The Heir (The King Dynasty #1)

6. Balducci

Chapter six

Balducci

I sit in silence, watching her car in the distance; that one tear falling down her cheek effectively fucking up my whole day. The exhilaration from my run is dampened considerably, and I decide right then and there I'm done waiting. I'll take her tonight.

Her lights flash and her car creeps forward slowly. It's only when she slowly passes our hidden spot that I let my driver Dennis pull off.

"Dennis, get Joaquin Balducci on the phone, please," I say in a curt tone. "And get me a ticket to that art show downtown tonight." I wasn't going to go, but as I said, I'm done waiting.

And I'm definitely not going to sit around while she gets engaged to another man.

"Yes, sir."

"Also, I think today's a good day to see the family. Take me to King compound, please, for breakfast." I know I'm going to hear it from my father for missing the last six months of our weekly breakfasts, but I'm hoping my news will soften him towards me. "Alert my parents I'm on my way," I say almost as an afterthought. This way my father will have time to sit with his anger before I show up, should he need to.

"Yes, sir."

I would do it myself, but I'm currently fighting to ignore my phone because Isobel is itching to be put into place, and I just know if I look down at my phone and see any more attitude that I'll go fuck her up, and it's still too early to show my hand yet. I take a deep drink of water and listen to the speakers as the call rings three times before Joaquin answers.

"Hello, old friend." His gravelly voice causes me to smile.

"Hey J. How's it going man?"

"You know, same old same old. So to what do I owe the honor of this phone call? I haven't heard from you in months."

I grunt. "I've been busy stalking a woman."

Joaquin pauses, he knows how the King Family operates, all the families underground have their own thing. Though we don't fuck around in territory wars and illegal drugs, we're still just as respected due to our bloodline. Joaquin has been a friend for years, and now he's the head of the Balducci family, giving me just the right connection to ensure Isobel and her family remain safe.

"You found your bride?"

"Yes. And you are not going to fucking believe what I just found out."

"Must be something, for you to be calling me after all these months to tell me about it."

"Does the name Claudio Maniotti mean anything to you?"

He's silent long enough to let me know it does. "That fucker." He heaves a deep breath. " Please tell me you didn't see him on our turf? "

"Nope. His daughter is my chosen." I ignore Joaquin's long suffering groan. "Apparently his ex went on the run twenty years ago after she found out what he was tied up in, and as luck would have it, the fucking paparazzi snapped a picture of us out on the trail this morning. I paid them off but this is New York. They're stationed around with long lenses like roaches all over the place, there's no way I'll be able to catch each one. How far up the hierarchy and how dangerous is this man?"

"I was wondering why it took you so long to find a wife. I see now, that you just had to wait until you could step in some dog shit, huh? Drama king." Joaquin heaves another deep sigh. "Claudio runs in the top circle, but he's just a minion, doesn't call any shots - not to say he's not dangerous, Hendrix. Don't mistake my words."

"Can you help me, friend?"

"Well, do you really have to ask? Of course, I'll help you, dumbass." We share a laugh before his dissipates. "Hey, your brother Mason called me recently-"

Equal parts anger and annoyance rises up in me nice and thick. "The answer is no. Sorry J, no disrespect to you but King Dynasty cannot get caught up in the mafia. It's just not how we operate. You tell that stupid fucker no."

"None taken, old friend. I'm happy your old ass is finally settling down. We'll be on the lookout for Claudio and I'll let you know what we hear."

"I'm not old, I'm only thirty-seven, fucker," I growl into the phone. I don't like being reminded of my age, I get enough shit from Mason and my sister Teresa.

"Well you better hurry up, before she's meeting you at the altar and your ass is in a wheelchair."

I hang up on him. We don't ever say bye, it's not our thing .

A couple minutes later we pull up through the massive gate into King Compound, and I look at my phone, seeing a text come through.

Yeah okay. What are you going to do about it? I can walk away from whoever I want. -Isobel

The text accompanies an apple payment for ten grand.

