Bones (Dark Kingdom, #5) — Chapter no 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

BONES

I’M SITTING IN my office at Kingdom when my door flies open. “Just because you’re in business with me doesn’t grant you access to my office whenever you want,” I inform Jasmine.

“Actually, that’s exactly what it means.” She plops down in front of my desk, letting me know she’s staying a while.

“You may go,” I dismiss her.

“I think I’ll stay.” She gives me a bright and annoying smile

“Jasmine,” I growl.

“You’re being a dick. What’s new?”

“And you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” Jasmine never comes to visit me, so I know exactly what this has to do with.

“You know … I’ve never considered you to be like your father”—she shrugs—“but I see it more and more with Mia.”

I fist my hands to keep from reaching across the desk and wrapping them around her neck until her eyes roll into the back of her head. “Get out,” I order through gritted teeth.

She stands and walks over to the wall. Pulling a picture off it, she runs her fingers over the glass and smiles. “You all had other dreams.” Walking back over, she places it on my desk in front of me. “You wanted something more.”

“Yeah, well, we don’t always get what we want, do we?” I ask, arching a

brow, and she ignores my question.

“I know you have feelings for her.”

I snort.

“But trust me, you want someone who would choose to stay with you,

not because they’re forced.”

My eyes meet hers.

“Don’t be your father, Dillan. You have a chance to give someone what you never had. She needs your help, and she deserves to live a life, whether

that is with you or not.” With that, she exits my office.

I pick up the picture. It’s of Cross, Titan, and me on our college baseball field. My brother, Grave, took the picture. He hated sports. Well, plus he’d never be able to pass the drug tests.

Leaning back in my seat, I sigh. “Fuck.” Jasmine is right. And I hate that.

_______________

IT’S A LITTLE after noon when my door opens, and my brother walks in.

“Hey,” I say, sitting back in my chair and giving him my full attention. He seems to be doing better. But I thought he was better before, and he

obviously wasn’t.

“How are things going?” I ask him.

He nods. “Good.”

“The wedding?” I push. I haven’t gotten to speak to him privately since that night at his house. After Titan arrived, we sent April and Grave to bed while we stayed behind and cleaned up the broken glass inside the kitchen.

A crew was there the next morning to replace the windows.

“It’s still on.” He gives a soft laugh.

“That’s not what I meant.”

He sits down in the seat across from me. “Do you love her?” he asks.

I don’t answer.

“I love you, Bones. As a brother, as a best friend, and as a father.” He sighs. “You practically raised me. And if this is what you want, then I’ll support you.” He pauses, licking his lips. “But I want you to be happy. You deserve that.” Looking down at his hands in his lap, he goes on, “I want you to find what I have with April.”

I go to open my mouth when my cell starts to ring. Picking it up, I frown, seeing it’s Haven. “Everything okay?” I ask in greeting, already jumping to my feet.

“He’s awake.” She sniffs. “Luca’s awake, and he’s asking for you and Mia.”