“I’ll give you one more chance and you better seize it because I don’t give second chances.”
He waits for me to release my clenched fist before he speaks again. “You’ll stay away from Clifford’s daughter. They’re not allowed near our family.”
“Why?”
“You don’t want to know that.”
“I’ll be the one to decide.”
“You won’t like the outcome, punk.”
“You’re good with patterns, aren’t you, Jonathan? Tell me what happens if I know.”
Silence stakes claim in the lounge area as he squints.
“Very well.” He unbuttons his jacket and sits down on the chair at the head of le salon. He always chooses dominant positions even when he sits.
“If you know the reason, it’ll break you both. You’ll hate yourself then you’ll hate her and then you’ll hate the day you ever got near her, talked her, or touched her. You’ll spiral in your speedy mode and do something reckless and impulsive, and I’ll have to get you out of it. Then, you’ll have to pay your debt to me which will give me the chance to dictate your life.” He crosses his arms over his stomach. “So by all means, if you want to be stubborn and search for the reason, then go right ahead. Give me the chance I’ve been pining for.”
I want to call him a liar and tell him that nothing will break me from Astrid.
That he can’t manipulate us into being apart.
But this is Jonathan King.
He didn’t lie when he said he’s good with patterns. He has a knack to see the future before it happens. That’s why he scores so many successful deals.
Still, I refuse to believe him.
If he could predict the future, why didn’t he use it to save his own brother?
I sit across from him, my shoulders crowding with tension. “Tell me.”
“I knew you would insist.” His voice drops to a murmur as if he’s speaking to himself. “James’ stubbornness. I swear.”
Then he starts talking, and with every word he says, something inside me fucking dies.
Jonathan was right. I should’ve never known about this.
40
Astrid
I never got a warning when I was crushed by you.
* * *
I couldn’t sleep.
I called Levi, but his phone was turned off. Gloomy thoughts ran rampant in my head all night, spiralling out of control and hitting me in the chest.
What if his uncle hurt him?
What if he needs help?
I’m probably being a tad more dramatic than usual, but their postures screamed a fight yesterday, not to mention that Jonathan King seemed scary. No wonder he’s Aiden’s father and Levi’s uncle. It runs in the family.
Come morning, I rush down the stairs with my backpack over my shoulder. Sarah calls after me to eat something, but I don’t stop.