I smirk, denying it and then texting her back quickly. As I type, I think about how cocky she is to do that, because I saw her account, she doesn't have enough in it to justify spending ten grand all at once like this. Part of me truly is impressed, but the other part of me is livid because I know she only feels comfortable enough sending money because she thinks that fuck up of a boyfriend will be there to bail her out.

Her words to me from the trail, when she had her hand on my arm comes to the forefront of my mind; "I need dependable…nice, quiet, boring life," she'd said.

Is she legit out of her mind? She truly has deluded herself into thinking she'd be satisfied with boring. Mundane. The status quo.

No, that's not good enough for my baby. I mean, she's not even being fucked right. She's too full of life, adventure, and spunk to be held back like this. It's just not fair to her, and I won't let her do this to herself. Looking out the window at my parents' expansive property I rub my hand across my lips.

Boring. I scoff, ignoring Dennis glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

Well too fucking bad, Izzy. You're not getting it.

Even if she was the type of woman who needed that in her life, I still wouldn't give it to her at this point, because whether she likes it or not, a boring, safe man will not protect her. And she needs protecting.

You got money like that? I'm impressed. As far as what I'm going to do about it, I'm not sure yet. I'm busy racking up your infractions until I feel like dolling out the consequences to your actions. -King

Because it'll be on my time, not hers. She doesn't even realize it yet, but she's in for one hell of a punishment fuck when I get her to my house.

You're too cocky for your own good, King. I'm in a relationship, remember? And you keep talking to me like me and you are together and we are not!!! -Isobel

I sigh, irritated that I can't even get the fuzzy feelings from flirting with her because she won't cave and lean into this thing between us. When I pick her up, I'm going to be dealing with her feisty fucking attitude, and God knows what else. I'm sure she won't be trying to let herself fall in love with me.

I have to do something about this Christopher guy.

I just don't know how she doesn't see the man's cheating on her. I mean, I did , and I'm a stranger. Even without knowing that Anna and Christopher were having an affair, I knew something was up when that overly decorated bitch looked me in the eyes last night when I shook her hand.

It's always in the eyes.

I stare at my phone, wondering about a reply when I look up and see Dennis holding the door open for me. As usual he stares straight ahead, giving me privacy. I pocket my phone and exit the vehicle. "Let's be ready to leave in about an hour. Need to get ready for the art showing tonight. "

"Yes sir." Dennis closes the door and I make my way across the pea gravel to the concrete steps of the three story stone building. My mother meets me at the stairs, giving the men who are power washing the house glasses of lemonade. No matter how much money and power this family has, she always takes care of the staff.

My mother, or Madre as I call her, was a maid when my father chose her, you see. I'm pretty sure a huge chunk of our money is funneled into the staff, that practice has rolled over to my household as well. I pay my staff very well.

"Hola, Madre, como estas?" I murmur, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

Madre, though only half Latina, holds tight to her roots. We speak mostly Spanish around her, respectfully. My father used to orate elaborate stories of how he had to hire a tutor to teach him Spanish when he first met Madre just to be able to talk to her because she wouldn't speak in English all the time.

For as long as I can remember my father has been lovesick over my mother. Madre teases that it's the homemade tamales that she treats him to, but no, the man is straight infatuated even after forty years of marriage. Just like I am with Isobel.

And I'm about to ruin her engagement tonight.

I hope she doesn't cry. But if she does, I'll pull her in my arms and hold her.

"Very good mijo, and you? You feeling okay? You look…" Her dark brown eyes flit over mine before dragging down my face and body slowly. "Worried. What's the matter?"

"I am worried," I admit. I never could hide from or lie to Madre, she susses me out every time. She stands patiently as the workers grab the drinks off the tray, however, I don't elaborate and she doesn't pressure me. Madre knows I'll come around when I'm ready .

A trait both Mason and I share.

You know, it really fucking bothers me that it's only because of his family he's with her. They're pressuring him to marry her. He's so weak. He clearly prefers and loves Anna, but because of family pressure he's not man enough to go after what he wants. So instead, he's fucking around on a perfectly decent woman. It makes no sense.

Grow a backbone and go after what you want, dickhead.

