Page 65 of The Spare (The King Dynasty #2)

"Oh my God, am I in danger?" I ask Mason, digging my nails into his arm.

A trickle of fear morphs into something so big and heavy it causes my knees to knock together. Fuck, I'm so stupid. Laughing and telling this stranger every fucking thing about us. Pointing out my mom, my sister and Hendrix.

Fuck, what the hell is wrong with me?

"Who is she, Donnatella?!" Maximus’ voice is stern, no-nonsense. His brow is low, and his face bright red with anger as he points all his frustration on my mother, who looks like her knees are buckling as Maribel wraps an arm around her waist.

"Maximus, this isn't the time or place-" Richard starts, but Maximus turns his head to him and pierces him with an indifferent look.

"Stay out of my way before I have you shot, Richard," he snarls.

"Maximus," Mother cries, taking a shaky step forward. "Please, not like this."

Mason stiffens against me, snapping his head over to look at Hendrix, who makes a low sound in his throat then slides his eyes to Mason, then to me. I tear my eyes away towards our parents, who are literally the center of the fucking drama I was just romanticizing about not even twenty minutes ago.

"Melody," Hendrix and Mason say at the same time, but before they can speak, Richard turns towards me, locking eyes with Mason before snapping his fingers.

"Security, remove my children. All of them. Now," he snaps.

I watch stunned, as every security guard in the room turns, stepping towards us and begins to herd us back towards the open doors behind us but I push back, struggling against Stephen and Dante.

However, I don't struggle for long as Maximus' security flans us from the back, preventing us from retreating.

The next thing I know, everyone's pointing guns at everyone, and Hendrix gets in the face of the security guard directly in front of him. One of ours.

I look at Mason, seeing he's squaring off with Dante and Stephen as well. "If you know what's good for you, you'll back the fuck off," he growls.

"Maximus!" Mom cries, sobbing now.

"No one's leaving here until I have answers. Is that my daughter?" Maximum asks, making my heart skip a beat .

My brows rise, and an eerie hush falls over the room as everyone turns their heads to look at me, even the security.

"No, m-my father's dead," I say, swallowing hard.

"Mom told me my dad was dead." But I stare stupidly over Stephen's shoulder, locking eyes with Maximus, who's turned to look at me.

"My dad is dead, Maximus…" I trail off, feeling goosebumps erupt on my skin as I take in his face a little differently.

Looking into eyes that are shaped like…

Mine.

My lips part, and my heart beats wildly in my breast as I see the leashed anger in his eyes. Then, anger morphs into pain, and he takes a deep breath that hitches in his throat as his eyes visibly well up with tears. As do mine when he advances closer.

"She'd be about the right age," he says softly.

Though his voice isn't raised, his tenor carries throughout the room regardless.

His eyes flicker across my face slowly, as step by step brings him closer to me.

"She has my cheekbones, and she stands a bit like me.

" My lips quiver as I see his eyes are filled with tears.

"And she looks…. you look a bit like my mother. "

In my peripheral I see my mom sink to the floor and I sniff, feeling a tear fall down my cheek. Mason's hand squeezes mine tightly as Maximus puts a hand to Stephen's shoulder and pushes him away gently. He stands in front of me, before putting a hand to my cheek and pressing.

My eyes close as something settles in my chest.

Dad…

"You're so beautiful. And funny…" His voice is choked up as he chuckles through his tears. "That joke you made about the family tree. I guess we'll really need to make one now, huh? Come here, kiddo. Can I give you a hug? "

He tugs at my wrist, and I step into him, letting him wrap his arms around me. I nuzzle into his neck, inhaling his scent. My tears flow down my cheeks and wet his suit jacket as his smell seeps into my consciousness. He smells safe.

Like home.

"Dad," I whisper, squeezing him harder.

His arms band around me, pulling me so tight that I feel his chest swell. "Daughter. I am so, so sorry."

I smile into his neck, pulling away and sniffing again as his hand comes to my face, his thumb wiping a tear from my cheek gently.

"Let her go! You can't have her!" Mother's scream makes my ears ring, and she launches off the floor to run at Maximus.

However, William grabs her from behind, hauling her into the air.

Maximus pulls away from me, turning to the side and watching as Richard and Maribel crowd close, flanking them. "I won't let you take her from me."

He strides to her, and he puts his hand to her cheek, getting close. "I loved you. Why the hell would I do something like that to one of our daughters?"

My brow rises at the look, so intimate that I avert my face to peek a look at Mason, who's pressed against my side and watching the events unfold. My eyes go back to them, though, riveted at the sight of my parents together.

Mom sobs, her lips trembling. "Claudio… Claudio s-sold I-Isobel…" she cuts off, bowing her head and crying, not able to get the rest out. Maximus' eyes go wide, and he turns so fast it makes me dizzy.

"That was you?" he half-whispers, locking eyes with Isobel, his olive-toned skin going white as a sheet .

Isobel nods, her eyes still flickering back and forth between his. He comes closer, tilting his head, putting his hand on his chest. "Izzy, do you remember me at all? I'm Maxy!"

We're all locked in a tense silence, and her mouth drops open as it apparently clicks.

"Maxy?" Isobel wiggles, struggling against Hendrix until he puts her down. Her chin trembles as she takes a few wobbly steps toward Maximus and then flings herself at him, belly and all, causing him to stumble back a couple steps. "It is you! Maxy!" she shouts.

"You all are bad people," Mom whimpers. "All you do is h-hurt us!"

Maximus turns back to Mom, reaching forward for her again. "I'm not a bad person, Donnatella." He sinks to his knees in front of her and cradles her head in his hands. "I got you out, remember?"

Mom's chin quivers as she stares up at Maximus defiantly.

But my brow furrows as something clicks now for me, too. Isobel and I are the only ones who look shocked. But no one else does.

They look at us with pity.

"Wait…" I interrupt as it finally hits me, and my being fills with hurt and betrayal. "You knew? You knew he was alive?" I snap, everyone turns towards me as I take a couple steps closer to my mom. "You knew my father was alive, and you didn't tell me?!"

Her watery eyes turn to me. "Melody, I'm sorry…" she says, standing back to her feet.

My head snaps to the side as Isobel gasps, grabbing at her tummy and looking down. My eyes widen at the sight of water splashing on the floor between her feet. "Shit!" she says, bending at the waist.

"Fuuuck," Mason breathes, sliding his hand into mine.

"Yeah," I huff. "Fuck is right."