Axton Read online

At the mention of Taylor, he didn’t like the look in Paul’s eyes.

  “Leave.” He ordered the security, and they all waited until they were alone.

  Paul sent out a sigh of relief.

  “Now, what about Taylor?”

  He saw Paul was struggling. His hands were fisted, and he growled. “She’s not here to be your PA.”

  Axton wasn’t surprised by that.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “Carla.” Paul looked at each of them. “She’s here to get justice for Carla.”

  “How the fuck would working here do that?” Easton asked.

  “Because working here brings her close to the files, right? The rumors, the scandal,” Axton said.

  “Look, ten years ago…” Paul paused. “I promised her I would help her. Do you understand? Carla was dead. Killed. We both know that it wasn’t an accident.”

  “What do you know?”

  Paul sighed and reached inside his jacket. Easton grabbed him as they thought he was reaching for a weapon, but Axton saw him pull out a book. A very old book.

  “This is Carla’s diary,” Paul said. “Inside, she says how she had a relationship with one of you. How she ended up pregnant and how one of you said it had to be kept quiet. Taylor … she asked me to hack the morgue’s systems and files. I did, and I discovered that her pregnancy wasn’t on her autopsy.”

  “You also know money was filed to the morgue director at the time to look the other way?” Axton asked.

  “Yes.”

  “What is Taylor’s big plan?”

  “To get your secrets. The ones that you’ve kept locked up tight for your fathers. The secrets that seep poison into this fucking place. What keeps you on top.”

  Axton stared at Paul.

  “Where is she?”

  “Taylor has enough to take your fathers down. Not only will this send your fathers to prison, it’ll create a scandal that will shock you and the entirety of the Four Kings’ Empire. It will expose the company to the practices of the past and mean you’d be investigated. That would affect shareholders, not to mention the ramifications of what your fathers have done.”

  “She hasn’t done anything yet, right, so what the fuck is this all about?” Romeo asked.

  “She wants the truth,” Axton said. “About what happened ten years ago.”

  “Do you blame her? You and I both know Carla didn’t kill herself that night. We all know that.”

  He stared at Paul, and he saw the truth in his eyes. “You saw?”

  “I know what happened. I know … what I wasn’t supposed to. I had the truth.”

  Axton didn’t even realize that Paul had known. “Why didn’t you tell?”

  “He threatened my family, Axton. Told me I wasn’t to say a word otherwise he’d slit their throats and then come after me. I wasn’t willing to risk that. Taylor, she doesn’t even care. She wants the truth and will do everything she can to get it.”

  “When did she leave?” Axton said. He knew for a fact if she was in King’s Ridge, her life was in danger. He had to keep her away from there.

  “Thirty minutes ago. I got her text.”

  “You’re coming with us.” Axton went straight for the elevator. He didn’t even wait to see who followed him.

  Karson grabbed Paul, and they made their way down to the parking lot. No one stopped them. Who would? They were kings here.

  No one else could ever touch them.

  Climbing into his car, Easton joined him at the front while Romeo and Karson trapped Paul in the back of the car.

  “It’s a long drive, and you better hope nothing happened to her,” Axton said.

  They all had secrets to protect. His father would hurt her for what she knew, and if the nurses didn’t keep him properly restrained like they’d been paid to, he would be a fucking poison on the town.

  He wasn’t about to think of what Taylor was going to do to him and his company. Not until he knew she was safe. Those damn files were a fucking curse. He remembered the first time his father showed them to him. It was always with a warning that in life you’d make enemies and the key to success was to keep those enemies down, to have everything on them so you could use it when you needed to. It’s why those files had never been destroyed. They were always there to keep each other in line. It was only he, Easton, Romeo, and Karson that had changed those ways. They didn’t see each other as enemies but as allies. They were best friends.

  For a long time, silence filled the car until Paul started to talk.

  “Which one of you was it, huh?” Paul asked. “Who kept Carla’s relationship a secret? Who knocked her up?”

  Glancing at Easton, Axton saw his friend was having a really fucking hard time right now keeping himself in check.

  “I’m curious, how did Taylor know that I was in need of hiring her?” Axton asked, changing the subject.

  “It was pure coincidence. Holly has a great mind with writing codes. I acquired one that she’s been working on. I wasn’t aware of her past until she came in for an interview. I wanted Holly’s great mind, and in doing so, it opened up the role for Taylor to take.”

  “What’s David in all of this?” Axton asked.

  Paul stared at him, and he glanced in the mirror before returning his gaze to the road. “He was part of the plan.”

  Axton chuckled.

  “The one that helped her to seduce. That taught her everything she knew.”

  “He fucked her?” Karson asked.

  “It was her idea. This was all business to her, and David helped her to get past those insecurities. To be able to do what she needed.”

  “To seduce us,” Axton said.

  “I don’t know if she planned to seduce all of you or just one. From the moment this started though, you’ve tested her in ways that no one else has.”

  “You know, buddy, you’re a really fucking useless friend,” Romeo said. “You know what we’re capable of, and yet you’re spilling all of her secrets as if we’re your best fucking friends.”