But I understand that just because The King Dynasty operates that way, others do not.

"Very well. We can talk about it in a bit," Madre says, turning to give me a kiss on my cheek. I bend down, obliging her. "Your father is inside with Teresa and Mason." She looks me over again and clicks her tongue. "Hendrix, you couldn't clean up? Go up to your bedroom and find yourself a new shirt to put on." I smile at her and lean down again to rub my hair against her face. "Ugh!" she complains with a laugh.

"Fine, Madre. As you wish," I say chuckling, heading into the house and up the stairs to my old bedroom where she keeps the closet stocked with essentials just in case I'm ever here and need something.

Cleaning up, I saunter into the dining room ten minutes later, seeing the servants laying brunch out, and father leaned in speaking quietly with Teresa's husband Brody. Brody, though turned towards my father, keeps a hand on Teresa's expanding belly.

I smile, thinking how happy they look.

The day Teresa picked Brody up has to go down in history as the craziest male abduction story in the history of King Dynasty. She snatched his ass right off a fucking runway in Paris. Now look at them: happy, married, and pregnant. Good for them. I side eye Mason, who's been too busy trying to get into the fucking mafia to take anything seriously in life, and smack him in the back of the head as I sit down .

I hold a hand up as one of my parent's maids bends over to make my plate. "No thank you, I have it."

"Son." I glance over at Father, who's just finished up his conversation. As our eyes meet I bristle, because just like he gave them his undivided attention, he's about to give it to m e now, and I'd rather just eat in silence and not be confronted. Especially with the way I'm feeling currently.

But unfortunately for me, confrontation is Richard King's forte.

"Father," I greet him.

"You forget yourself?" Father says in a curt, business tone. His brows furrow as he pins me with a hard stare. Putting the biscuit down on my plate, I stand back up and walk over to him as he rises from his seat. When I approach him he pulls me into his arms and claps me on the back hard. The warmth from his hands seeps through my shirt and causes feelings of shame that I'm not used to to rise up in me. "You've been too busy for your family?" he says into my ear quietly, exasperating my already heightened feelings. "Haven't even seen you in almost half a year. You only call us now… don't tell me my son's influence has gotten so big that he's forgotten his family?"

I clear my throat and stand back, taking in his silvering hair and striking features which are starting to look slightly older. I feel a pang of guilt for making them wait so long to see grandchildren, however Teresa came through so I've got time. "No, Father, I found her. Her name's Isobel, and I've been busy preparing to bring her home." The shame quickly morphs into anticipation, and I realize that's why I'm so on edge.

I'm incredibly anxious for tonight. Because how I handle my possession of Isobel set's the course for the rest of our lives. It's a big deal.

"A bride?" My father's voice is as harsh as his hands as he locks them down on my arms in an unmoving grip. "That's what you've been doing? Why didn't you just say?"

"Because it's incredibly complicated," I respond with a sigh.

His eyes narrow, and he tilts his chin up. "Remember, son, there are no complications, only-"

"Solutions. Yes, Father. I know."

Father nods his head and lets me go, gesturing for me to go back to my seat. As I load my plate I glance over at Mason, who's putting a bite of eggs in his mouth looking thoroughly bored as usual. I take in his black hair, winged eyebrows, dark eyelashes, and full pink lips. Teresa and Mason took after my mother's genes, boasting darker more exotic looks. I got my dad's light brown hair, blue eyes, and stocky muscular build.

Piercing him with a stare, I wait until he puts his eyes to mine before speaking. "I talked with Joaquin on the way, and if I hear one more time that you're trying to get in with Balducci, I will hunt your ass down myself and take you out."

Mason rolls his eyes at me. "Bro, what's it to you? You have a life! Leave mine alone!"

