King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

Chapter Two Hundred Fifty-Seven

Sephie

Viktor and Stephen were busy with their normal Master of the Schedule duties, as Adrik had another busy day. I recruited Misha, Ivan, and Andrei to help me get Ms. Jackson up to the penthouse, hopefully without Giana knowing. Since Glana used the excuse of having afternoon tea with Ms. Jackson, I wanted to have a chance to talk to her early enough in the day that she would be home should Giana stop by later.

Ivan and Andrei volunteered to go fetch her while Misha stayed in the penthouse with me. “I have to admit that I’m still angry with Ms. Jackson for setting up Giana’s ambush of you,” Misha said as we waited.

“I know, my adorable Russian guardian. I’m hoping that she simply wasn’t aware of what was going on when she set it up, but I do plan on asking. You know how quick she is, she might’ve caught on when you told me we didn’t have to stay,” I said. He laughed, shaking his head. “What?” I asked,

“You always do that.”

“Do what?”

“Give people the benefit of the doubt, second chances, third chances, 500 chances in the case of Max,” Misha said, rolling his

eyes.

I thought for a moment. “I know I do. Sometimes I think it’s a fault, but I refuse to see how thinking the best of someone is a bad thing. It’s gotten me hurt and taken advantage of plenty of times in my life. You’d think I would’ve learned by now, but I just can’t help myself. I still see the good parts of people. Most people.”

“Child, you have fully

his voice that wasn’t usually there, especially around her. He was definitely still angry with her. She picked up on it right away.

issue between you and Giana. She made it seem like she just wanted to spend time with you. As soon as you saw her, I knew there was an issue.” She looked right at Misha. “Then when you told her she didn’t need to stay, I figured out Giana must’ve done something. She put me right in the middle, which is not somewhere I like to be, but I was trying to make the best of it.” She looked between me and Misha. “I owe you both an apology. Child, I wouldn’t have called you down there if I knew that was going to

less mad, but still mad. Didn’t detract from how adorable he was, though, so my working theory that he got away with murder as a

we left?” Andrei asked Ms. Jackson.

but I gather she accused Sephle of using drugs. Spend any amount of time around that child and It’s obvious she’s got giant demons in her past. Those kinds of demons only show up when there’s

course, noticed. “So,

confirmation of it yesterday,” he

finding out they’re doing.” Ms. Jackson said. She thought for a moment, then looked to me. “I’m guessing there’s more to it than just her killing herself slowly? I can’t imagine you needing

was a very sharp woman. “Has she

lost a substantial amount of money

looked to Ivan. Stephen was right. She’s likely been a plant all along. Since Ms. Jackson could understand Russian, I couldn’t say anything, so I chose

Since when do you know

Ivan said abruptly. Maybe Misha isn’t the only one still slightly angry with Ms.

about them at all?” I asked, trying

a good light. She told me her family was wealthy, but they’re controlling. She said her father still tries to control her life, even though he’s in Italy and she’s here. Not much else that I can remember. She’s been unhappy since she got here. She wants to go back to Italy, but it also sounds

be unhappy wherever she goes until she learns that she’s the one responsible for her own happiness,” I said. “Are they making any plans to go back to Italy? Has she

Italy. She apparently ha tes the cold and wants to go somewhere warmer.”