King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

Chapter Four

Sephie

When I walked back into the meeting room, it was completely empty. Everyone had vanished. I can’t say I was disappointed by this development. I busied myself with gathering up the empty glasses and the few plates I hadn’t managed to clear already to take them to the kitchen. I hear Max whistling as he’s walking down the hallway toward the back room.

“Hey, why did everyone leave in such a hurry?” he asked as he walked in and started to help me clear the tables.

“No idea,” I said. I kept my gaze down, as I was once again on the verge of tears, trying desperately to keep them in so I wouldn’t cry in front of Max. I hated crying in front of people.

“That was weird. I saw two of those giant bodyguards that came in last take a very drunk guy out front and beat the living sh it out of him, then walk back inside like nothing happened.”

I dropped the glass in my hand and looked at Max, wide-eyed.

“They did what??”

“Yeah, it was comical. And somewhat sad. But mostly comical. I think it was one of the guys you said was always an as*shole to you, so I may or may not have cheered as the bodyguards came back in the restaurant.”

“Max, you have to be careful. You know who these people are.”

“I know, I know, but I was cheering for the Karma that guy was clearly receiving. Hey, wait a minute – what the he ll happened to your arms?? And your neck??”

“This was the reason for the Karma.”

“Holy sh it, Sephie! Are you okay? What happened? Why didn’t you come get me?”

always handsy, but he took it to a new level tonight. I might’ve provoked him slightly and

That guy is a di ck and he had every b*ow to the face he got tonight coming

right. I just want to close up so I can go home. I’m

go?

be a big, strong guy, but that’s still

so stubborn you’d argue

“True story.”

head and laughed as he grabbed the last glass off

shift. We’d both been working at the restaurant for a few years now, so we had a routine down and worked together seamlessly. It always took us less time than everyone else to

while he locked the back door, then we walked to our cars together. I was so busy looking at the still cloudy sky that I hadn’t noticed the black SUV parked between Max’s

phone. Probably texting whatever girl he was planning on hooking up with that night. He walked a few steps ahead of me, then noticed I was no

as he turned to find me frozen in place, a look of horror on my face as I was hoping the person in that SUV was not who I thought it was. Max looked at my face and then spun around to

over Max’s shoulder and I

yelled. I could feel him trying to be brave for me, but I could also feel how every muscle in his back was

and very calm voice said, his Russian accent evident. I recognized that voice. I peeked

Max’s back and said, “it’s okay, Max. He helped when…you know,

gonna di e tonight,” he

up and

know I got

and