KING: Las Vegas Bad Boys(52)
“At your bloody wedding. It’s your fault; you’re the one who told me to ask her to dance. I was done for.”
“Shit.”
“You know, Claire has a daughter? She kept it from everyone, the last few months.”
“What the fuck?” Ace stops and looks at me, hard. “What do you know about this girl? I mean, really?”
“I know enough.”
“I’m not sure, bro. You already proposed. This is fast. Like, faster than Emmy and I. And Claire kept her kid a secret. Who does that?”
I don’t tell him it’s a fake engagement, because Claire asked me not to. But the truth is, I don’t want to tell him it’s fake because I want it to be real.
“You’re really gonna get high and mighty about secrets?” I flip him off. “You hid the fact that your name is Adrian Genova from us for five fucking years.”
“I know. But I had good reason.”
“It’s pretty fucking relative, though, isn’t it?” I ask.
“This is insane.” Ace sits next to me. “What is Claire’s crisis?”
“She knew she needed to come clean about her daughter.”
“You really ready to be a father?” Ace asks.
“I don’t know. But shit, I’d be anything for Claire. Right now, though, I just need to get my father to give me his company.”
It’s like something connects in Ace’s mind, and I know he’s putting pieces together.
“Fuck you, man,” Ace says. “Does Claire know this is just a way to prove to your dad you’ve grown up? Because you can’t fucking hurt her, just for some money.”
“It’s not just some money, Ace; it’s The King’s Diamond we’re talking about. But don’t worry. It’s real. I’m gonna marry that girl.”
“You better not mess with her or I swear to God it’s over, between all of us. You can’t recover from this kind of mess. I need to trust you, Landon.”
“You can trust me.”
Ace nods, and I do, too. I mean everything I’ve said.
I’m gonna prove to Claire what kind of man I am. And then I’m gonna marry her.
The lunch buffet is awkward.
Fiona tries to discuss her wedding plans with Claire and Emmy, but neither of those girls are as caught up in flowers and venues as she is. Mostly because Emmy is already married and Claire is only fake getting married.
Tess is the only one who seems to want to engage. And she isn’t engaged.
Geoffrey looks agitated with everything my father says, and Mum gets pulled away with a call from the Garden Society.
Ace looks at Geoffrey with appropriate disdain and picks at his fish until finally Mum returns and Father announces the family summit can begin.
“Your friends need to leave,” Geoffrey tells me. “It’s sensitive family matters we are discussing.”
“Everyone is welcome; I don’t want any secrets,” Dad says. This piques my interest. Combined with Geoffrey’s seemingly underhanded comments to Dad, and their obvious disagreement about the family business, I’m starting to get a little anxious about this meeting.
“This is such bullshit.” Geoffrey clenches his jaw and I watch as Fiona grips his hand.
“Actually,” Ace speaks up. “We’ve had a long night and we’ll check into a hotel for a few hours. Maybe you can call us when everything is more settled?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll get you set up in some guest rooms,” Mum says. “Come with me.” Tess, Emmy, and Ace follow my mum out without argument.
“I’m going to get some papers in my study prepared,” Dad says. “Will you four join me there in ten minutes, with your mother?”
We nod, the mood suddenly tense. Fiona and Claire exchange a look, and it’s the first moment something other than hostility has seemed to move between them.
Geoffrey walks to the bar and begins pouring Scotch into a tumbler. “Want some?” he asks.
My eyes narrow in on him. I can’t think of the last time Geoffrey was anything but short and sharp.
“Sure,” I say, walking toward him tentatively. “So, do you know what this meeting is really about?” I take the glass from his hand.
He snorts. “Yeah, I know what the meeting is bloody about. Don’t know why he asked you to come here and discuss it, though.”
The last thing I need is for my brother to tell me I’m not good enough. That he already has the company in the bag. At least let me fight for it.
“I’m so tired of this bullshit,” I tell him. “When will you stop holding my past against me? I’ve grown up, and have just as good a chance as you to be Dad’s successor. I’m his son, too, you know.”