Page 107 of Villainous Kingpin

Our father wiped that shit out. Just as he did everything soft in our lives.

I still remembered her hiding underneath my bed, begging for a bedtime story so she wouldn’t have to hear the screams.

“Isn’t there a wife you need to find?” she retorted sarcastically. Nobody else would dare to suggest that. I’d gut them alive.

The notion of taking any other woman to bed was sickening. Love and affection had no room in our world. I had gotten a taste of it and it ruined me. For anyone else.

The rational part of me understood I couldn’t remain single for the rest of my life. The sooner I secured an heir, the less chances of my father declaring another heir. He took another mistress after Thalia and the rumor was he was trying for another kid.

Because Emory and I were his greatest disappointments. Like I gave a fuck.

“No.” Okay, as far as conversations went, this wasn’t that great. I knew I had to marry, secure an heir. But fuck if I was in the mood for it.

There was only one woman that made me want to make that leap.

Out of the blue, Emory jumped to her feet and grinned.

“We’re watching the Olympics tonight,” she announced.

Dante and Priest snorted. I agreed with the sentiment, but I knew Emory always wanted more out of life than this life of the underworld. It was the least we could do. Grant her an evening watching the Olympics.

Fuck, it will be a long night.

The large fifty-inch screen came on and the broadcaster's enthusiastic voice filled the room.

Jesus H. Christ.

Dante, Priest, and I shared a glance. Dante rolled his eyes, smirking. He thought Emory was corny. He wasn’t off base, but we loved her. Priest quickly wiped a hand across his mouth in a poor attempt to hide his amusement. He knew Emory would try to kick all our asses if she caught us laughing at her.

I should just come up with some poor-ass excuse and get the fuck out. If I said it was time to go hunting for Russians or anyone, they’d all believe me.

My mind made up, I stood up and adjusted my cufflinks. I opened my mouth to excuse myself for the night when the commentator started blabbing again.

“The next team is our ice princess darling Star Flemming and her partner Derek Konstantin.”

“Oh my gosh,” Emory gushed. “These two are everyone’s absolute favorites. She’s so fucking good at it, already won an Olympic gold medal in singles when she was barely seventeen.”

I shot an agitated look at the television and nothing would have made me happier than to shoot the goddamn thing so it would go off. The audience cheered and screamed like new gods were born.

A pair stepped out onto the ice and Emory squealed, reminding me of the young girl she used to be a long time ago.

“Star had some rough times lately, but I know she’ll come out on top.” Emory must have been her number one fan. Wonderful, from underworld to a fanatic.

I stood frozen, unable to look away. The two figures glided in perfect harmony, hand in hand. Dark hair and golden sunshine. Hair of the spun gold and light green eyes stared at the screen.

She was on television.

The familiar bright smile on a woman’s face that I used to know so well. Her unruly blonde curls pulled up in a tight bun. She was slightly thinner, but it was unmistakablyher. The only woman I had ever wanted.

The woman I had been desperately searching for.

“Yesterday the pair skated effortlessly. These two are amazing together! What chemistry!”

The commentator on the screen cooed in excitement as snippets of their yesterday’s performance flashed across the screen. Twists. Spirals. Jumps.

Fucking Christ. No wonder her legs were so important to her. Images flashed like polaroid through my mind. The first night when she offered me five hundred bucks to catch her, claiming her legs were valuable. Her odd ballet lessons. The day we met at the ice skating rink but she certainly didn’t give the impression of being a champion.

Yet, now as I watched the screen, every move on ice reflected a professional figure skater. I didn’t know jack crap about ice skating, though you didn’t need to know much to see that the performance yesterday was good.