  “You won’t hurt her,” Paul said. He stared at Axton. “Because I also knew who left the messages and roses. I saw that too.”

  Axton gripped the steering wheel. “You’re the all-fucking-seeing eye. Maybe we should pluck that out.”

  “No one gave a fuck about me, Axton, but then my father wouldn’t bow down to yours, would he? You see, I knew for a fact that there were originally five points to that crown. Because my dad wouldn’t bow down to the shit they wanted him to do, they tossed him out.”

  “And you as his son made sure you came back fighting for more.”

  “I made sure that I stayed on the right side of the law.”

  “I’m done talking,” Axton said.

  He drove all the way to King’s Ridge, breaking the speed limit and not giving a fuck if anyone tried to stop him. He’d take them all fucking on, but right now, he intended to get Taylor to look him in the fucking face and tell him the truth.

  Do you blame her?

  She didn’t want it to be you.

  It didn’t matter.

  He had to make sure she didn’t release those fucking secrets. Not yet. Not until he had everything in place. He would not go down for his father’s sins, nor would he let Taylor either. She’d stolen, lied, and manipulated her way into this information. With Paul’s help, they’d hacked security systems, and Axton didn’t want anything to happen to her for this.

  Like always, he’d do whatever it took to protect the four kings. It’s what he’d always done.

  ****

  Stumbling out of Axton’s home, Taylor quickly rushed over to her car, not looking at anything. Her eyes were blurry from tears, and her entire life felt like it was falling apart. She felt broken, shattered. Everything she thought she knew was a lie. Axton didn’t do anything. Those damn letters and the roses. He’d been the one to leave them all those years ago. Why? What the hell was going on? Nothing made sense anymore.

  What the hell
was she going to do now?

  Unlocking her door, she went to open it, but she was suddenly grabbed from behind. A hand covered her mouth, and an arm banded around her waist, holding her captive. She tried to scream, but no sound could come out as she was forced backwards. She wasn’t able to see anything, and then she was dumped in the trunk of a car. The file on Carla was thrown inside.

  The light blinded her, so she couldn’t see who it was that had taken her.

  The trunk slammed shut, and she held onto the file like a lifeline.

  She felt the car moving, and tears kept filling her eyes, slowly falling down her face. Fear consumed her, and as she closed her eyes, she thought of Axton, his face changing from that of someone serious to the few smiles she’d gotten from him when they were both alone together. He wasn’t trying to pretend to be someone else.

  This was just who he was, and she’d loved every second of being alone with him because he made it worthwhile to care.

  Dammit.

  She didn’t want to have feelings for him.

  He was part of the problem that she was constantly fighting.

  Her sole reason for doing what she did. She couldn’t fall for him, and fucking refused to allow herself to even think of doing that.

  Closing her eyes, she gritted her teeth, gasping as they went over a speed bump. Her body felt so exhausted. She didn’t know what was going to happen to her.

  The car was suddenly parked, and she heard voices. None of them she recognized but then everything was muffled in the car.

  Just as she was about to start hitting the trunk roof the catch released and opened up. She blinked from the sun and stared up at Paul.

  “What?”

  “Hello, Taylor.”

  “What the hell, Paul? You scared the hell out of me.” She sat up and came to a stop when she saw the four kings all standing just a few feet away. What made her a little sicker was the fact they’d ridden down to the lake.

  Staring past where Axton stood, she saw the spot where Carla’s phone had been. When she’d stared out and seen the body.

  “What the hell is going on here?” she said.

  “We could ask you that same question.” Axton stepped forward and pushed Paul out of the way.

  She let out a gasp as Axton grabbed her arm and was suddenly tugging her along. She wasn’t wearing heels, so she was able to keep up as he threw her to the ground. He glared at her, and she knew in that moment that Paul had told him everything.

  “That’s right, sweetheart. Your little friend came through with the truth. I know everything.”

  Taylor didn’t like his sneer or the way he stood over her. In her mind she thought about all those damn letters and they came from him. Everything she had learned had only confused her more.

  Getting to her feet, Axton made to push her again, but she shoved him hard.

  “You don’t know everything.” She got to her feet, glaring at him.

  “Why is she pissed?” Easton asked. “We’re the ones she’s been spying on.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me the truth, huh?” she asked. “Why leave all those damn letters for me to find? Was it all just a game? Was Carla a game? Knock her up and then kill her.”

  “I had nothing to do with Carla,” Axton said.

  She went to push him again, and he caught her arms, crossing them over her body and spinning her so that she facing the rest of the kings.

  “But he did,” he said.

  She stared at Easton. “You’re lying. It was you, Axton. Always was. You were the one that is always in charge. You make the decisions.” She was sounding stupid, even to herself. Those damn letters. The roses. That was all Axton to her, not to Carla.

  “Nope. I couldn’t give a fuck about that bitch. She meant nothing to me. Nothing at all. Easton here, it started out as a game, didn’t it, Easton?”

  “Axton,” Paul said.

  Taylor looked toward her friend. Anger unlike anything she’d ever felt consumed her. “You stay out of this. You picked your side.”

  She hated how she liked Axton’s arms around her.

  How he felt holding her.

