Page 43 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

N ash

Hindsight is twenty-twenty.

At least that was what I’d always heard. In retrospect, blurting out that Ren and I were married in front of everyone probably hadn’t been the best move.

Ivy and Chantry had followed Ren when she fled the dining room.

They were probably the only two who could do it without getting stabbed.

When she returned, she was composed and acted like nothing had happened—other than ordering Liam to sit somewhere else and refusing to look at or speak to the rest of us for the entirety of the meal.

I wasn’t sure how anyone managed to come back to the table and eat, but we did.

It was obvious where the fractures were.

Ella signed to Myles to pass the butter and wouldn’t look at Ethan.

Vicky had clammed up and wasn’t talking to anyone, not really a shame there.

Blake was glaring at Myles, and the rest of them glared at me. It was a grand old time.

The only one who seemed to come out unscathed was Dean Henry. He sat directly across from Edmundo at the other end of the table and had been completely silent during all the drama. The only indications that he was aware of current events were a raised eyebrow and knowing smirks.

Bastard. It was like he had some sort of anti-stick spray, or a forcefield made for one. Would be really fucking nice if he shared some of that shit with the rest of us.

After dinner ended, I lingered in the hallway like a ghost haunting this home. Ren was in her room with Ivy and Chantry, while Morrison chatted with the guys, Nora, and Drew. Fuck, that was another annoyance I had to investigate later. Merlin/Drew had just become more interesting.

Ella and Ethan had gone into Edmundo’s office with Myles and Lip. Bridget and Emmett had taken off an hour ago. Vicky disappeared as soon as the meal was over, and I hadn’t seen her since.

I watched Edmundo and Dean Henry chatting by the front door. They smiled and hugged, which seemed out of character for the men I knew. Shaking my head, I turned around and went back to the dining room.

The table had been magically cleared of everything but coffee and trays of dessert squares.

What the hell was I thinking, blurting it out like that?

I had a plan. It was all set. I would’ve bought a ring, done something special, and talked to her privately. I would’ve taken her someplace just the two of us and told her that I was sorry for stealing her choice.

“Fuck, I’m an idiot,” I mumbled.

“Mind if I join you?”

Rory stood behind me when I glanced over my shoulder. I shrugged.

“Be my guest. I’m not much company, but I hear the raspberry square is to die for,” I said, and he smiled. Rory came in and sat down. “I’m glad that your parents already had plans because tonight wouldn’t have given them much hope for a better future.”

Rory reached out and dragged one of the large trays of desserts toward him. “Honestly, that was the most fun I think I’ve ever had at a family dinner. At least not since I was a kid.”

“You can’t be serious,” I said, sitting down.

“The O’Heas have never been well off. My father worked very hard to provide us with a decent home, plenty of food on our table, and the tuition for me to attend Wayward.

But it all felt very hollow. Today was the first time that I felt like I was in the heart of a dysfunctional family again.

One where everyone fights passionately but will make up because that is what it means to love one another. I miss that.”

He picked up one of the German chocolate brownies and took a bite.

“So, you used to have chaotic dinners?”

A hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Before my father got involved with Lawrence, we had a very simple life filled with craziness like tonight. After…family and friends that had nothing to do with…well, you know…they stopped coming around or my parents pulled away because of the danger. Then my sister left, and my parents have been shells of who they once were.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“What about you? Was there ever a time when you had large family meals like this,” Rory asked.

I had to stop and think, but there were no good memories anymore. Now that I knew about my mother, and that she didn’t really want me…it snuffed out the lighter moments.

“They were large, but not like this. I can’t remember a time when my father hasn’t made a holiday all about him. Holidays were meant to show his importance and power. When you got an invite, you never knew if it came with a knife in the back. He could humiliate anyone at any moment.”

“Like yourself?”

“That’s a given. One of his favorite pastimes is making me look like an incompetent idiot. He would’ve had a good laugh tonight. I did it all by myself.” I ran my hand through my hair.

“Hey, can we join,” Liam asked as he walked in with Theo and Blake.

“Sure.”

The guys sat down and picked up desserts.

