The Heir (The King Dynasty #1)

5. Running

Chapter five

Running

I awake with a start to my phone ringing the next morning with a text. I moan, cracking my eye open, seeing it's five in the morning on a Saturday. Christopher is already gone, nothing new. He always goes in around this time on Saturdays to get work done so his business isn't inundated with work, then home by two where we usually try to find something to get into.

Tonight we're supposed to attend an art showing at a new galleria. And I can't wait.

Me, Christopher, Brittany, Tiffany, their husbands and Anna are all going to be going together, then this fancy dinner afterwards.

I've been waiting roughly three months for this. I have my dress picked out, a deep green jeweled dress with a side cape, and I splurged on a beautiful pair of Louboutins. My feet are going to be suffering but it'll be worth it. Fashion is worth it .

I open my text, seeing it's a group text from my mother and Melody wanting me to meet them at a park nearby for a run.

Sis, get up! Mom and I are running at the park near you. Meet us there. I want to catch up with you about school! -Mel

Why so freaking early? I want to sleep in! -Izzy

I'm not a morning person, especially on a weekend.

Come on Isobel, you pay for the school, give her a chance to tell you about it. Besides, she wants to show off her skills, you know she just made the track team! And she always gets up at five to run. -Mommy

I smile and swing my legs over the side of the bed, getting up to pad my way over to the master shower and to sensa.

Ok, I'll be there in forty-five minutes. Love you! -Izzy

YAY! Oh my gosh you're the best sister ever! -Mel

I laugh, pulling off my pajamas.

I know., see you soon. -Izzy

I step into the shower and grab my loofah. Seeing a new body wash there, I open the cap and take a wiff. It's the same one on the bedsheets. I shake my head, not really caring for it and grab my jasmine body wash, hurriedly cleaning then treating myself to a nice orgasm in the shower before I hop out and hightail it as fast as I can to the park near me.

I know they only picked it because if they chose a park by their house then I probably wouldn't have drug myself out of bed for it as they live over half an hour away.

I'm dressed in a green racerback tank, matching leggings, with a sweater tied around my waist and have my hair pulled up in a high bun, walking to my mother and Melody who are doing warm ups on the sandbar of the lake. I keep my feet firmly on the blacktop trail, not caring.

"You're gunna get sand in your shoes!" I call out to them, beginning to stretch out my arms.

I'm dreading, positively dreading this run. Because I don't run. I'd rather squat a thousand pounds before I kill myself with cardio. Plus, I have my hair to think about. At least I have a blow out scheduled for later this morning so I don't have to worry about sweating it out ahead of the event tonight, but me and cardio don't mix due to my hair alone.

"God, you're already complaining?" Melody calls out to me.

I eye her frumpy school track suit, wishing I could buy her something different, more mature. Mom won't let her wear the type of work out outfits I wear, as she's only sixteen. However, even so, her body is amazing and the school uniform does nothing to hide it honestly. My sister, though she doesn't have as big of breasts as I do, has almost the same hips, and small waist. Except lucky for her she doesn't have to get her clothes tailored.

I must have my bottom set of ribs missing or something. I've been asked too many times to count if I had a booty butt lift and the answer is no. I just look like it, and wish I didn't.

I'd love to look like Anna, damnit.

I eye my mom who's in just a sensible pair of sweat pants and tank top with thicker straps. She's got her curly hair in a high bun, sports sunglasses, and a teasing smile for me because she knows how much I hate this shit. I eye her arms enviously. She's got Angela Basset arms, and I'm jealous as fuck over them too. Why do I have to be the only one who looks like me in the family?

It's not fair. I got all the curves, Melody got the legs, and my mom has the arms.

Genetics suck, and the fact I know I must take after my dad really burns me up.

I begin jogging in place so I can warm up my muscles, already lamenting the feel of my breasts bouncing. "Well come on you two, I want to get it over with." Unfortunately for me this is an almost four mile trail, but they already know I'll stop halfway and walk the rest. That's when we'll talk.

