Page 65 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

N ash

This was my worst fucking nightmare.

My ex that I thought was dead, my ex that I wished would disappear, and my wife, all in one store. It sounded like the start of a really bad joke. I should’ve listened to the guys when they said this was a bad idea.

“Get away from me,” Vicky yelled at one of the salespeople, and I groaned. “I don’t need you hovering over me like a vulture. I’ll summon you when you’re needed.”

“I’m so happy you decided to do this,” Liam said from beside me.

“Shut up, I don’t want to hear it,” I growled, not looking over at him.

“No, I’m serious. This is fucking amusing.” He popped one of the candies he had purchased from the coin machine into his mouth. I glared at him. “You are clearly a sadist because no sane man on this planet would arrange this willingly. You’ve got balls, my friend. Big, fucking, balls.”

“I hate you,” I mumbled, staring into the store like it was a blackhole.

He laughed and dumped the rest of the colorful candy into his mouth.

“Tell me, do you really think this is going to work? This let’s play nice routine?”

“I don’t know, but you shoving a gun in her face again isn’t the way I want things to go either,” I said, torn between the knowledge of what pain and insanity my father could cause, and wanting answers about my son.

North.

I really liked the name. Different and strong. God, if my father had him stashed somewhere…the things he would do as soon as he was old enough to understand…it sent cold dread racing down my spine. I had to find him.

“I actually put it in her mouth. But whatever, I get your point,” Liam said, and I glanced at my best friend.

“You think he’s dead, don’t you?” I didn’t want to say my son’s name in that very real context. My heart constricted in my chest with just the thought.

Liam turned his back on the store and leaned against the railing that looked over the level below. The mall was fairly quiet, with it being a Monday, but there were still people wandering about.

“Honestly…I don’t know. Mya is so lost that, for all we know, she imagined having the baby.

Mya could’ve miscarried from the terror alone, not to mention whatever Lawrence put her through.

All of this could be an elaborate fantasy she cooked up to keep herself sane, or simply to get close to you.

She’s not the Mya you knew…who we knew. Nothing she says can be trusted.

” Liam locked eyes with me. “I wouldn’t put too much hope into finding him, is what I’m saying. ”

The guilt had never left, but now…there was a whole other level.

We were quiet as I watched the other shoppers. This place always smelled like popcorn and was oddly soothing. I would take anything that could smooth out the jagged edges in my chest.

“Liam…I assaulted my pregnant girlfriend and then shot her. Mya has spent all this time remembering me doing that to her. No matter what part she played in faking her death, that is a fucked up thing to live with. Yet, here she is hanging on to me like I’m the only decent thing she has in her life.

What the hell did he do to her that she would forgive me for what I did?

I can’t even forgive myself,” I said, low so only Liam could hear.

“Can you even imagine watching me walk away, and then being dragged to some unknown location, knowing that I thought she was dead? Knowing, I would never save her.”

The black and white pattern on the floor below caught my attention.

I’d been playing checkers while my father had been playing chess this whole time.

He hadn’t just planned a year ahead, but years.

Anticipating that I would retaliate and want to take over.

The entire time, he looked me in the eyes, called me son, and hid a weapon to fuck me over royally.

“Can you imagine being manipulated into doing horrendous things, then walking away thinking you’d assaulted and killed the girl you loved, only to find out she is alive?

” Liam’s question hit me like a bullet. “I know you feel bad for Mya, and that’s fine, feel for her, but you can’t lose sight of the bigger picture and who you are. ”

“I’m not,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” My annoyance was rising.

“Nash, I lived this with you. I’ve been by your side and watched you destroy yourself with guilt.

You never told me the whole story, but even what I did know suffocated the guy I knew.

You were just starting to turn a corner.

Ren is doing something to you, in a good way, but this…

” He used his thumb to point toward the store.

“This shit with Mya is like the Titanic, my friend. The ending has already been written, and no matter how many times you watch the fucking movie, wish they slowed down or swerved sooner…the boat is still going to sink.”

“I’m trying not to let it crush me. But the man I hate most in this world has my son.”

“Might…might have your son. And if Lawrence does have him, then we’ll find him. I’m more concerned that Mya is using this to get her claws into you. She may be flesh and blood, but she is still the same ghost trying to possess you.”

