Page 1 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

N ash

“She’s awake,” I yelled, looking down at Ren as she licked her lips and glanced around the hospital room. “Do you want some water?” She nodded and tried to sit up. Dropping her hand, I grabbed the remote. “Here, let me, don’t strain,” I said, holding the button until she was upright.

“The doctor is coming,” Edmundo said, and Ren’s eyes moved away from me to her father.

She tilted her head, looking confused. That was the first hint that our fears might be realized. She didn’t recognize him. Edmundo stared back, his relaxed expression never changing, like he didn’t want to give anything away. I had no idea how he managed to remain so calm.

“Here you go.” I picked up the water cup, drawing her attention.

Her movements were slow, but she managed to put the straw between her lips and take a sip. I took the opportunity to pull out my cell and sent out an S.O.S. to the group chat that Ren was awake.

“It’s good to see you awake,” Doctor Boyd said as he walked in.

“I’m Dr. Boyd. I’m sure you have many questions, but first…

” He held out his finger. “Can you grab my finger with your left hand?” Slowly, but accurately, she wrapped her hand around his finger.

“Good, now the other one.” She completed the task once more, and I took a deep breath, not realizing just how fast my heart was pounding until now.

“Very good. Wiggle your toes for me,” Doctor Boyd instructed, and the three of us turned our eyes to Ren’s feet under the white blanket.

The corner of my mouth pulled up when they moved. Fucking Princess—she was a warrior.

“Excellent indeed. Do you know why you’re here?

” Her brow knitted together. Boyd touched her arm.

“Don’t strain, you hit your head, and it’s better if you don’t try to force the thoughts.

” Ren’s lips pressed together, and I almost laughed at the clear ‘ fuck that ’ burning in her eyes.

Dr. Boyd pointed at me. “Do you know who he is?”

Ren looked up at me, but before she could answer, the guys stormed into the room in a mass of thundering feet and shoving. Myles all but hip checked Doctor Boyd out of the way to get to Ren.

She smiled wide when he grasped her hand, and as selfish as it was, I’d wanted that reaction. The nod that she knew me, and the smile that warmed my soul. Myles cupped her cheeks and then kissed her forehead, jaw, and nose, making her giggle.

“My…My…My.” We all froze. Ren looked around, searching our faces, the first hint of panic in her eyes. She touched her throat. “My…My…My.” Ren pushed herself up straighter, terror now the only emotion filling her silvery depths. “My…Mys…Mys.” Ren covered her mouth.

“Look at me,” Myles said, grabbing her face again. “Don’t panic, it’s gonna be okay. Trust me, I promise ya. The doctor said this could happen, and it’s only temporary. Okay? I’ve got ya. We’ve got ya.”

Ren nodded, but she didn’t seem convinced, and the happy atmosphere that had filled the room a moment ago was now tense.

“Can I speak to all of you out in the hallway,” Doctor Boyd asked.

We looked at one another, but no one moved.

“I think it’s best that we let Ren rest. This has been a big shock, and it is very important to her recovery that she not move too quickly.

” Doctor Boyd turned to Ren and smiled. “I won’t steal them long.

I’m very impressed with what you’ve shown so far, and I’ll be back to explain everything.

Is that okay?” Ren nodded. “Very good, I’ll be right back. ”

We slowly filed out of the room, and Doctor Boyd closed the door. We circled the man who held Princess’s well-being in his hands like a pack of wolves. He took off his glasses and cleaned them as he took a deep breath.

“Just tell us, doctor. We need to know,” Edmundo said.

The guys looked at Mr. Genovese as if he’d just appeared out of thin air.

“We suspected this could happen. Now, I must emphasize that you cannot rush any of her memories. You may help with any rehab, including her speech, but again, don’t push. We all want Ms. Genovese to recover as quickly as possible.”

Liam held up his hand. “Whoa…did you say Ms. Genovese?”

Doctor Boyd looked at Edmundo and then me, obviously confused. “Yes, why?”

“No reason,” Liam said, his eyes hard as the guys turned their glares on me.

Fuck.

“Okay…well, I’d better go in and explain what I can. I’d like to keep the visitation to two people at a time.”

“No,” we all said at once, and his eyes went wide.

“I’ll pay for the best room in the hospital, and donate to the wing, but we are not leaving,” Edmundo said, his eyes serious as he leaned forward in the wheelchair. Broken leg or not, he was a force.

Doctor Boyd stuttered. “Oh…um…okay, I’ll get that arranged. Excuse me,” he said, slipping into Ren’s room.