Forty minutes later I'm laying down on a bench with my head in mom's lap, huffing and puffing miserably. "I fucking hate you guys so much," I whimper, turning my head to take a sip of water.

I made it exactly two miles before I collapsed, crawling my way pathetically to the city bench and dragging myself up, wheezing.

"Ohhhh you'll be fine! Your hips haven't spread near as much as you've been trying to make it seem!" Melody leans down and slaps me right on my right hip, making my thigh jiggle. Her hazel eyes sparkle as she dodges me kicking my foot out at her, tripping right into a group of joggers, screaming as she topples over before being snatched up.

My jaw drops as one of the men steps aside and I see King, picking my sister up by her arm and standing her upright.

My eyes widen, and my throat closes up.

He's running with four security officers it looks like. His men are dressed in black, looking intimidating. But it's only him I've got eyes for. I'm able to easily pick him out from his security just based off his bone structure alone. He's in a pair of black running shorts, expensive looking running shoes, and a black muscle shirt that's completely covered in sweat and sticking to him. His thick hair is wet, and he runs a hand through it as he lets go of my sister.

"You okay?" he asks gruffly, barely sounding out of breath.

"Yes, I'm good. Thanks." Melody glances away shyly but King takes another step towards her and holds out his hand.

"Hendrix," he says. "I'm sorry about you almost getting trampled by my men. What's your name?"

"Melody," she takes his hand briefly and then walks over to me, giving me a side eye.

Realizing that I've just been laying here looking pathetic I gasp, rolling off the bench and trying to stand up, stumbling myself as my shaky legs barely hold me up. But before I can stand upright and look normal he's already got his baby blues on me. If I weren't already out of breath, flushed and sweaty, I'd be blushing full force at the slow drag of his eyes down my body, lingering on my breasts. But he quickly snaps his eyes to mine and gives me a devilish smile.

"Well, hello there," he drawls, and my lips tighten as I feel myself become wet between my legs.

"Hey," I say simply. I turn to see my mom standing up and leaning over to say something to Melody about being more careful because she could have gotten really hurt, when King suddenly whistles and takes a couple steps forward, obviously eyeing my mother's arms.

"Ma'am, those are the most impressive guns I've ever seen. What's arm day look like for you?"

My mother glances over at him and laughs, giving him a shrug. "Intense." She laughs and I stand there stunned while they begin to talk about their workout routine.

"Come on," I grumble, rolling my eyes. "I have a hair appointment to get to. I don't want to listen to work out routines while I'm actively trying to get through one!" Grabbing Melody's arm, I tug her after me and begin to jog, trying to put the pain in my legs aside. "So," I look over at Melody whose face is locked in concentration. She's got the same freckles I do, but hers are more on her face, while mine are more on my cheeks and nose. I hear King and my mom getting chummy as we go, and it makes my irritation rise even higher for some reason. "Tell me how you're liking the new school?"

The second I got my big break I used my earnings to enroll her in a private school. My sister is smart as a whip. I'm talking super gifted, and the minute I could get her into this coveted institution I took it, depositing all of the money I got for landing this client. I'm elated to see that she's liking it.

"It's amazing," she says excitedly. "The track team is so much fun, and I'm thinking about going for cross country."

"Ew," I say, scrunching up my face and making her laugh. "The very thought of cross country is nauseating."

"What can I say? I loovvee to run."

"And I love it for you," I respond.

I look over at the smile that breaks my sister's face and see that this is her happy place. She has a look of freedom and abandon on her face that makes me almost levitate with happiness, but when we turn a bend in the track and I see the upwards hill just ahead of us I blanch.

Struggling to keep my pace, my steps slow to a half jog now.

Clenching my fists, I dig deep and try with everything in me to go faster because King is behind us with our mom still, and I don't want to embarrass myself in front of him and his men. But to my utter horror, the harder I try to increase my pace, the slower I get.

