I was the King brother born without a heart, the one with ice frozen in my veins instead of blood. The man who never met a deal he couldn’t bend in his favor or a card game he couldn’t win.
If only I’d let the queen stay on her chessboard that long-ago night instead of taking that dare she’d thrown my way. Since then, we’d spent nearly three years pushing boundaries neither of us knew we had.
My cell rang in my pocket.
Pulling it out, I read the display and answered with, “Delivery made with minimal bloodshed.”
“Too bad. A good stabbing always puts me in a good mood.” The humor in Danika’s voice had my lips curving. “Did she complain about the color again?”
What would Danika think if she knew her fashionista best friend never even glanced at the color of the lipstick in the tube hiding the microchip at the base?
“No complaints that I heard.”
“I’m sure she’ll send them my way with her next order.” She quieted for a moment as if to gather her thoughts. “Sam?”
“Yeah.”
“Did she look okay?”
“She’s beautiful, Dani. Not a hair out of place.”
Well, until I got my hands on her, but I kept that part to myself.
“You know what I mean. Devani’s keeping something from me.”
“She keeps things from everyone, even her own people. I highly doubt she tells you everything, best friend or not.”
“We are the only people she lets in. Actually, I think you may know more about her than I do.”
“I’m not part of the equation anymore, Dani. She made her choice.”
“She doesn’t love him. You have to know this.”
“I’ve moved on.”
“Have you? Disappearing from a gala to fuck someone doesn’t mean you’ve moved on.”
So, the family had noticed my absence.
“Weren’t you on your way home with this morning, afternoon, all-day sickness? How would you know if I was there or not?”
“I’m Danika King. I have my ways.”
“Dani, did you call to ask about the drop or something else?”
“Sam, you’re my family. I can worry about you if I want.”
I sighed. “I love you too, little sis.”
“See, was that so hard?”
“Good night, Dani.”
“Bye.”
I hung up.
For being younger than me, she played the big-sister role pretty much like an expert. The fact she’d called to check on me, knowing the drop would have left me raw, showed how well she understood me.