Read Online In Wicked Chains (The Wicked) by Avril Ashton - Free Book Online Page B

“I’m going to talk and you will listen, got me?”
    Muffled grunts.
    Kingston sank the knife in deeper and blood trickled freely. “Nod if you understand.”
    The man nodded.
    “Do not call my phone again. If you do, I won’t be as cordial next time. Stay away from my place of business and my home. You show up at any one of them, at any place I happen to be at, and I will end you. Do you understand?”
    Again he gave a jerky nod.
    “The only reason you’ve been allowed to live for all these years is because of me. That can change in a heartbeat, believe me.” Kingston backed away, wiping his gloved hands on his jeans with a scowl.
    The man shifted onto his back, meeting Kingston’s gaze with familiar dark eyes.
    “This is the way you treat your father, boy?”
    Kingston lunged forward and grabbed him by the neck, squeezing. “You are nothing to me,” he grated. “Nothing. My parents are the Hughes. You’re nothing but a drunken fuck-up who knocked up my birth mother.”
    Earl’s dry lips curled, exposing teeth brown with decay. “I loved your mother and Wilma loved me, too,” he panted.
    “Yes, well, she didn’t know any better. Strung out as she always was.” Kingston dropped his hold.
    “Don’t speak of your mother that way. God rest her soul.” Earl struggled to a sitting position and made the sign of the cross.
    Kingston rolled his eyes, cringing at the dirt and blood caked under the man’s nails and on his clothes. “At one time I thought you were a different man, now I see you’ve always been a drunken predator. If you come near me again, I will not hesitate to put you out of your misery. It’s the least you deserve and it’s a long time coming.” He turned his back and walked toward the door.
    “How’s that gal you call your sister? Still protecting her? You weren’t doing a good job the other day at your fancy club.”
    Spinning in a circle, Kingston flung the knife at Earl’s head. The blade grazed the older man’s leathery cheek, blood spraying before it embedded in the headboard. “My sister got the best of you when she was fourteen. You really think you have the balls to handle her now? Forget about me protecting her, she can handle you. And when she’s done carving you up, her man will eat you alive. Make sure your will is in order when you decide to make your move.”
    Earl just stared at him, a hand cupping his bloody cheek. King spat on the floor and walked out, pulling his cell phone from his waist.
    Eight forty-three. He had to get back to his house, to Elina. He left her there, in his bed, looking so peaceful. I should’ve left a note. Damn.
    She’d understand once he showed up with breakfast. Smiling, he climbed into his truck and dialed. The phone rang five times before Niko answered.
    “‘Lo?”
    “Don’t let Sasha know it’s me. You’re still sleeping?”
    “Yeah. Uh, hold on.”
    He listened while Niko murmured to Sasha, soothing her like no one else could.
    “Alright, I’m in the bathroom. What’s up?”
    “We, ah, we have a problem.” He brought Niko up to date on Earl’s recent resurfacing and the possible threat he could pose to Sasha.
    “What the fuck are you telling me, King? You think he’ll come after her?”
    “I don’t know. He mentioned watching her at the club the other day. I just-I want you to know, to be on the look out.”
    “And you want me to keep this from her?”
    “You know how she can be. She’ll hunt him down and confront him herself and I don’t want her to have to look at him ever again.”
    “I’m not keeping secrets from her, do you understand? I won’t. This is too important and she’ll never forgive me.”
    “How did I know you’d say that?”
    “Because you know how I feel about your sister.” Water ran in the background. “I’m telling her as soon as she wakes up.”
    “Damn it. Can you hold out for a couple hours at least? I want to be there, too.” Kingston pulled into his garage and stared at the