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 made things worse, so he

That guy is a di ck and he had every b*ow

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

just go? I’ll close

by yourself, Max. You might be a big, strong guy, but that’s still a jerk move. Everyone

argue with the

“True story.”

his head and laughed as he grabbed the last glass off the table

away, and ready for tomorrow’s lunch 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 get our list of chores done in the restaurant before closing. We usually laughed and picked at each other during the whole process,

1 am. I stood and waited 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

whatever girl he was planning on hooking

who I thought it was. Max looked at my face and then spun around to see the SUV parked between our cars. “Ohhhhh sh it,” he said as he took a couple of steps back toward me. Without looking, he pushed me directly behind him as he watched

I was too scared to peek

brave for me, but I could

his Russian accent evident. I

my hand on Max’s back and said, “it’s okay, Max. He helped when…you know, Karma. It was his bodyguards.” Max visibly relaxed and inhaled

I’m not gonna di e tonight,” he said

reached up and kissed his cheek.

I got

toward my car and