Burning Your Lies (King and Queen Duet #2)

28

Xavier

Judge Callahan is too busy shooting me an irate expression to see Savannah hiding her smile.

Unable to conceal my frustrations, my tone comes out snappier than I intend.

“Your honour, this is a woman who has previously tried to flee the country with my daughter. What is to stop her from doing it again?”

She finally turns to Savannah.

“Mrs Ray-Hayes?”

The smirk she just wore dissipates with the attention now on her. She feigns a look of worry.

“I only felt like I had to flee because I felt threatened by Mr Rivers. However, to ease his worries and if it means my daughter can spend two nights a week with me, I will happily surrender my passport until the case is settled.”

It’s clear the judge doesn’t like me because this time it’s a sarcastic smile in my direction.

“The issue has been resolved. Mrs Ray-Hayes, you have three working days to surrender your passport to the courts. After which, paperwork will be issued, which will clearly state that Elise is to spend two nights with her mother.”

Dismissing me, she turns back to Savannah.

“If Mr Rivers fails to uphold the court’s decision, please let us know.”

“Your honour!”

This is fucking bullshit. Instead of saying that, I say, “This isn’t fair.”

She’s already gathering her belongings.

“Life is not fair, Mr Rivers. But I don’t believe someone with as much privilege as you has ever had to learn that. Let this be your lesson in how cruel life can be. Court adjourned.”

No longer being scrutinised, Savannah bursts into a fit of laughter, which trails behind her as she exits the courtroom.

Wanting to get the fuck away from this place, I grab my briefcase and storm straight out of there, but the devil’s taunt stops me.

“She really doesn’t like you.”

Giving in to her, I turn on my heels and glower at her.

“I don’t know what you’re—”

She steps closer and cuts me off.

“I’ll tell you what I’m playing at. With my passport sitting with those judges, there’s no way for you to kill me and tell everyone I went abroad. You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Mr Rivers.”

Her mocking pout has me twitching to strangle her.

“Are you missing mummy yet?”

But I decide to hurt her differently; one that will kill her more than I ever physically could.

“Just because you stole my mother doesn’t make you a mother. You are not Elise’s mother. You never have been and you never will be. You were nothing but a glorified, overpaid oven. That was your only purpose.”

I scan her from head to toe and feel disgusted that I ever wanted her. She’s not worthy of being my queen.

“That and a hole for me to deposit my cum. You repulse me. And I will not stop until I personally burn your dead body. You’re not even worthy of becoming a diamond. I’m going to toss your ashes down the fucking drain so you’re swimming with the sewage. You are nothing but a worthless whore.”

Brynn hoists Elise further up her hip. She follows me up to the front yard with apprehension. My foul mood because of court this morning has her itching to get away from me. She’s hardly spoken to me and can’t hold my gaze. Worried she’d want to escape to her apartment, I put on my best smile and suggested we go out for dinner. Brynn tried to argue for a night in but I had other plans and a childless dinner was the perfect excuse.

“I thought you didn’t want her to have overnight stays with Savannah? I thought you said it wasn’t safe?”

Nothing is going to stop me from intruding on her little dinner party. I knock on the door.

“She won’t mind. She’s been asking for more time with Elise. Plus, it means we can go somewhere nice for dinner.”

I rap my knuckles on the door again, running out of patience.

“I thought you would appreciate a night off.”

She looks at Elise with worry.

“Is she going to be okay?”

This time I lay my fist into the door.

“She’ll be fine.”

Finally, the door opens and we’re greeted by a scowling Savannah.

“What are you doing here?”

“Mummy!”

Elise outstretches her arms and leaps into Savannah’s. Her small arms wrap around her neck as if she’s worried Savannah will disappear into thin air.

She greedily accepts the affection.

“Hi, baby.”

She props her onto her hip.

“Is everything okay?”

I walk past her into the hallway.

“We were wondering if you could babysit her so we can have a night off?”

I look around.

“If you’re busy, don’t worry about it.”

She kisses her temple.

“I’m never too busy for my baby girl. Do you want some dinner?”

Brynn hesitantly steps over the threshold.

“I’ve fed her dinner. I’m sorry. If I knew she was going to spend the evening here, I wouldn’t have overstepped. We weren’t planning to go anywhere.”

Preoccupied with cuddles from Elise, Savannah waves her off.

