“The most powerful Seers are trained by other Seers, and aside from you, they are all dead. At least in this time.”
What in the…? Never mind. I turned my back to the car. “Just tell me what happened to them.” Maybe there was an angle, a way to sell Serina on my future worth.
“They attempted to take over Ten Club by offering their loyalty and services to several powerful club members. In exchange for their support to have me removed, of course,” he added. “I found out and ended the coup by killing the Seers—basically taking away everyone’s favorite toys. In retaliation, those members murdered my unborn daughter, infant son, and wife.”
I felt sick. So that’s why his family was murdered. It was payback for killing off all the Seers.
There had to be more to the story, but now wasn’t the time. The crazy bitch had my dad.
I pushed back my tears. I couldn’t solve this if I was too busy crying. “So if she doesn’t want me, then what?”
“Serina is a member of Ten Club. This is how they operate; they steal, buy, or trade for things they can use to gain power—power in general or over other members. Serina probably went to your home looking for you and figured out I took great measures to protect your father, which signaled he is of great value to me. Unlike you, she believes he can be used as a pawn.”
“Fucking shit, King!” The tears came. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I appreciated that he’d taken measures. I truly did. But how had he not seen this coming? “Goddammit!”
“Do not raise your voice at me, woman, or you may find yourself without a tongue.” His menacing tone sent a cold shiver down my spine. Maybe I wasn’t that mousy little thing I once was, but I still feared some things. King for one. Also, anything happening to my dad. He was all I had left of my real family. Distant cousins, aunts, and uncles weren’t in the picture much since my mom passed. As for friends, I kept in touch with a few from high school and college, but after my dad’s accident, I dropped off the social map. Every waking hour was either dedicated to helping him—driving him to physical therapy and doctor’s appointments—or feeding us and keeping a roof over our heads. I didn’t regret my choices and never would, but that didn’t change the facts.
“Just tell me how to get him back.” I felt my world crumbling for the third or fourth time in recent days. If things got any worse, I’d be a pile of rubble, nothing more.
“We continue with my plan.”
My grip tightened around the phone. “That woman has my dad! I don’t think your need for revenge takes priority.” My dad was still alive. His family was not.
“I will invite her to attend the event.”
“And?” I snapped.
“We shall hear her demands and make the trade there.”
So easy? I doubted it. Nothing with these people sounded simple. “How do you know she’ll show?”
“She will come.”
“Please stop. Just give me straight answers.”
“All right.” King’s voice came from behind me. I swiveled on my heel to find him in a sleek, expensive-looking black suit. Another similar car was parked behind the first one.
“Where did you come from?” My words came out rushed. “Never mind. Doesn’t matter.”
“Shall we?” He gestured toward my front door. “Given the circumstances, I believe we should move our discussion indoors. Eyes and ears are everywhere.”
I snarled and marched inside, heading straight for the kitchen. I grabbed a napkin from the counter to sop up my tears and then poured a big glass of tap water. I needed to get a hold of myself. I was no use to my dad if I lost my shit.
“Jeni.”
I turned to find King standing too close for comfort, his spicy scent filling the space around us. My body immediately reacted—half entranced, the other half wanting to run and never look back.
“Who are you?” Tell me now, because this is our crossroad, buddy. Serina wanted King dead, the Seers tried to take him out, and he founded the evilest group of powerful individuals on the planet. He had abilities people only read about in sci-fi novels.
King’s hypnotic gray eyes intensified. “I am damned, Jeni. Cursed for my sins in this life, the past, and the next.”
“I need more than that.” He’d seen inside my head. He knew everything about me, which was terrifying—everyone had demons they didn’t want to share. Point was, he knew the worst of me. But even with my flaws, I could be trusted. So why didn’t he?
He gripped my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. “Someday, you will understand, but I promise you will thank me for forcing you to remove Ten Club from your life.”