Sinful Legacy (Sinful #2)

Chapter 1 ATHENA

ATHENA

“It’s an honor to present this year’s Community Award to the King family, in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to our city.”

The applause swallowed the room, and cameras flashed.

Faces turned, but my brain shut off the moment those words hit the air, muting the voice of the man with the fake smile and too much hair gel.

I stood on the grand stage like a well-trained actress, a perfect smile stretched across my red-painted lips. That smile wasn’t real, it never is.

I looked out at the sea of faces—smiling, nodding, clapping. Their expressions were as fake as mine, as carefully arranged. They looked at us with awe and admiration. But underneath? Jealousy. They all want to be us, but they never could.

We are The Kings, and in this city, we don’t just rule, we own it. My father, Maddox King, ensured that. Everyone, from the police chief to the mayor falls in line when my father speaks. Not because they want to, but because they know what happens if they don’t.

Our family is untouchable. My mother, still the head of the Romano family, is just as feared as my father. Together, they are the town’s power couple.

And there is us —my brother, Ace King, and I.

He was born for this life. At twenty-two, he already walks, talks, and commands like our father. He stands tall beside me, his dark Armani suit clinging to his broad frame, black hair slicked back, his jaw tight with silent amusement.

He’s everything my father ever wanted, but me? I’ve never fit into this world, not really. Twenty years later, I still feel like a stranger in my own life. My father expects me to be like my mother, but I’m not her. I want something different, a normal life.

Now I wear designer dresses I hate, heels I can’t walk in, and a hairstyle my mother approves of.

Well, almost. They’ve never forgiven me for dyeing my hair red.

I was sixteen when I did it behind their backs.

My father nearly exploded, and my mother had to calm him down for a week.

They tried to convince me to go back to brown, but they can control my life, not my hair.

Another round of applause pulled me back. My father accepted the award with his infamous grin, shaking hands, charming the crowd like only he can. I stood beside him, smiling like I meant it, clapping like I cared. The second I stepped off that stage, I finally exhaled.

“Your enthusiasm is palpable, sis,” Ace muttered, sarcasm dripping off every word. He snatched a glass of champagne from a passing tray and smirked. “Really convincing.”

“You should try faking it sometime,” I said, grabbing my own glass.

“Nah,” he said, sipping. “It’s more fun when I don’t.”

Ace and I have a love-hate relationship. I love him with every part of me, and he annoys the hell out of me with equal intensity. But he’s my brother, and in our world, blood is everything. He tilted his head, watching me.

“You’ve got the resting bitch face now, fix it. Father’s still watching.”

“Fuck off, Ace.”

“With pleasure, but you know I’m stuck here like you are.” He sighed, his gaze sweeping the room for distractions. “If I ditch, Dad will have my balls in a box by morning.”

I laughed because this was typical. Dad always lectures Ace before we leave our house because he can be unpredictable sometimes. Will he get too drunk? Will he talk shit to the press? Or will he sleep with someone from the press? You never know. It’s always a surprise with Ace King.

“You deserve it.” I shot him a smirk

Before he could fire back, a familiar voice cut in. “Are you being a little bitch again, Ace?”

I didn’t even need to look to know. That easy laugh that sets my body on fire like only Mason Rivera can. He clapped Ace on the shoulder, joined by his sisters, Isadora and Seraphina. The Rivera siblings. The only people we let close.

Their father runs one of our family’s law firms—one of the clean ones. He’s been in business with my father for years, and the Rivera kids? They’ve been in our lives just as long.

Isadora—blonde, sharp, and stunning at twenty-one. Seraphina is the wild one, always in trouble with a perfect smile for her twenty years. And Mason…Mason is trouble.

Tall, confident, magnetic with ocean-blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. The press calls him the town’s dream man, and well, he is.

Mason Rivera is the only boy my father has ever liked to be around me.

The only one who could touch me in public without consequences.

Mason looks after me, always having a protective hand around my waist, always watching me like I was something fragile, valuable, and everyone knows how he looks at me, not that he is trying to hide it.

“There is a party tonight,” Isadora said, leaning on the table. “We’re going. You guys in?”

“Sounds better than staying here,” Ace muttered.

“Yeah,” Seraphina grinned, lifting her glass. “Let’s cause some trouble.”

