Page 30 of Vicious King

He’s my heir.

And I know without a doubt that’s not something that Rina’s ready to talk about yet.

I’ve had people coming and going out of my house, setting up the home gym for me. I hired a crew to come paint the entire outside of Rina’s house because the old paint was fading and chipping. There’s another crew arriving in a few minutes to build her a new front porch.

I’m surprised I don’t fall through the rotten planks every time I walk across it.

Charlie’s in school, and although I didn’t insist that guards sit in class with him, there is a four-man detail sitting in unmarked SUVs, watching the school at all times.

I won’t take any chances with the safety of my family.

Rina didn’t argue when Bacon and Ricky took her to work this morning. I wanted to go with her myself, but she assured me that she’s going to quit and get her things. She wanted to do it in person.

I’m unhinged enough that I wanted to follow her, just so I could keep my eye on Dr. Dickwad, but I’m also trying to make this transition as easy for her as possible.

I snort as the construction crew shows up to work on the porch.

Okay, nothing about this is easy. Or simple.

But I have no plan to stop.

The day goes by fast. My home gym is finished before noon. The painters will be finished with Rina’s place before the end of the day thanks to a bonus and the threat of a gun against their heads.

And the porch will only take two days.

I can live with all this. I want as little inconvenience for my sunshine as possible.

Bacon and Ricky pull up with Rina in the back of the SUV just after the DoorDash kid zooms off and I’ve tucked the bags of things I ordered into the house.

“Uh, Carson?” Rina says as she strides over to me, her eyes glued to her house.

“Yes, baby.”

“What’s happening?”

“You needed some repairs.”

She blinks up at me. “Some repairs?”

“Yes.” I pull her against me and breathe her in. Christ, she’s more essential than air. “The new appliances are coming on Friday. That’s the soonest I could get them, even after bribing and threatening. We need to get back to Vegas, where people respect my name.”

She barks out a laugh. “I don’t need new appliances.”

“You’re adorable.”

“Carson—”

“Just let me do this. It’s the bare minimum, Sunshine. You deserve much more than this, and you’ll get it when you’re ready, but for now, give me this.”

She blows out a breath and glances back at the house again. “I always liked a white house with black shutters.”

“I know.”

She spoke at length about her dream house when we were younger. I don’t know if that image has changed in her head. I guess I should ask her since I’m having a home renovated for her as we speak.

“I’d like to take you out for dinner tonight.”

Rina watches me quietly, and then a smile slowly spreads over her gorgeous-as-fuck face.