“And Ren says I have weird analogies. She should hear a few of yours,” I said, but Liam didn’t smile at my joke.

“I’m serious, Nash. I know you like to think you’re not affected by anything anymore, but you’ve got a good heart, and that’s not an insult.

It’s the only reason Ren has given you the time of day.

She sees what we all see in you…great potential.

But I’m really fucking worried that you’re going to let that old guilt overshadow the fact that Lawrence did this to both of you.

What was done to her…was done to you. You didn’t know it was her, and you didn’t want to do it.

You were manipulated and forced into doing something that Lawrence knew would crush your heart. ”

“I know, but…”

“No, Nash. Up until a couple nights ago, you thought she was a fucking ghost, telling you that you needed to reconcile your feelings to move on. That is how tightly she still has a grip on your heart. How what happened is still affecting you.”

Fuck. He was right. Liam was always right.

I didn’t love her, I hadn’t lied to Ren about that, but the guilt made me want to help her…

to make some of this right, and it was dangerous.

I could see the love in Mya’s eyes. She had an aura about her…

like nothing had changed, and we could pick right back up where we left off.

Liam grabbed my shoulder. “Don’t lose the best thing that has ever happened to you. Not for Mya, your father, or anyone else. They aren’t worth it. Ren…she makes you whole. Mya…will crush you without even having to try. And she knows it.”

I nodded and then cringed when Vicky screamed bloody murder, and a shoe flew past our heads. And this was why I’d never gone shopping with her before now.

“Wow…and to think you dated her. Do you think you were punishing yourself by fucking Vicky?” Liam laughed before walking away.

“Where the hell are you going?”

“To get out of the line of fire. Death by stiletto is not how I want to go out,” he said.

Fucker had a point. I quickly followed and kept an eye out for any more projectiles.

I caught sight of Ren inside the store as she held up a powder blue sweater. It was one of those long ones that girls liked to wear that could double as a dress. She had a wistful look on her face as she ran her hand down the front like she was caressing the material.

She suddenly looked my way, as if sensing me staring at her, and the corner of her mouth turned up. My heart thumped harder. Feeling naughty, I signed.

Want me to fuck you in one of the dressing rooms? See just how quiet you can be.

Her cheeks flushed a bright red.

You’re terrible. Ren signed back.

You’re sexy.

Ren smiled wider but shook her head, which only made me want to do it more. I pulled out my phone when she purposely turned her back on me.

N: Naughty Princess, giving me your ass…now I’m thinking of bending you over.

She blindly dug around in her pocket and pulled out her phone. This was way too much fun. Ren looked at the message and glared over her shoulder at me.

Princess: Yes, I’m sure your two exes would love that.

N: It would certainly send a clear message of who I want.

She bit her lip.

Princess: You really mean that?

N: You know I do.

Her silvery eyes locked with mine.

Princess: Alright.

My mouth fell open, and I took a step in her direction. But then I stopped, sensing a potential trap.

N: Are you serious or fucking with me? I can’t tell.

Princess: Serious, but not until I give you the word. Could be this store or another. Better be ready.

She was fucking taunting me.

N: Princess, I’m always fucking ready.

With a teasing smirk, she put her phone away and disappeared into the dressing rooms. Was it suddenly a hundred degrees in here or what? Damn, she could get me going. Now I was going to be sporting a hard-on for the rest of the day.

I glanced down at the front of my jeans. Son of a bitch.

REN

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, but as I rounded the corner to the dressing room, I stopped short. Mya was standing in the middle of the walkway, staring at herself in the mirror. She ran her hand over the jeans that showed off curves that I wish I had.

I’d always had smaller proportions and felt petite over womanly. Mya had dark hair with natural red highlights and soft green eyes that were almost hazel. There was no word other than beautiful to describe her.

Mya looked up, and we stared at one another in the mirror. She turned around to face me, and I readied myself for a Vicky-like rant. Instead, she came toward me like I might bite, her eyes soft with an emotion I couldn’t quite pin.

“Are you trying those on?”

I looked at the dress and sweater I had over my arm and nodded.

“I like the color,” she said with a smile, and went into her change room.