Page 29 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

E dmundo

I’d stayed away as long as I could, but the urge to see Lilya was just too much.

After missing out on so many years of her life, I refused to be sidelined again.

Waiting for her memories to return on their own was vital to her recovery, and I would be patient.

But…that didn’t mean I couldn’t pop by and see an old friend who just so happened to be looking after my daughter.

I watched out the window as Marcus drove, trying to figure out what Lawrence might try next. Both he and Christov preferred to linger in the shadows and were opportunistic with their attack style. Snakes, both of them.

My phone rang, the sound echoing through the SUV.

“Do you want me to tell her you’re busy,” Marcus asked.

“No, go ahead and answer it,” I said. Marcus hit the talk button on the dashboard. “So, you finally decided to call me back,” I said to Patricia.

“I’ve been busy,” she said.

“I see. What deviousness are you up to this time, Patricia?”

Marcus glanced at me in the rearview mirror. I was all too aware of Patricia’s plotting over the years to gain more power.

“You always think the worst of me,” she said.

“Your actions speak louder than words. Taking Carlos Assaraf as a lover is not exactly discreet,” I said.

“He is nothing more than my latest plaything. You said you didn’t care,” Patricia said.

“I don’t, and I never have,” I said, letting the statement hang in the air between us. “But we both know that he is more than that.”

“No, I?—”

“Enough,” I growled, stopping her before her tongue could spew more lies.

“The Assaraf family has been sniffing at my boots for years. And now you just happen to be fucking the son who is next in line to take over? I don’t believe in coincidences, Patricia.

I’m not stupid, so don’t try to play me for a fool. ”

“Fine…Carlos does like to ask too many questions, but I never give him any information.”

Marcus shook his head, and I knew he was thinking the same thing as me. Liar.

“I have no interest in arguing this with you right now, Patricia. I have been trying to reach you about Victoria. She is completely out of control. You haven’t been around like you swore you would be when I purchased the estate.

The plan was for you to live nearby to watch over Victoria, but instead, you’ve been poisoning her head from a far. ”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.

“Lie to me again, Patricia, and my next call will be to my contacts in Madrid. I’ll have you and Assaraf dragged out of my mansion by your hair, arrested, and thrown in a hole so deep that you’ll never claw your way out. Do you understand me?”

The line went dead quiet. I could picture the indignant look on Patricia’s face, and I was nearing the very end of my rope.

There was no love between us, and we had lived separate lives with a mutual understanding.

But I would not tolerate any more from her.

Victoria was old enough now that if something happened to her mother.

..she could handle it. It was because of Victoria that I’d let Patricia live up to this point, but she was hanging by a single thread of my patience.

“I swear that I wasn’t trying to make trouble.

When I was in Italy last summer to see my family, I came over to visit.

You were in your office but the door was half open and I overheard you discussing a marriage contract, and then the young Collier stepped into view.

I made an assumption and got excited because she has been in love with him for years. I’m sorry,” she said.

I didn’t believe a word that had come out of her mouth. Drumming my fingers on the armrest helped to rein in my temper.

“Break and enter, eavesdropping and spying…the three things you’re best at,” I drawled. “Too bad you don’t put your skills to better use.”

“Edmundo—”

“No, I don’t want to hear it. This is what’s going to happen.

You’re going to call Victoria and apologize for being mistaken.

Then you will reinforce the fact that I’ve threatened to take away everything she holds dear if I get one more call about her bullying other students.

That is not a daughter I want to share a last name with, do you understand? ”

“But—”

“No, you chose to raise her in another country for most of her life, and against my better judgment, I let you because I thought it would give you some peace with our arrangement. But Patricia…I am done giving you leniency. Next time you step out of line, I’m going to tighten the noose that you placed around your neck. Understood?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Make the call today,” I ordered and hung up.

Marcus’s eyes found mine. “Do you trust her?”

“Not even a little. It’s time I made some final arrangements for Patricia.”

I didn’t like that things had gotten to this point, but she’d dug her own grave. I hadn’t seen the vile and wicked soul that lived inside of her when we married, but time had shown her true colors.

“Speaking of Patricia…your new son-in-law has been snooping into your history,” Marcus said.

“Has he now? Wonder what sparked Nash’s interest in my love life,” I said. Marcus shrugged.

“Don’t know, but I thought you should know one of his guys as been sniffing around,” Marcus said as we pulled onto the O’Brien’s street. I filed the information away.

My soldiers’ vehicles were parked all over the gated community.

I felt better knowing that they were protecting my daughter.

There were more stationed on the street behind Ella’s home, and I had four men roaming the property on a rotation.

I didn’t believe that Lawrence and Christov would be reckless enough to come here, but then again, stupidity knew no bounds.