“That meal totally topped anything your father has ever done,” Blake said.

I smirked and snorted. “I would’ve paid to see Ren throw buns at Lawrence’s head,” I said.

“I thought you were going to be next,” Theo chimed in, and we all chuckled.

“If she had another basket, I would’ve been,” I said, smiling at the thought. This was the problem with Ren being angry—it made me hot all over. That fiery look in her eyes was a total aphrodisiac.

“She’ll come around, but…you’re going to have to give her some space to process this,” Liam said, and gripped my shoulder.

“I figured you would all be happy to see me get throat punched.”

“Honestly…” Blake leaned forward. “I’d watch that any day.” He smiled. “But I can see the bigger picture. Your execution could really use some work. And throwing Myles under the bus, even if I am pissed at him, that was a dick move.”

“Yeah…it was,” I admitted.

We all laughed as Lip ran in, followed by Myles. He looked as guilty as I felt with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

“You guys want to play UNO? I brought two decks,” Lip asked, a wide smile plastered on his face.

It was Blake who answered. “Sure, go grab them.”

Lip dashed out of the room.

“Hey man, I’m sorry for what I said earlier,” I said.

Myles lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “It’s fine. Ren was gonna be angry either way, at least I wasn’t the one to drop the bomb.”

“True.”

Myles turned to Blake and Theo. “Look, I just want to say that I’m sorry for keeping what I knew from ya.

I’ll be straight and just say that I was scared of what that meant.

” Myles shrugged. “I didn’t know if you’d still want to be my mates, and I was worried about Lip and if he would be taken away. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“Did you really think we would stop being your friend, or let that happen,” Theo asked, and Myles looked down.

“I don’t exactly have a great track record with family. Keeping quiet about Lip made sure that I didn’t lose him or you. But I didn’t think about how betrayed you’d feel. You guys are the only family I have,” Myles said, and swiped away a tear running down his face.

We stayed quiet, waiting for Blake and Theo to respond. They shared a look, some sort of twin talk that the rest of us couldn’t hear, before they got up and walked over to yank Myles into a hug. I knew then that they would all be okay. Not that I’d ever doubted it.

Me, on the other hand? That was a whole other story.

10:35 PM

REN

I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill him.

“Girl, maybe you could sit for a minute before you wear out the carpet,” Ivy said, her voice small like she expected me to toss something at her.

“Can’t…gonna kill,” I growled, my hands balled into fists as I continued pacing.

“Sooo…you know that I’m always on your side. I will forever have your back, but…”

Ivy cleared her throat when I turned my glare on her.

“I think what Ivy is trying to say is that maybe you should hear why he did it before you permanently kill your new husb?—”

I held up my finger, stopping her.

“Don’t…you…dare say…the…word.”

“Fair enough, but I still think you should talk to him,” Chantry said.

“Sure, with…fist,” I snarled, the white-hot rage burning in my chest.

“Again, I’ve got your back…” Ivy stood and walked over to me.

Tentatively, she grabbed my hand and pulled me across the room to sit on the bed. I sighed and shook my head as the anger started to dissipate, leaving me with an ache that permeated my entire body.

“Why are you so angry? Other than the obvious. I mean, I’d be pissed if Sabastian told me we were married randomly at a family meal…hmm…okay, no, I wouldn’t. But I’m not you, and having someone want to marry me seems massive.”

I pressed my lips into a hard line and grabbed her hands.

“Stop…you’re…happy…” She tilted her head and stared. “Sad…ugh.”

“I think the word Ren is trying to say is awesome,” Chantry said, and I pointed at her nodding.

“Maybe, but we are not in here to talk about me. Why are you so angry with Nash? Do you not love him?”

Tucking my legs underneath me, I looked between my two friends.

“I do…not point. Nash stole…my choice.”

“I get that. Do you want us to stay the night,” Ivy asked.

“Need time,” I said, shaking my head.

“There is a silver lining to all of this,” Ivy said, smirking.

I glared, not trusting the look on her face. “What?”

