Page 68 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

N ash

I didn’t have a clue what happened, but Ren was being cold and distant, which confused me, considering our last interaction had been…the complete opposite. Forget being called into a dressing room with her—she wouldn’t even look at me.

We took up two large tables at the restaurant, and I purposely sat beside her, but she remained closed off. It was like a door had slammed shut in my face. The panic it caused was unhealthy. When I panicked, I got angry, and then stupid shit came out of my mouth.

Picking up my coffee, I drank the rest down before it got cold and ate the last bite of my dark chocolate cake while I thought.

Everyone was talking and laughing between the two tables, but Ren sat quietly, offering a little nod or a smile at appropriate moments.

Her hand was on the table, and I grabbed it.

Even then, she didn’t look at me, just tried to tug it away.

My grip tightened, holding her so she had to make a scene to get me to let go.

It was the first time she glanced at me, her eyes a strange mix of anger and pain. I mouthed, What the hell did I do ?

She shook her head and turned toward Myles, which only made my fear of her slipping away from me notch higher. My eyes traveled around the table until they fell on Mya. She was watching us. With a smile and a blush, she looked down, and I swore under my breath.

Whatever was going on with Ren involved Mya, something she had said or done. There was no other explanation. I let go of Ren’s hand and grabbed her leg, making her jump, and then bite her lip as I pulled her up against me on the bench.

I kissed her temple and then whispered in her ear. “I don’t know why you’re angry, but I’m not letting you run away, Princess.”

Ren’s cool stare locked with mine, her eyes felt like they were searching my soul for something…maybe an answer. But I didn’t know the question.

“Talk to me,” I whispered.

She sighed and looked down at my hand still resting on her leg.

“Can’t…not now.”

“Tonight?”

She shook her head and licked her lips. “I need…space tonight.” Her eyes found mine again. “Please.”

No was on the tip of my tongue. Every minute Ren was upset was another minute she had to stew and twist whatever happened. And every minute she was hurt, raised the chance that she would run out the door and slam it behind her. But I didn’t yell.

“Okay, but I’m not dropping this. We’ll talk tomorrow,” I said, and Ren nodded.

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders got me as close as I could be without pulling her into my lap. I expected her to fight the contact, to remain rigid, and try to push me away. Instead, she relaxed, and a minute later, she was sound asleep.

Eddie was right, she was pushing herself too hard, too fast. We all knew that she wanted to get back to class and normalcy, but it would be weeks yet before she was ready. When Mya looked at us, her eyes narrowed, and I glared at her.

I might have loved her once, but not anymore. There was no way that I was letting her fuck this up for me. Whatever game she was playing, she could shove it up her ass. I would find my son without her help if I had to.

Instead of waking Ren when it was time to go, I scooted to the end and leaned in to pick her up. She really was out cold, her breathing steady as her head rested in the crook of my neck.

We made our way back to the waiting vehicles, and Vicky surprised me when she stepped up beside us.

“You need to keep her away from Mya,” Vicky whispered.

“What do you know?” My hackles instantly rose with a flood of anger.

Vicky looked up at me. “Enough to know that you need to watch your back. I’m serious, keep Mya as far away as possible if you want to keep your marriage intact.”

Before I could ask any more questions, she marched ahead, and Ren stirred in my arms.

“Where…we,” she mumbled groggily.

“Heading home. Go back to sleep.”

Nodding, she yawned and was out again. When we got to the SUVs, Myles was standing outside waiting. I walked over and slowly transferred Ren into his arms.

“What’s going on?”

“There’s something I need to take care of,” I said and stomped over to the vehicle that I’d shared with the three girls earlier. I poked my head into the backseat. Mya and Ivy were already inside. I looked at Ivy. “Change of plans, you’re going with Myles,” I ordered.

“Oh…okay,” Ivy said, hopping out and looking all too happy to get away from whatever was about to happen.

I kept my eyes on Mya as I raised my hand and waved Marcus over. He didn’t ask any questions, just got into the passenger seat as I climbed in beside Mya. Her eyes lit up.

“Take us for a drive,” I said to Massimo, behind the wheel.

“Where are we going,” Mya asked as she reached for my hand. I moved it away, and she looked confused.

