King's Sword

Poison

VANCE

"Yes. For the one hundred time, Mr. Ambrose was working in accordance with his contract." Adelaide says with her arms crossed over her shoulder, glaring at my scrawny parole officer —Oliver—as he scribbles something down on his notebook.

Mr. Hill stands next to her on the other side of the study, flipping through the original King's Sword contract that hasn't been modified for our early morning meetings.

I bounce my leg as I watch her wait for the next stupid question thrown at her.

"While under Mr. Ambrose's protection, you have been shot at, concussed and actively attacked with harm and possibility of death, is that correct?" Oliver says with a narrowed look on his brown eyes as Adelaide nods. "And do you think such things would have happened if you had not been under Mr. Ambrose's protection?"

"Yes." She lies swiftly, making Oliver glance at me doubtfully. "My private security controlled the threat and reported all damages and injuries to the police. Mr. Ambrose gave his statement and so did I. The contract was never breached and he protected me to the utmost of his ability." She sits up while grabbing a pen from her top drawer and gestures to the paper before Oliver. "Now if that will be all, we have to go pick up my brother from the Airport." Oliver sighs and pushes the paper towards her as I stand, she signs it and hands me the pen over her shoulder. I take it and sign the line below hers.

"As always, keep me posted." Oliver takes the paper and nods towards Adelaide before seeing himself out. Mr. Hill adjusts his glasses before he sighs.

"Mr. Callahan agreed to the settlement with one condition." Hill says, making me groan as I sit on the desk.

"He wants to meet with me in person." Adelaide says dryly, making Hill nod nervously. "What do you think?" She glances back at me, the scar on her left cheek now nothing more than a dark line across her skin.

"No." I say as if it should be obvious, but Adelaide sighs. "He's in no position to be making demands!"

"Both lawyers will be there. You will be there." Adelaide says to me with a pleading look. "We hear him out and then kick him to the curve, Vance. We cannot go to court with this and risk that kind of exposure for the both of us." I push myself off the desk and shrug.

"Mr. Hill, let the record show that if he so much moves in her direction I'm putting a bullet between his eyes." I say, to which Hill nods in disgust and hurries to leave the study. "Christopher will be here tomorrow." Adelaide sits on her desk and nods down at her hands.

"And then I'll be free." She whispers as I move to stand between her legs and pull her face up to look at me. "I keep telling myself that I should feel disgusted with myself, that there should be some hesitation inside to prove to myself I haven't lost my heart. Is there something wrong with me?" She seems baffled.

That is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. How can she look up at me with those glossy brown eyes and rosy lips and ask me if there is anything wrong about her?

"Adelaide," I sigh, bringing both of my hands up to her neck and ears as her bottom lip trembles. "Do you want to feel disgusted with yourself?" She shrugs.

"I should, right?"

"No." I scoff with a shake of my head. "No, there's absolutely nothing wrong with you, little one. If you want blood, I'll give you blood, but don't you dare for one second think that's there's anything wrong with you." She tugs at my shirt and drops her head on my sternum as my arms go to wrap her shoulders. "Everything that repulses you about yourself, the lack of remorse and pity, the way you laugh when they bleed," She pulls back to look up at me so innocently I could cry. "To me, they make you most terrifyingly beautiful woman I've ever met." I smile down at her proudly.