Indulge (Beneath the Blaze #4)

Chapter 1

BELLA

Kensington, London, England.

Taking a deep breath, I smooth down my deep pink dress and run my fingers through my hair one final time.

I know I’m about to walk into an interrogation zone—in my own damn house.

My three brothers think they’re slick, creeping in while I’m getting ready.

They think I don’t realize that even though I ‘ran away’, they had eyes on me the entire time.

There isn’t a corner of the United Kingdom I could disappear without one of them knowing.

I just needed time away from this fucking family. From the pressure. From the judgment of being the wild one.

And mostly, from the wedding I’m refusing to be the bride in.

I knew the second I came back home, they’d be here. Telling me what to do. Orchestrating my life just like our father did until he was shot in the damn head in front of me.

Nope. Not going there.

I never saw eye to eye with him, but that didn’t mean I wanted to see his brains splattered on the floor as I hid in the wardrobe. Or that I wanted to hear my mothers screams haunt me every day since.

I grab the bottle of vodka from my dressing table and knock some back. I’ll need it for the conversation I’m about to have.

As I tiptoe as best I can down the stairs in my heels, I debate making a run for the front door. Louise and Dex will be here any minute to save me anyway.

So, instead, I plaster on a smile and walk into the living room. The second I do, three sets of eyes snap to mine.

All brown eyes, just like our father. Jet black hair. All looking miserable as ever.

“Oh, wonderful, the full ensemble of brothers. I must really be in trouble,” I say with a sweet smile.

I can see Kane is biting back his response. He gets me the most. I might be the youngest sibling out of the four, but he was Mom’s baby boy.

Until recently, he was my best friend.

“Isabella,” Theo cuts the silence and stands.

I lean on the doorframe.

“Yes, Theo. How can I help you, brother dearest?”

Ryder takes a deep breath behind Theo, shooting a glare at me to stop.

I raise my eyebrows at Theo.

“We just came here to talk,” Theo says calmly.

I nod, slowly.

“Talk? Or order me around?” I counter.

My fists clench by my side as Theo lets out a sigh.

“Bel. Look. You know this isn’t what we want. But elders’ orders are elders’ orders. We cut a deal with the Quinns, and that deal is fucking massive for us after we almost fucked it all up. We need you to help us.”

I scoff and let out a laugh.

“Help you? Marrying a fucking Irish stranger in another country is helping? You know I want fuck all to do with this life. You told me after Dad died I could step back and live my life. I’m not doing it.”

I glare at him as he takes a step forward and runs his hand over his stubble.

“Bel, this is the last time I ask you to agree. Do you understand? I’ve tried to be nice. I really have. But I can’t keep fighting you on this. It’s a King order now. You will be marrying Reggie.”

The words cut through me and steal my breath. My eldest brother just pulled an order out on me.

I shake my head in disbelief. I thought if I kept pushing, they’d give up on this.

“Come any closer and I’ll punch you again,” I warn him.

He looks exhausted. Not just by me. Probably by the war he’s just won to take over London.

But like any King, that was never enough. Now he wants America, and I’m the fucking key to his alliance.

“Please don’t punch me in the bollocks again, sis.”

Kane laughs behind him.

The first time Theo asked me to marry Reggie, I couldn’t help myself. I punched him—right in the fucking dick.

“You must really not want kids, Theo. Because you keep asking me the same thing, except this time you’re telling, not asking, and I think that deserves a kick to the balls.”

He shakes his head, giving me his famous death glare. I know deep down they all love me really. And that I can, quite literally, get away with murder with them.

But I’m not budging.

I’m never getting married. Ever. End of story. There is no one man I want to be tied to for the rest of my sorry life on this planet.

I’m Bella King. The menace. The free spirit, as my mom calls me.

I am not a housewife. I’m not the kind of woman you’ll find at home baking cookies, waiting for my husband to come home from work.

Kane waltzes over and wraps his arm around my shoulder.

“Please, Bella. We really need your help on this one,” he whispers.

And it almost softens me. Only because it’s him.

“I can’t, Kane. I can’t do this.”

I step out of his hold just as the doorbell rings. They all share a look.

“What? I’m not allowed to go out either?” I spit.

“Coming!” I shout.

“Your flight leaves in two days. You’ll have clothes and everything you need delivered there already,” Theo tells me.

I huff.

“You really want a slap round the face, don’t you?” I step in front of him, looking up.

Theo might be a mafia boss now. But to me, he will always just be my irritating older brother.

“You’re making this difficult. Go ahead. Hit me if that’ll make you feel better.”

My hand twitches by my side.

“If you make me do this, I’m no longer a King. And that means I’m no longer your sister.”

He flinches like I have just slapped him. But it’s the truth. As much as that hurts me too.

I don’t give him a chance to reply. And they all know better than to follow me.

I don’t even look back round, I don’t want to see Kane’s face. Deep down, the thought of leaving my brothers, my protectors, is what hurts.

My one stable thing in life is them.

“Text me the flight details. This is the last time you’ll see me,” I call out before grabbing my clutch from the side table and slamming the door so hard it shakes the frame.

“Bel? You okay?” Dax asks.

“Fine,” I whisper, fighting back the tears.

He follows behind me to Louise’s Bentley and opens the door for me before slipping in beside me.

His huge hand clamps down on my knee.

“Talk to me.”

I shake my head, pulling out my lip gloss from my purse.

“I just need to forget tonight.” I turn to him, and my eyes lock on his big, deep blue eyes.

His face softens as he tucks a curl behind my ear.

He’s been my best friend my entire life. He and Louise understand the real me, not the one I hide away from my family.

“You know we got you, Bella,” he whispers, squeezing my thigh.

Louise turns her head from the driver’s seat, her blonde hair up in a curly bun.

“So, back to mine? Or are we going to the club? What you feeling?” she asks me.

“The club. We’ve got two days to party,” I tell them.

I’m going to miss them.

But is this really a life? Spending every day partying. I’m nearing thirty.

I work for my brothers doing the shitty admin they hate.

I wonder what life could be like in America?

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to make it easy on my brothers to get me there.