"Fall back." I hear King call out to his men, and I can feel as a group we're slowing down. It's utterly humiliating. My face falls as shame fills me .

Fuck that. I'll make it up the hill and then die.

"Melody, help me!" I gasp, reaching over to grab her hand.

She looks over at me quizzically. "Just stop, Izzy. It's okay, we can take another break. You've never done four miles before!"

"I don't want to look stupid in front of my business partner!" I whisper to her, grabbing her hand hard.

She nods, moves closer to where our hips are almost touching and then links her arm tightly with mine. "Come on, pick it up. You can do it!" she whispers, and then surges forward, pulling me along with her tightly.

I'm huffing and puffing but I'm making it. My lips tighten as I feel sweat streaming down my back. The hair from my pony tail is stuck to my face in some spots, my vision wavers, and just when I'm sure I'm about to pass out we get to the top where I collapse straight to my knees, laying my forehead on my arm. Right in the middle of the trail.

And then I start crying.

I get exactly three seconds to have a self pity party before being picked up into the air and held against a damp, muscular body. My eyes fly open in horror but I can't speak, can barely move. My arm flops to the side and my head hangs over King's arm limply as he proceeds to carry me. He feels like a rock, there's nothing soft about him.

"Aw Izzy! I'm so proud of you! You've never done that hill before!" My mom leans down and catches my eye as I watch the trees pass upside down.

"I am never, ever going running with you guys again!" I hiss at her, too tired to even tell King to put me down. "I don't care h-h-how much you beg, " I gasp, my heart suddenly fluttering and robbing me of my breath. "She's the track aficionado, not me!"

"She's a runner, she's a track star," King sings under his breath. Melody looks over at him and they laugh .

I hike my head up and pin him with a death stare. "Put me down!" I grit through my teeth, narrowing my eyes at him. But suddenly the blood rushes from my head from being in my position for so long and I moan, putting a hand up to my temple. It looks incredibly dramatic but I think I might faint honestly.

"You know, you could say thank you. If I didn't see you with your friend the other night, I would think that it would kill you to be nice."

"Isobel has a very ambitious, determined streak," Mom chimes in. "But she's a softy at heart, don't let her fool you. She'd give you the shirt off her back if you asked her to." My mother looks at me with such tenderness, but I can't enjoy it because she just outed me to the sexiest man alive, who still has me in his arms by the way.

"Mom," I whine, now narrowing my eyes at her. "You're not supposed to say stuff like that to someone I do business with! This is King!"

"Oh!" Mom gasps. "This is the asshole who-" she slaps a hand over her mouth to physically shut herself up.

My jaw literally drops as I choke on my own spit. My eyes meet King's in renewed embarrassment, yet I see nothing but amusement in his as he grins down at me and winks. "Asshole, huh?" he says with a little laugh. "Seems you've formed quite the opinion about me."

My heart races, proving that I might need to go to urgent care.

I put a hand to my chest and will it to slow down. My thoughts take a left turn, quickly reminding me that I'm in a relationship; Christopher would be pissed that another man was carrying me.

Thinking of Christopher I pale and begin to push at King. "P-put me down… I can walk. Seriously, it's not appropriate. Christopher would-"

King's arms tighten around me, and the sudden, possessive move makes me snap my mouth shut. A random clicking noise from somewhere nearby distracts me from the almost feral look in his eyes, and I tense, whipping my head to the side to see paparazzi at the end of the trail with their cameras, taking pictures of us.

A loud gasp erupts from my mother's throat causing me to swing my head back to look over King's shoulder, seeing she's stopped walking, the men have too.

"Mom?" I say quizzically, surprised at the abrupt change of her demeanor. One of the security guards calls out for King, who stops and turns back, making us face them head on where the guards begin to form a circle around us.

