Cruel King (Royal Elite #0) by Rina Kent

“So what? Are you here to gloat about your eavesdropping skills?” I hate being on the defensive, but this is Aiden King and I don’t have a good track record with the King bloodline.

“I just told you. It’s about what you said.”

“What did I say?” I ask.

“Insane. Hallucinating. Overreacting.” His eyes turn steel metal. “It’d be in everyone’s best interest if you don’t repeat them in front of Lev again.”

My arms drop on either side of me. “Why?”

“He doesn’t react well to those.”

“Why not?”

His head tilts to the side like Levi when he’s contemplating something. “You’re not stupid. Surely you noticed something.”

“I did, but it doesn’t make much sense.” I pause. “But you do know, don’t you?”

“Even if I do, why should I tell you?” he asks in a completely indifferent tone like I’m wasting his time.

“You’re the one who came to inform me that I shouldn’t be saying those words. You’re supposed to tell me why I shouldn’t be saying them.”

“Not really. All you have to do is refrain from saying anything about mental stability.” He pauses. “Oh, and stop provoking him. The more you push, the harder he pushes back. The more you run, the faster he chases.”

He turns to leave and I clutch the sleeve of his T-shirt stopping him in his tracks. “Wait.”

His bored look greets me as he waits for me to speak.

Swallowing, I let go of his T-shirt. “Tell me something. Anything.”

“What would I gain from that?”

I suppress an inward groan. He’s Levi’s cousin all right. After a second of thinking, I say, “You came for a reason. You know I can help or that I’m already helping. You think I’m of value or you wouldn’t have come to find me.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “One question. I’ll answer one question.”

“Does he… have a mental disorder?”

“Not him, but if he keeps going down this lane, he’ll end up in the same path.”

“Whose path?”

“One question.” He strides to the driver’s door. “Bring me something else of value and I might answer a second question.”

I stare at his car as it gallops in the distance. Is he even a seventeen-year-old kid?

On the flip side, I found my source of information on Levi.





29





Levi





Madness doesn’t ask for permission and neither will I.



* * *



I hit the bag in the gym over and over until my knuckles bruise and ache. I don’t stop.

If I do, I might turn into that other dark version again. I might tear through the streets and go find her. I might do things I’ll regret.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

I continue hitting the bag until I have nothing left in my lungs. Until my body nearly collapses.

With one last shove at the bag, I let my body flop against the mat as harsh breaths tear out of my lungs.

The world spins around me like a fucking fog.

After what seems like half an hour of staring into the distance, I stagger to my feet and take a quick shower in my room. I throw my jersey and team clothes in a bag and stuff a cigarette in my mouth.

I won’t stay at Uncle’s house before a game. The first thing I’ll do as soon as I get my inheritance is to buy a house as far away from him as possible.

Maybe in Scotland.

“Leaving again?” Aiden calls from the corner of the lounge area.

He sits in front of the glass chessboard, playing against himself like a weirdo.

I blow a cloud of smoke. “Tell Uncle I have practice.”

“Or I can just tell him the truth. You don’t want to see him.”

I lift a shoulder. “That works, too.”

I’m about to continue my way when he speaks again. “I had a talk with your girl.”

The cigarette almost falls from my lips as I whirl around. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“I told her what you wouldn’t.”

I’m at his face in a second, pulling him by the collar. “You stay the fuck away from her, do you hear me?”

“I would’ve if you stopped acting like a grouchy dick all the time.” He pushes me away and sits back. He takes the queen’s piece between his thumb and forefinger. “Those who don’t play chess think the king is the strongest piece because the game ends when he dies, but they don’t stop to think that if the queen dies first, the king doesn’t have a chance to survive.”

I narrow my eyes at the meaning behind his words. Both of us have been raised on chess, but he has a different perspective. He wouldn't admit it, but Aiden is just like Jonathan. They don't care who they have to crush to get what they want.

Aiden kills the bishop with the queen, leaving his white king vulnerable. I move the black king to the right.

“Even a king can kill a king.” I stuff the cigarette back in my mouth. “Checkmate.”

On my way out, I retrieve my phone and stare at the text from Daniel saying he went to pick Astrid up.

After the stunt with his brother, I don’t trust him as much.

I pause near my car remembering how her eyes fluttered with fear and disappointment.