Taming the King (New York Kings #1)

Prologue

SAMANTHA

I quickly throw the last of my things into the bag and scan the room. Clear. Checking my watch, I know I’m cutting it close.

Even if the toxic dick knows it is over, and I’ve told him again and again, he’s still under the illusion I’m his. Maybe because we both have access to the apartment, but I am not his. We have not had sex, or even touched, for several months. We have also slept in different rooms for several more.

Moving quickly down the hall of the small apartment, I pause at the front door.

Exhaling, I finally let go, and I touch the wall. “Thanks for having me.”

As I shoulder my second bag and exit, I close the door. I run down the steps, passing our messy neighbor’s mail on the ground.

The car has most of my things in it already, the furniture is his to keep. The few boxes of personal, non-critical stuff, including my childhood books, are hidden in the shared garage.

I do not have time to get them, so they are hidden behind old furniture.

I’ll come back for them, but only when I find time and it’s safe.

A smile covers my face as I keep my head down and climb into my sedan. Putting on sunglasses, I lock the door and do a quick sweep of the area. He is nowhere in sight.

Gunning the sedan, excited about the exit, I peel off and head out of Los Angeles. I then start my long drive across America.

And into my future.

After too many states to remember, too many average coffees to recall, and never enough old music hits from the sixties, seventies, and eighties, I pull over.

I stopped on Route 66 and a few other key places and took the odd pic. I messaged them to Mom and my best pal, Cassidy, to tell them I was safe and still on the road.

There is one more day to go. One more day to go before my new, big job.

Make that new, small job, but who cares? Not me. I just need a change, but I also need this.

Stability.

As I stretch on the roadside, I tie my dirty blonde hair up and click my stiff neck. I inhale, lean in, and turn up the old Stevie Nicks song.

I grin wide, look down at my shabby comfy driving clothes, and get back my old sedan. I drive on thinking of my new job.

After years as a young but highly respected chef at world-class restaurants in Rome, London, Paris and even one in Miami, I decided it’s time for a change.

Time for less pressure and also less stress.

I started at the bottom, and it was a long, hard road. It took a decade to get in the zone. From flipping burgers aged sixteen in LA, to preparing mains in London, which cost around two hundred pounds a plate.

After I returned to LA, I met him, and I picked up bad habits.

Like loaning him money, letting him mess with me, making me feel worthless, and worse.

The poisonous, energy thief will have to find someone else to prey on. I can’t remember the number of times he told me I was no good. That I was not skinny enough. Not pretty enough. Not smart enough.

That I was no good.

Thank God the job offer came when it did, but in the future, I will need to be more alert. No more poisonous guys, and no more getting trampled on.

Shaking my head, I clear it and look ahead. I am now free, and I am starting afresh.

As I head towards upstate New York and push on, I breathe deep. I need to head north of NYC to a fancy remote area.

I look down and give myself a lecture.

I am already kind of curvy, and I’ve eaten all kinds of weird healthy and unhealthy foods as I did my cross-country drive.

I finish one more wheat biscuit and an ultra-healthy juice from a health nut place back a state.

Pushing on, I check the fuel gauge as a call comes in. After checking the caller ID, I warm up and hit answer.

“Hey, you.”

“How’s my girl?” she asks.

“Your girl is doing great, Cass.”

“Yeah, she is! And where is my girl?”

“She’s about to enter the state of New York,” I say, finally feeling closure on the drive.

“And is she in the zone or needing a rest?”

“A rest,” I say.

“Well, have one before you arrive, you still have time. Check into a small-town motel and crash. Maybe have a beer or two. Even a man or two?!”

“You know, you’re a bad influence on me.”

“Your point?” she says, all sassy.

I shake my head. “So, what’s up with you?”

“Well, the kids are fed and now harassing each other. Hubby Ted is using a weird stick to hit small balls along the grass for some reason, and I, I have some time to myself. For once.”

“Yeah, you do. So maybe there is a balance.”

“There is.”

“And are you now glad you didn’t sell your kids after they lost it last week?”

Cassidy laughs loudly. “Oh, God! I forgot about that, but yeah, they really did lose it.”

“Yeah, don’t sell your kids, but if you do ever want to, I still get first refusal.”

“And they say friendship is dead.”

“Not dead. Just tired,” I say. “Like me.”

“Are you okay?”

“I guess,” I say, feeling it.

“Good girl, and who do you call when you need to talk?”

“Mother Nature or God?” I ask, playing along.

“And?”

“You?” I say.

“That’s my girl,” Cass says, making me feel better.

We both sigh, and she says sadly from LA, “I’m gonna miss you.”

“I know, you too,” I say, “but I need a change.”

“You do, but just remember. You are about to work for some wealthy old recluse on some fancy estate, you won’t get out much. Get laid before you arrive. It’ll be healthy for you.”

“I get laid,” I say, taking offense.

“Right! In your imagination doesn’t count.”

I sigh, knowing it has been some time. “Alright,” I say.

“Good girl.”

“Okay, now, back to you. Go have a wine, put your feet up, and read a naughty romance.”

“About?”

“I dunno, some grumpy bastard who pulls some woman’s pants down and makes her come.”

Cassidy sighs. “Like me in the old days, before Netflix, Zoom, and kids.”

“Exactly.”

We both laugh, and there is a pause. “Good luck, babe, and call me in a few, okay!”

“I will,” I say, “Love you.”

“And get some, and also send a pic!”

“After what I’ve been through?”

There is silence and it goes on and on.

“Babe, not all guys are toxic. And not all guys will hurt you.” I sigh, and she is likely not wrong. I just need time to heal.

“Just take a chance.”

“Goodbye!” I say with a smile as I hit end.

Feeling slightly better, I look ahead and think about sex. Then, how long it has been.

I am already on a couple of dating apps, but who knows what they are like in remote upstate New York. I sigh, yawn, and drive on.