Page 80 of Reign of the Queen
"Your grandmother is coming here? Now?" Finn whispers, his face paling rapidly.
"Fuck, we are all gonna die," Mateo mumbles, and I hear Tom snort at the comment as he sets up a line in a non-responsive Carter's arm.
"No one's going to die...I hope," I answer without complete confidence. "She's coming to ensure my safety and yours by proxy."
"Is there a chance she will give him to Mack or my dad?" Theo asks at my side with concern.
"There's always a chance, I guess, but highly unlikely, and if she thinks the threat is directed at me specifically, I actually feel sorry for what's going to happen next to your dads." I shrug while watching Tom hook up the line in Carter's arm. He inserts the drip, but Carter never moves or wakes up.
"What do you mean? What would happen next, Mia?" Mateo asks with genuine curiosity and exhaustion.
"The apocalypse," Tom answers back without looking away from Carter.
The three kings all turn to stare in Tom's direction and then in mine. It's unnerving having them all look at me with that mixture of worry, fear, and curiosity, like I'm some rare animal on display for them.
"Yes, well, let's hope she calms down a bit before she lands, shall we? '' I state with restraint, knowing the likelihood of that is probably a big fat zero.
"You three come with me. You look like you're ready to pass out and could use some food and water. Carter's in good hands now with Tom." I nod in the direction of the doorway.
Mateo's the first one to walk out of the room with a look back at Carter and Tom. Finn follows him out, but Theo hesitates. "Theo, I promise he's safe now. Tom will make sure he's okay. If he wakes or needs us, Tom will come get us." I move forward and grab onto his wrist.
He stares at me, trying to read my thoughts with that penetrating look of his, nods, and follows the other kings out of the room. I lead them to the kitchen area, where I start pulling water bottles, fruit, granola, and yogurts out of the fridge. I only have healthy shit here, they’re going to have to eat what I have and what I eat. Carter's in for a rude awakening when he gets up. I'm pretty sure he's never eaten anything that doesn’t contain heavy carbs in his life.
"Do you think Mack already knows and is looking for him?" Mateo asks, sitting down on a bar stool, grabbing a bottle of water and a granola and tearing into it.
"Yeah, probably my dad too. There's no way that the security guard didn't call it in the minute we left." Theo grunts and grabs an apple, taking a large bite.
"How long do we have before they try to come here?" Finn asks, reaching out for a water bottle.
"Depends. I can't see my dad coming here without a hundred percent certainty that Carter's here and that he will be able to get at him. He's psycho, but he's not completely insane. He's not going to recklessly risk a war with Mia's grandmother. Trying to barge into her granddaughter's house uninvited would do just that." Theo takes another bite of the apple, but the exhaustion across his face tells me he's forcing himself to eat.
"Mack's not going to give a shit. He's a bull in a China shop. That fucker is reckless, unstable, and full of anger issues. Once he figures out Carter's not at any of our houses, he's going to come looking for him here; it's just a matter of time." Mateo sighs and pulls out his vibrating phone.
"Shit, it's my mom." He answers the vibrating phone, tension going through his body. He puts her on speaker so we can all hear and motions for us all to be quiet.
"Mom?"
"Hijo, where the hell are you?"
"Why, what's going on?" Mateo answers her warily.
"Mateo, Mack Pemberton just came here looking for Carter, saying something about someone taking him from a hospital bed incapacitated. The police chief was with him."
"Mateo, you little fucker, what have you and your shit disturbing friends done now?" We hear Mateo's dad yell out in the background.
We all look at each other. That was quick. Mack is already going door to door looking for Carter and with the police chief, no less. Shit, I hope my grandmother gets here before they do. Nonetheless, I know that Tom and his men will not stand down to the police chief or Mack. My grandmother's wrath is scarier than both those idiots.
"Mom, Dad, I haven't done shit. I'm with a girl I picked up at the club last night. I have no fucking idea what you're talking about," Mateo lies through his teeth.
"You're with a girl? So, you're not with the other three?" Mateo's mom asks.
"Boy, you get your worthless ass back to thecasanow, I don't know what the four of you are trying to pull, but I don't need to remind you that we don't need the police chief here." Mateo's dad yells again.
I watch Mateo take a significant shaking inhale of breath and then straighten his shoulders. "I told you, I'm with somechicaI met at the club. I'm fucking high and still drunk, so I'm not going anywhere yet. Whatever you're accusing me of is bullshit," Mateo spits out.
I lock Mateo’s dad’s comment about the police chief not being wanted around their home for a later review in the back of my mind. Something is up with that, and I need to ensure I have all the details just in case it somehow impacts us or is useful to me later.
"Okay,hijo, when you are sober enough to drive, please come home. We will be having a discussion. If you hear from Carter, Mateo, it's best to send him home before he's in more trouble." Mateo's mom sighs on the line and disconnects the call.