“Don’t worry about it. Do you want a snack? Huxley bought you some new treats.”

“Having a party?” I ask.

“Not really.”

Bullshit.

I walk through to the living room to see Ray, Mia, and Jordan sat around the coffee table. They all stare at me.

“What’s going on here?” I smile.

Savannah pushes past me into the room.

“Games night. Ellie, say hello to our friends.”

Ray walks over to me and nods his head.

“Want to join us?”

I walk around the room and inspect every detail. My eyes hone in on the fifth wine glass that remains unused.

“Expecting another guest?”

I ask, cocking my head towards the clean glass.

Mia holds up a pen and pad of paper.

“We were just about to put some charade ideas in there because somebody,”

she kicks Jordan, “got so drunk last time he tipped most of them into the bin.”

I hum under my breath.

“How often do you have games night?”

Ray shrugs.

“We’ve only done it once or twice. You’re more than welcome to stay.”

I smile at Savannah.

“I’m hurt you didn’t invite me, Miss Hayes. You know how much I enjoy a good game.”

She rolls her eyes and ventures to the kitchen to get Elise the snack she promised.

Brynn calls my name.

“Shall we get going? We’re going to miss our reservation.”

The doorbell rings.

“Maybe that’s the guest the fifth glass was reserved for,”

I snide as Ray heads to the front door. There’s hushed whispers before I make my way over to see who the mystery player is. “Rowan.”

He looks at Ray and then at me.

“Fancy seeing you here.”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

He smirks at Ray.

“I came to see my darling.”

He looks over my shoulder.

“There she is!”

Savannah looks at us with confusion. Elise nestles her head into her neck, which has Savannah rubbing her back.

“What are you doing here? More importantly, how the hell do you know where I live?”

“I’m a man of many means. I believe you came to Basileus to pay me a visit. Unfortunately, I was out on business. But I am here now.”

He opens his arms as if he’s expecting a hug.

She bounces up and down as Elise fusses. When I try to take her, Savannah walks past me.

“It wasn’t urgent. We can talk another time.”

Whatever is going on between them is as unknown to Ray as it is to me. He stares at his wife while she and Rowan have a silent conversation with their gazes.

Rowan grins at her before sighing.

“As I’m here, I might as well join the party.”

He doesn’t wait for a welcome. Instead, he wanders into the living room.

“What do we have here?”

Like sheep, we all follow behind him. Mia, Jordan, and Brynn stare at the four of us. Elise is whinging no matter how much Savannah tries to soothe her.

I reach for her again.

“Give her to me.”

She turns the other way. “No.”

I grab her shoulder to stop her from walking away.

“She’s unsettled. Give her to me.”

“Don’t touch me,”

she spits at me.

“I’ve got her. She’s fine.”

“Give me my daughter,” I snap.

She turns to me with daggers in her eyes.

“She’s not your daughter.”

I step to her.

“Yes, she is.”

“She’s mine.”

“No, she's fucking not. Give my daughter back!”

At my raised voice, Elise breaks into a cry and holds onto Savannah.

“Look what you’ve done,”

she hisses. She turns Elise so that she’s cradled in her arms. And now that she can see Savannah’s face, Elise calms down. One hand rests on her bare chest and the other on her face. Savannah pretends to nibble on her fingers and lets out a laugh when Elise grins.

“Hi, baby. You’re okay, aren’t you? Yes, you are.”

My fingers tremble and my nostril flares at the sight of them. I despise the view as much as I love it. I watch in envy of my daughter as she plays with Savannah’s hair and nestles against her breasts. I break out of my trance when Rowan laughs.

“Motherhood looks so damn fine on you.”

“I’ll get her milk,”

Ray mutters as he walks out the room.

Rowan pouts.

“We don’t get to see you milk your udders?”

The women in the room scoff, which makes him laugh.

She ignores him and tunnels all of her energy into distracting Elise. Mia watches her friend with a small smile, which only broadens when Savannah makes Elise burst into a fit of giggles.

“Shall we get going?”

Brynn whispers.

Savannah thanks Ray when he returns with a bottle for Elise. She stares at her husband with a gentle smile as he pulls faces at my daughter. But I can’t stop looking at them. He stole my dream. He stole my woman. He’s trying to steal my baby. His arms wrap around Savannah as they both continue to make Elise giggle. This is why she wants her overnight. She wants to live out my dream with a baby that isn’t hers.