Ignoring me calling for her, she lunges to the middle of the group, all the way in between the body guards, reaching back out and snatching Melody in behind her. King's brows furrow at the commotion and flits his eyes to his guards who-already on high alert- become even more so.

"Isobel, get in here!" Mom says in a panicked voice, reaching out to grab my ankle and pull, however, King still refuses to let me go. Instead, he walks into the middle of the circle with them.

"What's wrong?" His voice is laced with concern, however he ignores me trying to wiggle out of his arms, keeping all his attention on her. "It's just paparrazzi. You don't need to be worried, my guards won't let them hurt you."

"Mom, what happened?" I ask.

The same energy that would possess her to quickly pack us up and move to a different part of the country in the dead of the night rolls off of her in waves, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up and my spine stiffen.

"Why the hell are they taking pictures of us!?" she hisses angrily. Correction, she seems angry, but there's a fear in her eyes I haven't seen in years, confirming my suspicions. Keeping my eyes on her I tap King's chest, hard, letting him know I mean business. "Put me down, now."

He tilts his head to give me a slow look, his eyes boring into mine for long, drawn out seconds. I don't know what he observes, but he bends to place my feet on the ground and I take a step towards my mom, wrapping her in a tight hug.

"Isobel, I have to get out of here," Mom says in a desperate tone that causes my anxiety to spike. "I can't be seen."

I look over at King, my mom's panic making tears well up in my eyes. " Hendrix, call them off, get us out of here. Do something!" I implore, worried about my mother who looks like she can't move and might be in the middle of a panic attack.

His eyes narrow as he signals to the two body guards on our right. "Pablo, Gustavo. Go get the pictures back. I don't care what you have to pay. Make sure the cameras are wiped clean, and get their personal information just in case we need it later." The two men move without hesitation, headed to the two paparazzi who snapped the photos of us.

My mom looks up at him. "Who are you? I thought you were an architect?" She stiffens, looking at the two bodyguards walking away. "And why are they taking pictures of you and your friends going for a run?" Mom speaks slowly, looking thoroughly confused like she's trying but failing to piece something together.

The sight of her familiar vulnerability mixed with the confusion causes my heart to pound and I'm suddenly worried she's experiencing a stoke or something.

"Mom, do you feel okay?" I ask softly, reaching out to run my hand down her arm .

King gets a slightly wary look on his face before he folds his arms. "Ma'am, I'm Hendrix King, and these aren't my friends… they're my bodyguards."

My mom snaps her eyes to his and just stares. For way too fucking long. I begin to get nervous, sweating now for a different reason.

"King…" she says slowly and I see it click, her eyes widen. "Ohhhh my god! From The King Dynasty family?"

I purse my lips, because how does she know?

King nods. "Nice to meet you ma'am." My mom's eyes slide towards me and then still. I see it then, clear as day. Something wrong, something bad. We're all quiet for a long period of time until the two guards make their way back to us and confirm the pictures are wiped.

I don't know what to say or what to do because I don't know what the fuck is going on with my mom right now.

"Mom, I really think we should leave-"

"Oh Isobel, you'll make it in time for your proposal tonight," she snaps irritably. "This is much more important. Hendrix." She turns her eyes back to King's. "Does the name Claudio Maniotti mean anything to you?"

At the mention of my dad's name, everything leaves my head and I stiffen.

King stands silent for a second. His brow furrows as he thinks, and I can see the wheels turning in his mind. "Yes…" he says slowly, keeping his eyes on hers. "But I'm not in the mafia. Nor is my family. We only have some connections but we aren't in that lifestyle as we have one of our own."

I frown, blinking. What's that supposed to mean?

King pauses. "Why, what's the problem?"

She points at me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up .

Don't tell him, don't tell him, don't tell him. Make up something! I plead, but she ignores the panicked look on my face.

"Her father is Claudio Maniotti, and I've been running from him for twenty years."