  The pleasure that seemed to fill her just by being near him.

  “Tell her the truth, Easton. Tell her how it started out as a game to piss your dad off.”

  “Axton,” Easton said.

  “You see, our fathers always had a plan for each of us. A plan that meant we had to marry someone suitable. Someone who they thought was worthy to be a queen to our king. We rule this place, just like everywhere we go and everything we touch. It all belongs to us.” He spoke the words against her ear, and she saw Easton fighting. “Tell her the truth. After all, she’s done nothing but be honest with us, right?”

  She hated that, hated that he was using her own failing against her.

  Not once had she been truthful. Not to him, not to anyone. They didn’t have to be honest with her.

  Heart pounding, she watched as Easton nodded. “It was a game. It started out as a game. I thought Carla was cute, but I knew she’d just be a bit of fun.”

  Taylor gasped, thinking about her friend. The pain of knowing she’d been used and all this time she’d not known. Carla had kept his secret.

  “You bastard!” She tried to get away from Axton, but he wouldn’t let her go.

  He was stronger than she was.

  Harder.

  She couldn’t get at Easton to kill him.

  “We had fun for a long time. She was different than a lot of the women I was with, or girls. They were normally all the same. Joking and laughing at boring shit. Not Carla. She was different. She didn’t allow me to pacify her. I was the one that knocked her up.”

  “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

  Easton took a step forward. “And I was the one that fell in love with her,” Easton said. “You can believe this all you want, but I did love Carla. She was my everything. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want this life. The money, the title, and shit. I couldn’t give a fuck.”

  “You killed her.”

  “No. I wouldn’t ever hurt her. I loved her, and I … I was going to take her away.”

  “He was going to run with her,” Axton said.

  “Will you shut the fuck up?” Easton asked. “I can handle this.”

  “No, Easton, you fucking can’t. If you could have handled this, Carla would still be alive,” Axton said.

  “You think you’re any better? Sending love notes and roses like it was fucking Valentine’s Day.”

  “I kept her alive, didn’t I? What did you do? That’s right. You got yours killed.”

  Taylor cried out as Axton shoved her out of the way just as Easton charged him. Dazed a little, she watched as Easton and Axton fought.

  This wasn’t what she wanted. Moving back to the car, she rummaged about in the trunk looking for something to stop the fight. Pulling back a lever, she opened up a case and saw the gun, just a small pistol.

  “Taylor, I’m sorry,” Paul said.

  “Fuck you, Paul. You made your choices right now, and I for one, don’t give a fuck what you have to say.” She didn’t like swearing, but right now, hands shaking, she was nervous.

  Loading up the pistol, she stepped forward, took aim and fired. The sound of the gunshot stopped Easton and Axton from fighting. Karson and Romeo had been trying to break it up.

  They all turned toward her, and she pointed the gun at Easton.

  “Now tell me what the fuck happened.”

  “You won’t shoot that,” Axton said.

  “I spent the last ten years getting into shape, changing the person I am, and getting an escort to teach me how to fuck. How about you stop underestimating me right now? Tell me what the fuck happened!”

  ****

  Ten years ago, the night of the bonfire

  “What are we going to do?” Carla said.

  Easton cupped her face, pressing his forehead against hers. “You said you didn’t care about the money or that s
hit, right?”

  “I don’t. I’ve lived without money all my life, Easton. Why does it always have to come down to that?”

  He kissed her head. “Because I am so fucking used to it always being about money. About power. I want you, baby. I want only you.”

  She smiled. For a long time, she really didn’t think this was going to happen. When Easton showed her any attention, she’d always thought he had another reason for playing her. Like he was treating her as a bit of fun, but she loved the attention. That had been some time ago, and they were still together. She’d given him her virginity, and now they were making plans for the future.

  “What about Taylor? Can I tell her?” she asked. She hated lying to her best friend but also knew she didn’t have much choice, not if she wanted to keep this with Easton. He valued his privacy, and because of that, it meant she kept their secret. Not that Taylor would have a problem.

  “You’re going to have to let her go. If we do this, we have to run and not look back. You, me, and our baby.” He placed a hand against her stomach. “Just the three of us. You have to make a choice.”

  “Then as always, I will choose you and our family.” She felt guilty for not thinking about Taylor. They’d been the best of friends for as long as she could remember.

  “Okay, I will call you as soon as I’m ready. Pack what you need and nothing else.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Hell, yeah, I’m sure.” He kissed her lips. “I love you, Carla.”

  “Love you too.”

  She watched him leave and quickly rushed back into her home. Her parents were out at work, and she didn’t have a lot to pack anyway.

  Her diary lay on her bed, and she picked it up.

  “You’re going to stay here.” Going into her closet, she put it in the secret compartment before starting to pack.

  After thirty minutes, she was ready just as her cell phone buzzed.

  Easton: Meet me at my place.

  She frowned but shrugged. He knew what he was doing, and she trusted him.

  Moving past her mirror she stopped as pictures of her and Taylor caught her eye.

  “I’m sorry, Taylor.”

  Putting her fingers against her friend’s face, she smiled. She knew her friend would be happy for her, just so long as she was there.