“You talk better when you’re angry,” she teased, and laughed at the horrified look on my face. Ivy squealed when I grabbed a decorative pillow and tossed it at her.

“Bitch,” I said, making us all laugh.

Maybe they were right, and I should listen to why he did what he did, but I couldn’t.

At least not right now. Worse yet, all the guys were in on it, and no one thought it would be a good idea to let me know?

And how about Eddie…my father. He sold me off just like my grandfather did to my mother after they fought so hard to be free themselves.

Okay, I guess it was slightly different, but the premise was the same, and the betrayal I felt…it cut deep.

I loved them, and they lied to me. I couldn’t just let that go with a slap on the wrist and a do-better-next-time attitude. It wasn’t enough. Not for this.

“We’d better go then. My dad is probably wondering where we disappeared to, and he’s our ride,” Ivy said.

Standing and hugging them both, we walked to my bedroom door. As I watched my friends leave, I heard the guys laughing and banging on a table downstairs. Well… at least someone was still able to enjoy themselves. Jerks.

A strange compulsion pulled me out of my room and into the hall. One foot in front of the other, I peeked into rooms as I went. What or who I was looking for, I had no clue, but as I came to a closed door that I knew was Vicky’s, my hand moved on its own.

Knock, knock.

She answered, and it was obvious she’d been expecting anyone but me. A baseball shirt and relaxed pants had replaced her golden dress and the red-carpet look of earlier. Vicky’s hard glare was accompanied by remnants of makeup under her puffy eyes.

“What do you want? My bedroom now, too?”

I shook my head, and Vicky crossed her arms.

“I’m sorry.”

Vicky didn’t move or say anything, and I turned to walk away.

“Do you want to come in,” Vicky asked. I wasn’t sure if being alone with her—when no one knew where I was—was a smart choice, but I followed her into the room anyway.

Whatever I’d been expecting to find—a cave or evil lair, maybe—this wasn’t it.

Vicky’s bedroom wasn’t extravagant or coated in gold accents, and there was no shrine to her self-importance.

Vicky had surrounded herself with purple and turquoise.

Pillows, paintings, and even the rug on her floor were variations of the color scheme.

Her furniture was simple but high-quality.

A vanity was set beside the window, and on it was a picture of Vicky in her cheerleading outfit, standing with a woman I’d never met.

They looked so much alike that I could only assume it was her mother.

Vicky climbed onto her bed with a box of tissues, moving the fancy pillows and hugging one of the many stuffed dolphins in the room.

I’d never pictured Vicky so…normal. So…vulnerable.

As I sat down on the edge, she dabbed at her eyes. “I know it’s dumb, but I can’t stop crying.”

She pulled her feet up and wrapped her arms around her knees.

“I’ve always known who I am, what I want, and who I want to become. I’m Victoria Genovese, the crown jewel in my father’s life. But now…now I know his blood doesn’t even run through my veins. I’m nothing but a charlatan.”

Her eyes lifted to mine, and more tears ran down her cheeks. For the first time since we met, I saw her as just another girl.

“And believe it or not, I loved Nash. I still do.” She shook her head and wiped away the tears.

“I don’t know why. Logic says he has done nothing but hurt me, that he never loved me.

Fuck, he told me so to my face. But my heart…

it leaps whenever I see him.” She bit her lip as she stared at me.

“I hated you, because I always knew. From the first moment I met you, I knew he’d fall for you, and I was so scared of it happening. Stupid, so, so stupid.”

Reaching out, I placed my hand on her arm, but it only made the tears run faster.

“Nash is…a…dick.”

Vicky snorted and then smiled.

“On that we agree.”

I stood, figuring that this side of Vicky was only going to last for so long, and I didn’t want to be in here when she found her nails again.

As our eyes locked, I gave her a little smile. “Blood…no blood…you are…Genovese,” I said. “Goodnight.”

Walking across the room, I stepped out into the hall, but Vicky called my name. I cringed, ready for the next attack.

“I’m sorry, too,” she said, surprising me. Hell had to be frozen over.

After so many shocks tonight, I couldn’t decide which had been the biggest. But Vicky apologizing…that was near the top of the list.