“If you’re asking if she is one of the souls forever damned to that house, the answer is no. Those women are from my era, long before your great-grandmother’s time.”
“Interesting.” I have so many questions.
“Shocking,” he said sarcastically.
“Fuck off.” I chuckled. “I spent the vast majority of my life feeling like a garden snail, who didn’t want to be stepped on, only to discover that all along, I had the power to crush anyone who screwed with me. All because of some ancient bloodline. So yes. I have questions. You’d have them, too, if you were in my shoes.”
“You will have to forgive me.” He stifled a smile. “I find your excitement over such stale history refreshing.”
Only King could manage to be charming when subtly saying you were an ignorant child. “Nice attempt to distract me, by the way, but you haven’t answered my question. Give me one good reason why you can’t stay a little longer.”
“Give me one good reason that I should.”
“To make sure I’m safe, for one. You don’t know what the fallout’ll be after I kill these people. A few could get away. They could pick up Ten Club where you left off, or—”
“Jeni,” he snarled, “there always has been and there always will be evil in this world. Once Ten Club is done, this is no longer my problem.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Do you think me Superman out to save the world?”
“You look like an ancient king who is still alive—breathing and talking—long after he should’ve been dead. You’re an anomaly that comes once in a thousand lifetimes. Don’t you think that means something? I mean, look at me!” I threw my arms to my sides. “You changed my life. You woke me up.”
“I brought Ten Club to your doorstep, and now they have your father.”
My stomach clenched. My fear for him was never far. I kept telling myself to stay focused, to keep a clear head. It was the only way to help him. But make no mistake, just beneath the surface, I was a mess ready to burst into tears at any moment.
“Serina is going to pay for what she has done,” King said, hearing my thoughts. “I promise you that. Then, if I am lucky, death will allow me to pass after I have undone my sins.”
“And if not?”
“I am the man who can find anything or anyone. And I will find a way to die. Of that I have no doubt.”
But what will be the price? That’s what he always said; everything came with a price.
Reading my thoughts again, he asked, “Perhaps you should ask your friend death.”
“Sorry, he and I aren’t on speaking terms.”
“I would seek to change that. It behooves you to understand your gift so you may use it fully.”
Not so sure I agree.
“Yes, well, I am not so certain you will have a choice after I am gone,” he said. “You will need to know how to handle yourself because I plan to leave all of my possessions to you.”
“What the hell for?” It wasn’t like I had a use for a giant warehouse with crap that scared the hell out of me or a house filled with the angry souls of my witchy ancestors.
“How about a private island in Greece, several estates on Crete, homes in every major city, a few private jets, an army of loyal servants, and over a hundred billion in cash?”
Wow. Just wow… I raised a brow, trying to let that sink in.
He added, “You may need it to clean up the remnants of Ten Club—if there are any.”
“What? No. I don’t want anything to do with them. And I don’t want to be rich or powerful.” Really, I didn’t want to inherit all his stuff and have to think of him every day. It was bad enough I had feelings for him, a man whose heart was taken and always would be. I’d been inside his head. I felt his love for Mia. Something like that never died.
His gaze softened. “Then you may turn down my offer,” he said in a quiet tone, “but just remember, everything comes with a price, my dear Jeni Arnold. Even walking away. Perhaps the contents of my warehouse will fall into the wrong hands.” He lowered his voice. “But I trust you and your brave heart will make the right choices after I am gone.”
I couldn’t take it. I didn’t want him to die. Why was he asking me to do this when he knew how I felt? It wasn’t fair.
I know. And I thank you, he said without speaking. I will always be grateful to you. Still seated, he reached for my hand and bent his head, placing a soft kiss.
I soaked it in. Every second of it. He wanted to leave this world and go beyond the wall of death. He hoped he would find Mia and his children.