As soon as the doctor was gone, Liam looked at me. I knew what was coming and decided to beat him to the punch.

“Not here.”

I pointed to the small visiting area with a door down the hall. We walked quietly, and I waited for everyone to enter before I shut us inside. We stood around just staring at one another.

“Is it true,” Theo asked, breaking the silence. “Is she really Mr. Genovese’s daughter?”

I crossed my arms. “Yes.”

“Shite…she’s a princess on top of a princess. Snowflake’s a double princess,” Myles said.

Liam shook his head at Myles. “That still makes her just a single princess.” He turned his frustrated glare on me. “How long?” Liam growled.

“How long what,” I asked, even though I knew what he wanted to know.

“How long have you fucking known who she is?”

My eyes bounced from Liam to Myles, to Theo, and finally to Blake.

“A while,” I said.

“Fucker. I knew you were hiding shit. I fucking knew it. Why wouldn’t you tell us?” Liam looked ready to throttle me.

“Because Mr. Genovese didn’t want anyone to know until after Ren’s birthday. He wanted to be the one to tell her and made me swear not to mention it. Not that it matters now, she didn’t even recognize him.”

“So, you chose Mr. Genovese and what he wanted over us? You’re always preaching about us trusting one another,” Blake said, crossing his arms.

“I had to agree if I wanted the deal,” I said, annoyance beginning to spread through me at being questioned.

I glanced around at the guys who were all giving me the same stony expression.

“Don’t fucking look at me like that. Where do you think I came up with the money to complete Volatile?

Or buy my condo? Or to pay all of you every month?

Or anything else I’ve fucking paid for—for all of us?

The extra guards. The deal with the MC. That all costs money, and we need contacts with deep pockets who aren’t afraid of my father.

Edmundo fell in my lap, but I wasn’t about to pass it up.

” I pointed at each of them. “If that meant I had to keep this shit from you for a few months, then you better fucking believe I’d do it again.

Instead of glaring at me because your feelings are hurt, you should be saying, “Thank you, Nash.” Thank you for making a deal to get us and our families out from under the tyranny of your insane father before he makes us all drink the poisonous fruit punch. ”

Shaking my head, I turned and stared out the window that looked down into a courtyard. There were benches and tables nestled in a decorative garden with trees swaying in the morning breeze. It was a calm, serene picture and quite the contrast to what was going on inside the brick walls.

“Nash has a point,” Myles said. I looked over my shoulder at him. “He’s the only one who coulda gotten us this kind of help. I don’t have those kinds of connections or skills. Maybe you, Liam, but you don’t want to rule. Or do you?”

“Of course, I don’t,” Liam growled. “But that’s not the point. Even if he didn’t tell you three, he should’ve told me.”

“Oh, really?” Theo looked Liam up and down.

“Yes, really. I’m his right hand. I keep us safe and find out the things no one else can find out,” Liam said.

“Well, you’re obviously slipping if you didn’t know this,” Theo quipped back, and Liam looked like his head was going to explode.

“Wait…now we know why Lawrence wants Ren so bad,” Myles said.

I could practically hear the pieces clicking into place in his mind.

“Holy shite, if he marries her, he’ll have ties to the Russians and the most powerful Don of Dons in Italy.

Naw, we can’t allow that to happen. Over me dead body will he ever get his hands on my Snowflake,” Myles began to pace across the room.

Liam looked at me, and the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

I shook my head, but I’d kept shit from him again when I said I wouldn’t, and he was all too happy to pay me back.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Liam said.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

“Aye, we do, more than ever. We need to make sure that one of us is always with her and that she has guards. We should promote Rory and Cory. They’ve proven themselves loyal enough to help.”

Liam shook his head.

“That’s not what Liam is talking about,” Theo said, picking up on what was happening.

“Why are ya not more worried? She’s like a fuckin’ diamond. Almost every family we know is gonna want to marry her or kill her.”

“Myles, for fuck’s sake. Lawrence has been cut off at the knees already,” Liam barked out.

Myles stopped pacing long enough to glance at all of us. “What do ya mean?”

“Holy fuck, you’re clueless sometimes,” Liam growled.

“Who the fuck are ya callin’ clueless?” Myles’s hands balled into fists as he stepped toward Liam.

“You!” Liam pointed at him and then at me. “Nash already fucking married her.”

Myles laughed. He looked at me and then back at Liam before his head snapped in my direction.

“What?” His eyes were a mix of shock and hurt.

Sighing, I rolled out my shoulders and nodded.

“He’s right. My father can’t marry her, at least not legally.”

Myles stumbled back.

“You…you married my Snowflake? But…does she know?”