Wicked Games

23 - Reid

(Sensitive Content)
Chapter Twenty-Three | Reid

Creed stormed out of King's office, not even bothering to look at me, his face filled with anger and frustration. I called out his name, hoping he would turn around and tell me why he just stormed out of his father's office. I've only been living here for two years, and I consider me and Creed close, but I still don't like to cross boundaries in concerns that King won't like it and kick me out.

I opened the door to his office and stepped through to see his head in his hands as he sat behind his expensive desk that I refused to touch.

"What happened?" His head lifted at the sound of my voice, and he let out a sigh, pointing his hand at the chair opposite him for me to sit. I took a seat and sat awkwardly, waiting for him to answer my question.

"The job I do, Reid. It's a big responsibility. I raised my children in the hope that if anything were to happen to me, they would be able to step up and take over. Creed is my next in line, and I tried explaining that to him, but he refused to listen. He told me he wouldn't be able to live up to my legacy, and I tried to tell him that I don't care about that. I would never force him, but I need an heir, Reid." He sighed, running a stressful hand across his stubbled face.

"I mean you're not going anywhere anytime soon, maybe Creed just needs a bit more time to think about it. Like you said, it's a huge responsibility and I'm sure the thought of him losing his father isn't something he wants to think about." I tried to reason with the man, but even I knew what King was saying was very important. 

If nothing is signed, external people could cause a lot of serious trouble and the Marino name would become tarnished.

"I could get shot in the next ten minutes, Reid. Or even if I survived a gunshot, if it left me unable to function, then someone else will still have to take my place. Creed is my eldest, he needs to step up." King slammed his hand on the table, and cursed to the high heavens, the frustration getting to him. I noticed he had a short temper when I first got here, but he always tried to keep it at bay.

"What about Brad? I know they're cousins, but he's still family." I questioned, but King shook his head. "Amelia?" I mentioned his daughter.

"No. She's in training to become an assassin, that's what she wants to do, and I will not force her to step up." Having no more suggestions, I kept quiet. But my face dropped when he kept his eyes on me, and from the look on his face, I knew what he was about to say.

"King, no." I stood up from my chair and frowned at him.

"I consider you my son, Reid. You're loyal, and good at what you do. Why can't I consider you?" I laughed at his words, not finding it comical, but batshit fucking crazy.

"I've only been here for two years, King. I appreciate all you do for me, but I'm not made to be your next in line. I'm only twenty, I'm a fucking mess most of the time, always grieving the girl I loved and lost. And personally, King, that's not something I'll ever recover from. I won't." King's face softened, and he stood up from his chair and pressed his hands on his desk, leaning forward.

"I believe in all my children, no matter what, Reid. You are my child, I took you in, and I love you like you're my own. I trust you." My chest ached because, before King, no one ever said words like that to me. I was always told I never did anything good enough and that I was a disappointment. King painted me in a way like I should have been hung up in a museum. "No matter how much I ask Creed, he won't do it. So, I'm going to ask you right now, Reid. Will you be my next in line?"