands her to a security guard behind him, tearing after the two men like his heels are on fire. Mason and I glance at each other before taking off as well, ignoring Isobel calling out for us to wait .

Mason and I are faster than Maribel and Richard, passing them in what looks to be a private hallway away from the main reception area.

I hear them before I see them. Their raised voices lead us to a secluded room in the back of the reception area meant for storing extra tables, clothes, and chairs.

We burst through the door, hurrying in, seeing Mom, Hendrix, William, and Maximus standing in a circle, and so much security you'd think we were preparing for a terrorist attack.

We pause just outside the center of the room, linking our hands together.

Maribel and Richard comes in behind us, as does the security carrying Isobel, who looks terrified out of her mind.

"Hermosa!" Maribel calls out, running to Mom who is shaking her head and crying, not letting anyone near her.

Richard and William stand on either side, trying to touch her.

But Maribel runs directly to her and flings her arm around my mother who's barely standing on her feet.

"Who are you? What do you want?" she says to Maximus.

Mason hauls me to his side so hard it hurts. I gasp, and Mom sees me, becoming more upset.

"Get her out of here!" Mom yells. "Richard, please!" she turns to Richard, grabbing onto his arm.