Page 86 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

“Do it, or your next stop will be an unmarked grave,” I growled, never taking my eyes off the woman I loathed almost as much as Lawrence. I had gone into the marriage with open eyes, and knowing who Patricia was, but now…I was done.

“Please don’t fight. I didn’t mean to start another argument,” Victoria said.

The attendants holding Patricia’s bags left as quickly as they had arrived, choosing life over a job.

“Stay out of it, Victoria,” I ordered, and from the corner of my eye, I watched her cross her arms and look down.

“How dare you embarrass me like this,” Patricia hissed, looking at Lilya, Nash, and Marcus.

“You embarrass yourself, Patricia. It seems to be something you come by naturally. Let’s not pretend that you’re some innocent party to any of this. You play victim when it suits you. This farce of a marriage was your idea,” I said, taking a step closer.

She didn’t look so certain now.

“You can’t kick me out of my home,” she said in a desperate attempt to look like she still had control.

Patricia was grasping, but all she would find was air and nothing to keep her standing. Not anymore.

“This is not your home. Just as the house in Madrid where you share your bed with another belongs to me. So do the three homes in Italy, the one in Tahiti, the chalet in Switzerland, the flat in England, the condo in New York, and the ten-thousand-acre farm in Canada. Along with any others that I’ve forgotten to mention.

” I stepped around Patricia to put myself between her and Lilya, just in case.

You didn’t corner a snake without expecting to get the fangs.

“The clothes on your back are mine, so are the fancy cars you drive, the jewels you drape yourself with, the employees you have serve you, and even the large sums of money that you toss at whoever you’re bedding at the time.

It’s all mine, and it’s time I called in the loan.

I’m done. You will leave quietly and be given the home in Spain, but that is it.

If you don’t comply, then I will take everything your family has and more before I’m done to repay what you owe me for my good nature. ”

Patricia gasped and covered her mouth.

“I’m pleased you showed up today. You have pushed me to do something that I should’ve done years ago. My lawyer will be in touch with divorce papers, and this is a good time to remind you of that prenup you happily signed.”

Patricia stepped back like I’d pushed her.

“What? No…no, you can’t. Edmundo, please…think of our daughter,” Patricia said.

“Papa, no, you can’t…” Victoria started, but I shot her a glare, and her mouth snapped shut.

I stepped into Patricia’s personal space and stared down into her venomous eyes. I knew she was toxic years ago, but since then, she’d only gotten worse, and I wasn’t putting up with it or her anymore. The time had come.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have become quite so bold with your boy-toys, Patricia.

My, how you have given me dozens of reasons to bleed you dry of everything you have if you push me.

And if you do anything and I mean anything underhanded to pull one over on me…

well, then I’ll stop being so cordial in my dealings with you.

Now, get out of my home. Hurry, before I have you removed,” I ordered.

For a brief second, I thought she was going to argue, but she turned and stomped away.

“And, Patricia,” I called as she reached the door.

“Do not ever accuse me of not thinking about my daughter. I have done nothing but put Victoria’s interests first. If I hadn’t, you would’ve been removed from my life long ago,” I growled, making sure she understood the underlying threat.

With a curt nod, she disappeared.

Victoria glared at Lilya. “This is all your fault. Everything is your fault. I didn’t think you could ruin my life any more than you already had.”

“Victoria,” I growled.

Tears filled her eyes as she ran out of the room. Through the window, I watched her race over to Patricia’s car and open the door. Victoria got in, and the vehicle pulled away.

“You okay,” Lilya asked, touching my arm.

I gave her a reassuring smile.

“Yes, many decisions in life come with consequences that you can kick down the road. But you can never fully outrun them. Don’t worry yourself, this is not your doing, despite what Victoria believes.”

Her smile made my heart clench. It was so much like her mother’s.

“I know. Just want to make sure you’re okay,” she said.

“My beautiful daughter, this world does not deserve you.” I kissed the top of her head and wished with all my heart that Ana could have seen what an amazing young woman our daughter had become. “Maybe we should hold off on the party here,” I said.

“We can have it at Volatile if you don’t mind lending me a few guards. It will be closed to the public and we’ll keep it just our friends,” Nash offered.

Marcus shrugged when I glanced at him. “We can send a dozen men or more if you want.”

“Okay…I’ll let you handle those arrangements. There are a few calls I need to make now that I’ve kicked the hornet’s nest.”

I made my way to the door but stopped and placed my hand on Nash’s shoulder. As his gaze met mine, I let him in on a hard truth that took me a long time to understand.

“This life is never easy. What we fight for is inherited in the shadows. Promises are binding. Regrets are…branding. Old wounds never fade, and new scars write the rest of our story. There is no escape, and to move forward means not to dwell on the things you cannot change. No matter what we do, our blood drags the ones we love into the crossfire.”

I looked at Lilya and once more felt the weight of this world hanging around my neck.

“That’s the curse…and the crown, we choose to wear.”