“What of the other two rats?”

“Nothing, yet. They are still in hiding, worrying about what piece of cheese is filled with poison.”

I smirked.

“Good.”

Once we parked, Marcus hopped out and opened my door. He kept me steady while I climbed down from the SUV, then reached into the back and pulled out my cane.

Marcus stayed right by my side as we walked toward the house. Before we could knock, the door flew open, and Ella stood on the other side smiling. It had been so long since I’d seen her, but she looked the same.

“Ethan is a lucky man. You’re still just as beautiful as the last time I saw you,” I said.

Ella lunged out the door and threw her arms around me.

It felt good to hug her. It was like holding a piece of my past and a connection to Ana. She stepped back but held my free hand as her eyes roamed over my face like she was reliving our shared past as well.

“It’s good to see you, Ella,” Marcus said, and the two of them embraced. Time hadn’t changed a thing between any of us.

Do you remember how to sign?

“Of course I do,” I said, but then looked down at my cane. “It will be easier once we are sitting.”

Nodding, she waved us inside. Ella poked her head back out and looked around before closing and locking the door behind us.

We followed her into a sitting room, and I took a chair, easing myself down. This leg couldn’t heal fast enough. I didn’t like to be slowed down or reminded that I might actually be human.

Ella started signing right away. I was a little rusty, but I had practiced my ASL over the years, just in case.

It is so good to see you. Thank you for letting Ren come here. I do think it is better for her to heal here in a place she knows.

I nodded, looking around. This was a lovely home, and I knew that Ella had filled it with warmth and that Ethan was a good man. She was right, I suppose, but it still hurt that Lilya wasn’t with me, where she belonged.

I do, too, at least until she remembers me.

Ella frowned.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. You finally get to tell Ren who you are, and then she doesn’t remember. I can’t imagine what that must be like.

I nodded.

It has been difficult, but I’ve waited fourteen years. What’s a few more weeks? It is more important that she is healing well.

Agreed, and she is doing better. No new memories, but her speech has improved.

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I’d hoped for any flash of recognition, no matter how small. I turned away from Ella and stared out the front window to the street outside. She touched my leg to draw my attention back.

She will remember. I know she will.

Thank you.

Do you want to talk to her? See for yourself.

I’d like that, but I don’t want to force it. Can we just sit here?

Of course, I’ll get us something to snack on. I have lots in the fridge. Would you like a drink?

Scotch neat.

Ella nodded and left the room.

“Marcus, get away from the window and sit down. We have enough men out there to start a small war. You can take a moment to relax.”

“I told you?—”

“I know what you told me, and what happened at the club wasn’t your fault. Now come sit. That’s an order,” I said.

Grumbling, he took the chair beside me. “You’re still a pain in my ass.”

I smirked.

Ella walked back in carrying a huge tray of food.

My goodness, you didn’t have to go to this trouble. I signed.

Nonsense, it’s not like I get to see you every day. Eat. You need to keep your strength.

Now you sound like my mother, may her soul rest in peace.

Ella shook her head at me.

You were always trouble. It makes me sad that Ren will never get to meet your parents. They were sweet people.

I nodded, the weight of that thought constricting my chest.

Voices coming from the other room grew louder, and I spotted the speech therapist and Lilya through the open door. I tried not to seem too interested, but couldn’t help staring. Lilya saw her therapist out but then she turned and saw us.

It might’ve been a bad idea, but I raised my hand in a wave. She stepped closer, a small smile on her lips. She reminded me so much of her mother.

“Hello…Mm…Mr…G….”

“You can call me Eddie,” I said, smiling. “I’m sorry for staring, you just look so much like your mother. It’s…staggering.”

Lilya’s face lit up, and she walked over and sat down on the small loveseat.

“My…mm…mm…mum,” she studdered.

“Ella mentioned that you know ASL, if you want you can sign,” I said.

You knew my mom?

My heart broke all over again. After losing Lilya so many times, you would think that my heart could handle it, but this was different. I couldn’t hunt her down. I couldn’t tell her what was going on without potentially hurting her progress. So, I just smiled.

“I did. We are on our way out, but the next time I visit, I’ll bring some photos. Would you like that?”

I would love that. Thank you.

Ella looked like a statue, holding a piece of cheese on a cracker partway to her mouth.

Thank you for everything. It was great seeing you again, Ella.

Same. Come by anytime. You are family.

Marcus helped me stand, and I nodded goodbye to Ella and Lilya.

“Good…bye…Ed…Eddie.”

Hearing that name on her lips shattered me. I stared into eyes that were replicas of her mother’s and held back the pain that swelled in my chest.

“Goodbye, Ren,” I said, and slowly limped out the door.

Forced to leave her once more.