Page 85 of Reign of the Queen
"Mateo Cabano, Mrs. Stratford. Thank you for coming." He nods, looking unsure of himself. I can see the sweat beading on his hairline. His hair is still in disarray from our earlier ministrations.Damn he looks sexy all rumpled.
Stella stares him down with a deep glare like she'd like nothing more than to remove him from her presence. "Yes, well, Mr. Cabano, I certainly wish it wasn't under these circumstances that I've come to see my granddaughter."
"Who is the ill guest that Clark was telling me about, Mia?" Stella turns her penetrating gaze back in my direction. I almost want to take a step back from the venom in her tone, but to do so would show weakness.
Straightening my shoulders and holding her stare, I reply, "Carter Pemberton, grandmother." I inhale a deep breath, straightening my spine. If I show Stella weakness right now, and if any of them show her fear, she will eat us alive.
"He overdosed, to my understanding?" she states with distaste, one perfectly coiffed eyebrow raised.
From all the years I lived with my grandmother, I know she loathes addicts. She thinks that being addicted to anything is a weakness. Well, accept power, I guess; she doesn't seem to mind that. I don't necessarily agree with her but arguing has gotten me nowhere in the past, and right now, we need her help to ensure Carter remains here and recovers.
"Yes," Theo answers Stella's turned back.
Stella's glare momentarily moves back in his direction. "Is this something he has done previously?" She questions, moving further into the room, forcing Finn to have to move backward or collide with her. He doesn't even hesitate, moving away from her like she’s a vicious prowling wolf ready to attack.Smart man.
She takes a seat in the oversized gray leather club chair like a reigning queen, ready to pass judgment on her subjects. Eyes tracking every movement the guys and I make. When I go to sit between Finn and Mateo on the sofa, my grandmother's hostile stare has me rethinking and moving as far away from them as I can.
"No, ma'am. It was an accident, not intentional." Finn clears his throat, his jaw clenching.
"It's his father who will try to take him?" Stella questions with a raised aristocratic eyebrow and pursed lips. Her thoughts veiled behind her stern features.
"Yes," I reply with fake confidence, tightening my hands in my lap.Get it together, Mia. You're fucked if she perceives fear. Your ass will be on a plane back to Manhattan real quick.
"Mia, I do not understand where the threat is. He is an unwell young man, and if his father wants to take him back to a hospital or home for that matter, I don't see what business that is of the Stratford's." She folds her hands neatly in her lap, my grandfather’s charm bracelet peeking from underneath the sleeve of her suit jacket.
"Mrs. Stratford, Mack Pemberton is a psychotic bully and abuser. He will probably beat Carter to death in his current condition for some perceived insult over the overdose. He has no mercy where Carter is concerned and has in fact inflicted years of violent physical and emotional abuse on Carter that both the local hospital and chief of police are fully aware of but do nothing to stop." Theo comes closer into the room, sitting in the chair facing my grandmother, hands clenched on his knees, eyes glinting with anger and jaw set.
"How is your father involved in this, Theodore?" Stella questions with an assessing but unsurprised look. She already knows everything there is to know about Mack Pemberton and Baron Vincent Saint-Lambert. I don't know what game she's playing at the moment, but it's best to sit back and let her play it with the kings and not interfere.My own self-preservation finally making an appearance.
"My father controls Mack Pemberton and pretty much everyone else in this god-forsaken town. Probably most of the wealthy families in the state. Those two were created in the same despicable, hateful image. Vincent Saint-Lambert will not allow us to control the situation or deprive Mack of punishing Carter, even if it kills him in the process, which it will Mrs. Stratford. In his current condition, he will not be able to defend himself or fight off an attack from his father and mine. They will make sure I can't defend him either." Theo runs his hands forcefully down his face, the strain of the last couple of hours evident.
"I see. Theodore, your father is a vastly powerful man; going up against him has severe consequences. What you have done by bringing Carter here ensures that my granddaughter is not only now on his radar but will have to defend herself against his retribution. You have made her a target of his and Mack Pemberton."
"I know, and if I had any other choice, anywhere else I could have brought Carter to keep him safe, I would have. I had to protect him, he can't protect himself right now, and I can't protect him either." Theo doesn't flinch from my grandmother's assessing stare.
"Who is going to protect you, Theodore?" A slight smirk crosses my grandmother's wry face. Something about the look she’s giving Theo has alarm bells ringing in my mind.
"I will protect myself, Mrs. Stratford. All I ask is for Carter to be protected so he can recover without his dad or mine killing him." Theo's voice breaks with so much emotion. His statue mask falling away, allowing her to see his vulnerability and the fear that is residing in him at not being able to protect Carter.
My grandmother's eyes never leave Theo's. They are both in a test of wills, who will back down, who is stronger and more determined? In the end, Theo breaks the stare and gazes in my direction.
"You have no idea how sorry I am, Mia; I wish I had somewhere else to bring him. I never wanted you involved in our mess or for you to be on my dad's or Mack's radar." A deep sigh escapes him; sincerity making his voice tremble.
I don't reply but turn my gaze back to my grandmother, who is watching the exchange with curiosity. I can see questions crossing her features, ones that I have no doubt she will want answers to.
"Mia, show me to this young man, Carter Pemberton. I want to see him for myself. The rest of you remain here until I have decided what to do with all of you." She dismisses the other kings, gets up, and walks out of the living room. Stella never looks back, but I know she expects my immediate obedience.
I observe each of the kings, their faces broadcasting their emotions of fear and uncertainty. I wish I could relieve them of their worries, but I can't. I'm unsure what my grandmother may do.
I follow her into the guestroom that Carter is in, and she moves up toward the bed, examining the equipment that Tom has set up to monitor Carter's vitals. He still looks very pale, his lips bloodless and his skin ashen. His body is still covered in a sheen of sweat, even though Tom and the guys washed him down, and he is covered only by a lightweight sheet. The thought that he looks like a fallen angel crosses my mind.
"Tom, does he need to be in a hospital setting or will being here with adequate medical care suffice?" My grandmother turns her appraisal on Tom, who is leaning against the opposite wall, still in full tactical gear minus the gun.
"I think once the medical team gets here with the rest of the equipment, he will be able to remain here and recover if that is what you decide, Mrs. Stratford." I notice he leaves it up to my grandmother to ultimately decide. It may be my house and he may be my guest, but it’s her power that will be needed to protect Carter.
Stella approaches Carter and sits in the chair next to the bed. For just a moment, I see sadness cloud her features. Maybe she’s remembering my stepfather and how ill he was at the end or even her beloved husband, my stepgrandfather. She has outlived all of the men that she has ever loved.
Turning and staring back at me, she watches as I survey Carter. I don't bother trying to hide my emotions from her. I am terrified his dad, or Theo's dad, will storm into my house and take him. I'm scared he will have another seizure and die here in my guestroom. So many emotions and thoughts race through my mind, and my eyes water with unshed tears before I blink them away.