"Mom, it's been too long. He doesn't care about me," I stress. A look passes over mom's face, but I just wave a hand dismissively, scoffing and put it in the back of my brain because honestly, I've been so long without a father, I doubt he cares enough to show up. What would he want me for anyways?

Her other words finish processing and I feel my eyes widen.

"Wait, Christopher's proposing?" A tentative smile breaks out on my face, and I'm so caught up in that revelation that I don't pay any mind when all four of Kings men snap their heads to look at me at the same time, then look at him. "When?"

Is this why he's been acting so weird?

"Tonight at that art show dinner thing you two are supposed to be going to," she sighs, looking tired. "Did you get the pictures back Mr. King? How much do I owe you?"

King clears his throat, his brows are furrowed together and he looks irritated. However, the mask slips on quickly. "Nothing, ma'am. It's handled. Consider it a gift."

My brows go up and I turn to face him head on. "I am so sorry. This really isn't any of your business, you were just trying to go on your morning run and then got tangled up in this mess." I step forward and put my hand on his bicep. "Please tell me how much it cost and I'll make sure to get it back to you. This doesn't have anything to do with you."

King slowly looks at my hand on his bicep, and out my peripheral I see the men usher my mother and sister back a few steps, stepping around and in front of them to give us privacy. My brows furrow, wondering why, when suddenly his other hand comes up to cover mine, squeezing it.

I see a little black smudge of what looks to be ink on his index finger.

"It has everything to do with me. I'm now involved whether you like it or not," he says back quietly. His thumb flutters across the back of my fingers and I feel myself melt. "What are you going to say?"

I look up confused at his question. "Hm? Say?"

King's eyes flash, and his stare becomes even more intense when he looks at me. "When Christopher asks you to marry him. What are you going to say?"

My lips part on a breath. "I-I don't know…I won't know until he drops down on one knee."

King's fingers tighten on mine. "Even though he didn't ask you where the flowers came from that I bought you? You would still consider accepting his proposal?" His voice is upset, his tone forces me to bite my lip as a trickle of anxiety shivers its way up my spine and gives feeling to the doubts that are inside of me. "Even though you meant so little to him that he'd give you four-year old expired medicine when you're sick?" His eyes flash, and his hand tightens on mine as he leans even further into my face. "What the fuck kind of man does that, Isobel? Tell me? And why are you still with him?"

Embarrassment slams into me deep, dredging up old wounds.

Out of my peripheral I see my mother's head pop over the shoulder of one of the guards and my face pinches. "Excuse me, what?"

I ignore her, keeping my eyes on King. "Thanks," I say. "I hadn't told her about that."

He's silent, the look in his eyes something I can't quite decipher. We continue to stare at each other, and I'm acutely aware the way my hand is against his arm is inappropriate but I can't move .

The way he's caressing my fingers is inappropriate as well, however, we don't stop. My eyes lower, glued to where we're connected. He's right. I know deep down he's right. I just….can't step out of my comfort zone.

"I just want to know why," King softens his voice, drawing my gaze back to his. "You're worth so much more than him. It's been months of me raking my brain for an explanation as to why you're putting up with someone who so obviously doesn't value you."

Ouch. Jesus, King.

Heaving a defeated sigh, I wet my lips. Eager for him to understand and leave this be. "I need the dependability he gives me. I had too much chaos in my life growing up. I need a nice quiet, boring life."

There, I said it out loud. It doesn't taste right on my tongue either. Apparently King doesn't think so either because he brings my hand up to his lips and kisses my fingertips, making butterflies erupt in my tummy.

"You're going to die," he almost whispers to me, leaning in so close that his minty breath washes over my face. "He's going to suffocate you until he chokes you out. You aren't meant for a stifling kind of life, Isobel. You won't be happy."

"I'll be just fine," I say quietly, tugging against his hold. But he just grips me tighter, and I gasp at the first wet lash of his tongue against the pad of my index finger.

"Leave him."