“Well, that depends on you,” I said as we pulled out of the restaurant parking lot. The lights from the lamppost flashed across her face.

“What do you mean,” she asked, her voice soft and soothing. Once upon a time, I would’ve been lured in by that sound. She always knew exactly what to say and how to say it to make me feel better. But now it grated on my nerves.

“I don’t know what you said to Ren tonight…” I hit her with a glare. “But if you open your fucking mouth to her again, then you’ll quickly find out, I have no use for you.”

Her mouth dropped open. “I swear, I didn’t say anything mean.”

She was lying. I knew her well enough to know when she told a flat-out lie.

“Bullshit, and I’m not debating this with you. Stay the fuck away from Ren from now on.”

“Nash, I know that you think she’s right for you, but she’s not. I am. Our son is. We are going to be a family again soon, and it’s better to cut her out now before she really gets hurt.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“What? No. Never. Just stating a fact,” she said.

“Marcus, do you believe her?”

“No, sir, I do not.”

“Funny, neither do I,” I said, and held out my hand. Without hesitation, Marcus put his gun in my palm.

Mya gasped and squished herself so hard against the opposite door that it looked like she was trying to push through it.

“So, now that you know where I stand, I’m going to ask you a few basic questions. You will answer them truthfully, Mya. If not, then I will kill you and drop you off the nearest bridge and never think of you again.

“But, Nash, I love you, I…”

I pointed the gun at her. “Shut up. I really wanted to do this the nice way. I can’t imagine what it was like for you and what horrors my father inflicted.

I feel bad, truly, I do, but…I need to make something really fucking clear to you.

Whatever fantasy you have circling the drain of your brain needs to stop, right now.

I don’t love you. I won’t ever love you again, and if you try to fuck with my happiness, you’re going to find out just how dark my soul has become over the last three years.

Do I make myself clear?” She nodded. “Say the fucking words,” I growled.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Head to the condo.”

“Yes, sir,” Massimo said.

“So, let’s talk about North. Did you give birth to our son?”

“Yes.”

“And you have no idea where he is right now?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

I believed her.

“Where was Lawrence keeping you?”

“I told Liam that I don’t know the address, only how to get back there,” she said.

I didn’t fully believe that, but it would do for now.

“Fine, a car will pick you up at four-thirty tomorrow, and you will take me to the house.”

She nodded, and I just sat there for a moment staring. Her greenish eyes held fear, but also anger.

Liam was right, she wasn’t the same girl that I loved three years ago. I couldn’t let my guilt guide my hand. Not this time, not with this.

“Does this mean you are going to cut me out of my son’s life?” Mya sniffled. “Raise our child with someone else? Would you really do that to me? Me, of all people?”

I glared at her.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. But if you keep playing whatever game you have going…I won’t have to worry about what to do because you won’t be breathing.”

She nodded quickly and looked away. “You were the only thing that kept me going. The thought of you. I can’t just let that go,” she said.

“And I’m telling you that you have to. I’ve moved on, even if you haven’t, and Ren…she is my future. Don’t fuck with her and don’t fuck with me. I mean it, Mya, this will be your only warning.”

We pulled into the condo parking lot, and the men who were stationed here all the time walked over. They waited while we sat there for a minute. Turning my head, I gave her the full weight of my stare.

“I am sorry, Mya. For everything that you’ve been through. If I could go back, there are so many things that I would’ve done differently, but that’s not possible. This is our reality, and Ren is who I want.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and I could see her silently screaming that she hated me. Good, her hate was better than the crushing sadness and fear.

I looked away. “Be ready tomorrow. That’s all, you can go.”

Mya hopped out and slammed the door.

“Marcus, keep extra eyes on her tonight. I don’t trust her,” I said.

“Yes, sir.”

As the SUV pulled out to take me to Edmundo’s house, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, wrestling with the demons in my brain. The guilt and self-loathing burned brightly, but so did something else. Something I really didn’t have until Ren came along, and that was hope.

She’d pulled the blade from my heart, bandaged my soul, and was holding me together by sheer will alone. I didn’t just love her…she had become my reason for living.

If Mya did anything else to destroy what I had…there would be no hesitation. And this time, I would make sure she stayed dead.