"Because we're not a criminal organization!" I snap, my stern voice raising loud over the others at the table as I chastise him. Though I am at the end of my rope regarding him and his behavior, it feels good to let out some of this steam I feel. I point my knife at him driving my point home. "You keep it up and you'll embroil this family in scandal, and get us caught up in shit that we have nothing to do with. We all have worked too hard to keep our name above board and keep the influence that we have just to have you go and fuck it up, because you don't want to work hard to find your own path. It should not be Teresa and I's burden. It's not fair to us, Mason. And it's not fair to all the others in King Dynasty who came before us. Not to mention, it would hurt Madre. Is that what you want?" I glare at him, letting him know I'm not fucking around.

Mason throws down his napkin and stands up from the table, glaring at me. "You are not my father, Hendrix!"

I stand back up as well, raising my eyebrow at him. "No, but I wont hesitate to put you in your place if you keep fucking around. That's what family does, Mason." I hold up my finger and point to him. "I'm giving you six months to either join my business, or give father or I a business plan so you can start something on your own. We're done with this shit. You're twenty-four years old, you should be getting something established right now."

"Or what, Hendrix? Or what?" He bellows across the table at me.

I narrow my eyes at him, my voice hard and to the point. "Or, Father and I will cut you out of the will and take away your inheritance. You want that life so bad, you can have it without this family's money, or influence."

Mason takes a step back, shooting a look at father who is still eating in peace.

Father and I already had this discussion months ago, trying to give Mason a chance to find himself. But, instead of utilizing the time given, he's still fucking off trying to join the Balducci mafia family. My latest phone call with Joaquin was the last straw. Madre's face looks pinched as she stares down at her plate trying not to cry.

Mason's always been the black sheep of the family. Been in more trouble than I care to even talk or think about. This is part of the reason why I don't come around as much, Mason makes me want to break his face open.

"You can't do that!" Mason snarls at me from across the table. "You're not the fucking head of this family. "

Father sits back and pins us both with a stare. "Sit down." We both sit, but I am pissed. "Mason, what your brother has told you is true. Your mother and I have tried to give you space for you to find your own way, but son, we do not want a life where you are constantly running from the law, having a slew of enemies across the globe. Wondering if one day the phone is going to ring in the middle of the night telling us our son is dead-"

"Father-" Mason goes to interrupt but father moves fast.

"Hey!" he snaps in a hard voice that begs no argument, eyes narrowing as he tilts his head down and glares through lowered brows down the table, affectively making everyone tense up. No one wants to get on father's bad side, ever. "I am speaking. This is my house and you will shut your mouth, give me the respect I deserve, and wait until I am finished. I am about sick of you, boy."

The maid discretely sees herself out the side door as Madre presses her napkin to her eyes, sniffing. Brody looks away, clearly uncomfortable, and Teresa blinks away tears of her own at his harsh, unforgiving tone.

I reach for my water, wishing I had whiskey, because fuck. Mason knows better.

Father's soft spot is for women, his wife, and Teresa. Not men. And that's including Mason and I. He never budged an inch on his expectations of us, even as children. That's why I butt in so much into Mason's business, it's better me than father. He should have just let me handle it. Mason's eyes fly to mine, holding my stare. I give him a small, encouraging head nod.

"Lo siento, papa." Mason says quietly, tightening his lips.

My eyes roam his face thoroughly. For a second I'm proud of him for keeping his cool because father has reduced us all to tears at this very dinner table a time or two more than I'd like to admit. Even me .

Everyone is quiet for a second, but Mason is so mad I can feel the smoke from across the table.

"You get your ass together and you get it together quick. This is our last warning to you, Mason." Father sits back in his chair, places his hand over mom's, who is still crying quietly into her napkin. The worry my brother has given her I'm sure has taken years off her life.

"Excuse me." Mason leaves the dining room without another word. Leaving us to it.

I want to go after him, but there's only so much coddling that you can do before a person is infantized. When everyone returns to eating, my thoughts go back to Isobel, wondering how she's doing. I pull out my phone, intending to reply to her text from earlier.

We don't have to be together for me to dole out consequences, Izzy . -King

I finish up my brunch with my family and leave, getting ready for this art showing at The Gallery later tonight. At home, I thread the expensive green tie I purchased to match the jeweled tone dress she bought for tonight and smile at myself in the mirror.

Damn, we're going to look so good together.

I can't wait.