My eyes widen. "Are you crazy?" I whisper angrily, tugging at my hand harder but he just nips me with his teeth.

"Maybe," he says. "Leave him, and take a chance on me."

"And do what, King?" I feel my nose twitch as I take an angry breath. Disbelief of what he's proposing causes my tone to elevate and become clipped. "Upend my life? Leave everything I know? "

"No. Come be with me, Izzy." His eyes pierce into my soul. "Be my woman."

I'm shocked speechless, and all I can do is stand here amidst the sounds of his security speaking with my family and the sharp taps of the runners making their way by. A bird screeches above us as it flies by, but he doesn't react, and I don't either. Nothing jogs me out of my frozen state. King has me fully hypnotized with his eyes luring me into his web, and his lips on my fingers promising me just the briefest hint of pleasure.

I can't help but think, what if?

What if I left Christopher?

"You need so much more than him, beautiful."

"You don't know what I need," I snap at him. The spell broken. I pull my hand away harshly and call out to my family. "Let's go, I have a hair appointment to get to."

The guards part at King's nod. Mom and Melody step out of their circle looking a little frustrated. I narrow my eyes and wrap my arms around myself. The day has been too much and it's not even seven-thirty yet.

"Wait." King's voice is back to being stern, commanding. His stern eyes leave mine to find my mother's. "Pablo will tail you, Ms. Brookes, until we know further information on Claudio's whereabouts, and to make sure you're safe. I'll also be having a meeting with the Balducci family in order to verify a few things. I'll be in touch." His eyes slide over to the men and I see a commanding looking, six-foot four, well built man step out from the group and stand to the left of my mom and sister.

"Take care of them, Pablo. I'll be sending someone to relieve you at the end of the day, but I want your full undivided attention on both Ms. Brookes until I say otherwise.

"Yes sir."

Catching my mom's shocked eyes I turn without a word and begin walking away. I can't even muster up a thank you or two fucks about any of this. I'm officially tapped out. Too in shock to trust myself to say anything. And not to mention I'm wiped out from my run. I get to my car and watch Mom pull off with Melody, and Pablo pulls off right after her.

I stay sitting for another half hour with my seat reclined and some instrumental jazz playing, just staring. Contemplating King's words.

He's obviously not going to let up on me.

Will he still be this way even after I have Christopher's ring on my finger?

King paid the paparazzi off and then sicced a bodyguard on my mom and sister. No questions asked. A little thrill courses through me at his take charge attitude, and just how manly he is when he steps in to handle something. My excited sizzle fades though, thinking about the information that was just revealed to King.

And to me as well, honestly.

I actually thought I made up my father's mafia ties as a kid. A fantastical tale I told myself to ease the sting of him abandoning us. I had no idea that his ties are very real. But again, he hasn't shown his face in twenty years so I truly believe we don't have anything to worry about.

But the fact that King gave my mother protection even though we're twenty years out from any contact from my father sobers me.

A sleek black car pulls up beside me, and idles. I know it's King, however the window doesn't roll down. I stare at the tinted window, with his words echoing around my head.

He doesn't value you .

Tears prick the back of my eyes, and though I can't see him, I can feel him staring back at me. The heat seeps between the two panes of glass as if the barrier is non-existent, highlighting an undeniable attraction between us, also subsequently magnifying the lack of chemistry between me and Christopher.

My phone pings just as a lone tear sips down my cheek.

I turn my face away to hide, angling my body away so the back of my head is to him. After a couple of awkward minutes his car pulls off, and I close my eyes trying like hell to get it together.

Pressing my fingers to my eyes, I heave a deep breath when I feel like I've gotten more of a handle on my emotions and then pull up my phone, seeing a text from King.

That's the last time you'll ever turn your back on me and get away with it. -King

I purse my lips, sit my seat back up and drive off without responding to him, because I'm over entertaining his audacity. He'll continue to be ignored.