“I like games,”

Rowan declares, plunking himself onto the sofa.

“What are we drinking?”

Ray looks up and sighs.

“Games night is cancelled.”

“Let’s play truth or dare!”

Rowan says.

“I like that game. Not as much as poker, but…”

Jordan, who has been sitting there with a bored expression, perks up.

“I like poker too.”

Of course, the gambling addict enjoys poker.

“Mama bear, you got some cards?”

Savannah looks up as if she forgot we were here.

“Mia, give the man some cards. One round and then you leave.”

Brynn tugs at my hand.

“If we break some speed limits, we might still make it.”

“We’ll order in. Let’s just wait until Elise is sleeping.”

Irritation bleeds from her words.

“I’m sure it’s Elise you’re staying for.”

“Deal me in.”

I take a seat around the table.

“You’re not welcome in my home.”

“Sav,”

Ray whispers.

“Come on. Let it go.”

Rowan smiles.

“Anybody else? Huxley, sit your ass down. Your wife isn’t going anywhere. One round, just the men. Let’s go. Scruffy, small blind.”

“Twenty.”

That earns snickers from the rest of us, but Rowan accepts it.

“Huxley, big blind?”

“Hundred.”

The game continues and nobody folds. The bet is raised twice and Jordan panics when it goes up to five hundred. The poor bastard didn’t realise he was sitting at a table with high-stake players. Eventually he folds when it dawns on him he won’t be able to pay us the pennies we’re playing for.

After tossing the burn card, Rowan looks up at us.

“The most important card.”

“Why is it the most important?”

Brynn asks.

“It’s called The River. It’s the final card to be revealed in the game of poker. It’s the one that changes the course of the game. With its reveal, the game becomes anybody’s winning.”

Rowan sighs as he fiddles with one of the rings on his finger.

“Let’s play for something more interesting than money.”

That piques my interest.

“What are you willing to bet?”

“If I lose, I’ll sign any contract the winner puts in front of me.”

The business side of me jumps at the opportunity.

“Anything?”

He shrugs.

“As long as it’s not the ownership of my businesses, then sure. I’ll sign it.”

“That confident?”

Ray scoffs.

His question is ignored. He turns to me.

“What are you willing to bet?”

I look at my cards and accept that it’s not a strong hand. I glance at Savannah.

“I own a block of flats on the other side of London. I’ll transfer the deeds to the winner’s name for free.”

I see the clogs turning in her brain, and I smile when her nostrils flare.

Rowan looks impressed.

“I’m going to tell you what you’re betting, Huxley.”

His eyes are on Savannah.

“I want a night with your wife.”

“Over my dead body,”

he growls.

“Someone has a losing hand,”

he laughs.

“I promise I’ll be gentle … no, I won’t. But I won’t leave any permanent damage on her. How tight is that cunt, my darling?”

“Fuck you.”

“I’m trying, but your husband isn’t man enough to wager a bet.”

He turns his focus on me.

“You fucked her after she gave birth, right? Did it shrink back to a pleasurable size?”

Ray stands up.

“Shut your fucking mouth about my wife.”

He holds his hands up in surrender.

“Why are you coming for me? He’s the one who fucked her,”

he says, pointing at me.

“Does that get you mad? Knowing he knows what her pussy looks like? She’s been on her knees for him, sucking him until his DNA was swimming in her stomach. I bet he still thinks about it. I bet when she’s in his office, with a tight skirt and those milkers on show, he gets hard and remembers how it feels to be inside her.”

Ray’s cards are tossed to the floor.

“I’m going to kill you.”

Rowan doesn’t look the least bit scared and continues to push his buttons. His face holds no more humour.

“Does it kill you knowing she wanted him so bad, she fucked a married man? She was probably riding him everywhere. She probably still is. They can finally be a real family. They’ve already got the baby. He’s probably fucking her raw, ready to breed another one.”

Ray grabs him off the seat and pins him against the wall.

“I told you to shut your fucking mouth.”

His arm presses against his throat.

“Maybe she’s going to run off into the sunset with him after stealing from you. And you’re going to spend the rest of your life hunting down the man who took what you wanted the most.”

He leans closer and whispers, “Does it hurt? Does it fucking burn?”