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?”

he took it to a new level tonight. I

that. Don’t you take any of the blame on yourself. That guy is a di ck and he had every b*ow to the face he got tonight coming for putting his hands

right. I just want to close

go?

know I’m not going to leave you here by yourself, Max. You might be a big, strong guy, but that’s still

stubborn you’d argue with the

“True story.”

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

years now, so we had a routine down and worked together seamlessly. It always took us less time than everyone else to

together. I was so busy looking at the still cloudy sky that I hadn’t noticed the black SUV parked between Max’s car and my car. I stopped dead in my

planning on hooking up with that night. He walked a few steps ahead of me, then noticed

in that SUV was not 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 the back

I was too scared to peek around

trying to be brave for me, but I could also feel

to pay Persephone for her excellent service tonight,” a deep and very calm voice said, his Russian accent evident. I recognized that voice. I peeked around

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

God, I’m not gonna di e tonight,”

up and kissed his cheek.

know I

toward my car and Adrik,