“I did that. She came back,” I growl defensively.
He snorts. “You expect me to believe that she chose to come back here for you to parade her around like a fucking trophy?”
“No!” I shout. “She came back here because Haven told her you were shot.”
His jaw sharpens, and his eyes slide to the door. “What was she doing talking to my wife?” he demands.
I let out a long breath and make my way over to the window that overlooks Vegas. I hate this city. I’ve always wanted out. I think that’s why I bought a secluded beach house in Malibu and a log cabin in the mountains. I even have a penthouse in New York. I never get to use any of them, though, and never will.
“Bones?” he commands at my silence.
“Who shot you?” I ask, keeping my back to him.
“Doesn’t fucking matter.” He snorts.
“It does.” I turn to face him, placing my hands in the pockets of my jeans. “Who shot you?”
He looks away from me, his jaw sharpening. He looks like shit. His color is yellowish. He’s lost some weight, his cheeks hollowed, lips chapped. “I don’t know.” Lowering his dark eyes to his hands that sit on his lap, he sighs. “I didn’t get a look at them.”
I frown. “You sure?”
“Of course,” he snaps. “Why would I lie about that?” His eyes meet mine.
“What if I told you it was your brothers?” I offer, seeing how he feels about that idea.
He gives a rough laugh that makes him flinch from pain. “No. They’re stupid, but they don’t have a death wish.”
Leaning my back against the windowsill, I cross one ankle over the other. “I shipped Mia to my beach home in California. And three days before you were shot, she had visitors.”
His brows pull together. “Who? Who did you tell she was there?”
“Not a soul.” I shake my head. Well, technically, that’s not true. Nigel knew she was there because he went with me, but he knows all of the Kings’ secrets. He would never tell. “But that didn’t keep your brothers from finding her.”
“Wait.” He holds up a hand. “My brothers found her in California?” I nod. “What does that have to do with why she’s here now?”
“They roughed her up—”
“Fuck!”
“And told her to return to me. Make me fall in love with her and marry her.”
He stares at me for a long second. His eyes are full of confusion, then he laughs. “Ow.” He places his hand on his stomach. “Don’t make me laugh, Bones.”
“Does it look like I’m joking?” I arch a brow.
He sits up straighter. “You can’t be serious …”
“Three days later, she called your phone, and Haven answered. Told her that you had just been shot. Haven sent her the jet, and Mia showed up while you were in surgery.”
“I don’t …”
“We all think that they hurt you to bring her back when she didn’t move fast enough for them.”
He lays his head back on his pillow and lets out a long breath.
“That night in my office, you told me that your father wanted me with her. Why?” I demand.
“He wants Kingdom,” Luca says simply. “He always has. Says that your father left him out of his share.”
I nod, turning to face the window again. I already knew that, but I wanted to hear it again. Make sure that I’m not losing my mind or going crazy. Because that sounds fucking insane. “He just thinks that’s some pussy will make me hand over my life?”
“Hey!” he snaps from behind me. “That’s my sister.”
“Watch it, Luca. You sound like you actually care about her,” I say dryly.
“You son of a bitch!” he snaps.
I turn around to see him trying to get out of bed, but he’s connected to too many machines. And he’s too weak. He may be awake, but he won’t be himself for a while.
The door opens, and Mia comes running into the room. “What is going on?”
“Stay the fuck away from him, Mia,” he growls, still trying to get out of the bed.
“Luca—”
“Where is Nite?” he demands, interrupting his sister. “I want him here. Now!”
“I’ll call him for you.” I pull out my cell and bring up his number.
“No, Dillan …”
He picks up the call but doesn’t speak. “Hey, I need you to come and pick up Mia. She’s at the hospital. Luca is awake and wants you to take care of it.” My hard eyes meet her large ones. I hate the way my chest tightens at the thought of having to walk away—hand her over like she doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. But I’ve always been that guy who does whatever must be done. And I have to let her go for her sake. She’ll be safer away from here, away from me. “She’s your problem now.” I hang up. “He’s on his way,” I say and pocket my cell, exiting the room.