I drained the last of my champagne. “I’ll grab my coat.”

“I’ll come with you,” Mason offered, already stepping beside me.

His hand slid to the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd like I was his to protect, and deep down, I wanted to be.

He charmed people as we passed, smiling like he was born for the spotlight.

Mason Rivera could convince the devil to hand over hell’s keys if he smiled hard enough.

‘‘I’ll let your father know where we’re going. Just in case.” he said.

“He won’t care if you’re with me.”

“And I plan to keep it that way.”

After I grabbed my coat, Mason and I made our way back toward my parents. They were deep in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Rivera, surrounded by a few unfamiliar faces, all dressed in silk smiles and practiced charm.

Mr. and Mrs. Rivera welcomed me with warm hugs and kind words. They’ve always treated me with more affection than most blood relatives do.

“Mr. King.” Mason extended his hand with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what he was doing.

My father gave a curt nod, shaking it once.

“Mrs. King,” Mason continued, leaning in to greet my mother more warmly.

“We were thinking of heading out soon. Just the five of us with some food, maybe a drink. A quiet night.”

My father’s face didn’t change immediately. He let the silence stretch just long enough to remind Mason who was still the one holding all the power. Then came that twisted smile.

“As long as you keep Ace in line…” he paused, eyes flicking to me, “and keep Athena close, you have my permission.”

“Dad,” I huffed, “I’m twenty. Not twelve. I can take care of myself.”

He didn’t blink. Before I could argue further, Mason spoke up, his tone smooth as silk, his grip at my waist grounding me.

“Of course, Mr. King. She’s safe with me. Always.”

“Go ahead,” my mom said softly. “Have fun tonight.”

My mother smiled at us like she already saw our future. Maybe because people say Mason and I are meant to be. We’ve grown up side by side, and he’s always been the one with his hand on my back, shielding me from the shadows in our world. He’s careful with me, patient, and gentle.

Everyone already assumes we’ll marry one day. Our families practically encourage it. He’s the only man my father doesn’t want to shoot for touching me. Maybe because Mason plays the long game, because he knows I’m not ready, and he’s willing to wait. Until then? He has his flings.

I’m not mad about it. I can’t be mad. I know I’m not ready to give him what he wants right now, and I won’t give pieces of myself out of obligation or just to keep him interested. That’s not who I am.

My brother sleeps with whoever he wants; he is a womanizer. But for me? It’s different. My father would kill the man who touched me before my wedding night—slowly, and then he’d probably bury me right next to him for allowing it.

But it’s not just about my father. It’s about me, I don’t want to do it.

Yes, I’m curious and I’ve thought about it.

What would it feel like to be touched like that, to be seen in that way?

To lose myself in someone—with someone. When I listen to Isadora and Seraphina talk about their hookups, I wonder what it’s like to be free that way.

To give yourself to someone and not be afraid of what it means.

But I won’t give my body to a man who sees me as a prize or a story to tell.

Call me a hopeless romantic—Isadora does all the time, but I’m not ashamed of that. I’m proud of it.

I know, deep down, that I’ll give everything to Mason one day—my heart, my body, my name, and when that moment comes, he’ll deserve it. Every inch of me.

Until then, all I have to offer him are the stolen kisses we share when no one’s watching, and God, I do like kissing him. His lips are soft and warm, but always a little too careful, like he’s holding himself back for my sake.

After hugs and goodbyes, we walked back to where Ace, Isadora, and Seraphina were practically melting from boredom. The second Ace spotted us, his eyes lit up with exaggerated hope.

“Can we leave now?” he begged, already halfway to the door. “If I have to listen to another one of these old bastards brag about their real estate empires, I swear to God I’ll down the nearest bottle of scotch and set the curtains on fire.”

Mason laughed, releasing me from his arm. I already missed the warmth of his touch, but I kept my cool.

“Yeah, let’s go.” I said.

“Ooooh, it’s going to be a good night,” Seraphina sang as she drained her glass of champagne in one dramatic gulp. Judging by the look on Mason’s face, he was already regretting his decision to come. I just hoped tonight went smoothly.

A successful night would mean- Ace doesn’t screw someone’s wife, Seraphina doesn’t get blackout drunk and dance on a table, and Isadora doesn’t claw out some girl’s eyes because she bumped into her.

But with our little group? You never know.