Page 65 of Disobedient Pawn

“Thank you, my King.” I desperately wanted to spit on the ground but turned and marched for the exit instead.

“Hold on.” I froze mid-stride, my hands balling into fists inside the wide arms of the robe. “I want Devin to go with you.”

When I turned around, I looked from Devin to my father and then to the man hanging by the chains. Where would I end up if this all failed? Would I be hanging from those chains? Was this another test? My boys were the only ones I ever did errands with and my father knew that. So why did he want Devin to come with me?

“Are you coming, Devin, or do you need a reminder of what a disobeyed order from the King means?”

My father smirked, and I knew that I’d hit the chord he was after. I’d bet the right way and rolled snake eyes for a win.

Devin was three years older, and I recognized the insanity in him. The same insanity that my father had and his father had. It was the same look that said he would do whatever he could to earn my father’s ear and force me out, but Devin didn’t know who he was dealing with or what I’d do to ensure that didn’t happen.

I pulled open the heavy metal door and my father called out, “oh and Nash, try not to embarrass the kings again. The stunt with those from Meadow Grove was quite enough for one month.”

I bit my tongue from snapping back and nodded. “Yes, my King.”

My father had asked me how the Kings symbol ended up on the chest of Austin. I told him I didn’t know, and the last time I saw him he was naked. Which was the truth. There was that moment between us where I wasn’t sure he was going to let it go or press, but his phone rang which ended the conversation.

As we left the gathering hall, I stripped off my soiled robe and wanted to tear it in half but instead folded it to fit under my arm. Devin tossed his into the communal laundry hamper. I didn’t trust putting my shit in that hamper. I controlled my fate, and leaving behind my DNA was a fuck no.

“Are you not washing yours,” Devin asked.

“I like to hand wash mine. My Father always says that you must take pride in your cleanliness. I take that very seriously.” Devin ate up my lie and glanced at the hamper, and I knew he was thinking of pulling his back out. “We better get going. These guys get twitchy if I’m late.”

“Anyone else coming,” Devin asked.

“Liam.” I didn’t elaborate any more than that. The less I told Devin, the better.

After laying my hand on the palm reader, the lock clicked and released, and the heavy door opened. I let Devin go in front of me.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, walking away, leaving Devin by the front door to wait.

Once in my room, I stuffed the robe in a bag and hid it behind the trap door I had secretly built myself. I’d deal with it when I got home. Grabbing my gun, I tucked it into the back of my jeans and pulled on my leather jacket to cover it before heading out. I heard Liam’s voice as I approached the front door. Devin didn’t look too happy to see him, but that wasn’t a surprise. He had hated Liam since the family picnic last summer when Liam beat him in the obstacle course. Devin lost every round of running, shooting, and fighting. Such fun times with bloody noses and burgers to wash it down.

“We’ll be taking the truck.”

I didn’t bother to slow down as I whipped open the front door and jogged down to my black truck.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing,” Devin growled as Liam grabbed the front passenger side door.

“I’m getting the front seat. What the fuck does it look like I’m doing?” Liam stood toe to toe with Devin. My second in command was quiet and reserved most of the time, but when pushed, Liam was one scary fucker.

“I’m older,” Devin argued.

“Coulda fooled me.”

“Enough. Liam gets the front since he was already part of this drop,” I said, ending the argument.

“Why exactly are you coming anyway,” Liam asked as we all got in and our doors closed. “You’ve never been interested in the grunt work before, so why the sudden change?”

“I do what my King tells me to do, and he wanted me to come with the two of you. Maybe he no longer trusts that you can do the job properly,” Devin said.

I glared in the rearview mirror. I didn’t know how two brothers could be so different, but Devin was nothing like Myles. Then again, Devin had been sent here to attend school from a young age and was completely cut off from his family, including Myles.

“If my Father lost faith in me, he’d put a bullet between my eyes. Maybe he plans on moving me up the ranks, and you’ll get this job,” I said, smiling as Devin’s smug smirk fell. His brown eyes looked black in the dark as I held his stare.

“I doubt that. I’m too valuable.”

“Whatever you say.” It was amusing fucking with him. He was an ass-kisser with ‘Yes Man’ disease, which was why he’d only make it so far before hitting a wall. What Devin neglected to learn about my father was that he was not stupid. Even if he praised Devin and patted him on the head, he knew Devin was just trying to suck his dick. Did I trust either of them to do the right thing? Fuck no.