37. King

THIRTY-SEVEN

king

THE DECISION TO bring East and Zac back to my place had been an easy one.Not one that I'd made lightly, but one I'd made the second I heard what had happened to East's father.

Niles Easton's arrest was now the hottest gossip to hit New York's business and social scene in years, and that meant it was open season on anyone connected to him. Including his high-profile son, who would be the easiest way to gain access to the fallen real estate mogul. Something I wouldn't let happen—not on my fucking watch.

"I'm not coming home with you." East's natural instinct to fight me at every turn was in full swing as he grappled for some kind of control in this uncontrollable situation he found himself in.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"I might if you give me my?—"

"No. It's too risky. I know you want to call your mother, to find out what's going on. I can give you that. But not here. Not on this phone." I put a hand over the lapel of my jacket. "Let me help you."

East looked away from me, back out the window, but his silence was answer enough.

Jorge continued our drive through the streets of Manhattan, the city lights a stark contrast to the islands' twinkling starlight as he made his way through the busy streets and headed down the Upper West Side, where Zac's place was.

As we approached his turnoff, I glanced over my shoulder to see him sitting quietly in his seat, his eyes fixed on the back of East's head, a worried expression etched across his features.

"Zac?"

He looked my way, and the concern in his eyes spoke volumes on how much he cared for East despite their "casual" arrangement.

"Would you like me to drop you home, or?—"

"I'd like to come with you, if that's okay? But if you'd rather I didn't, I?—"

"It's okay with me if East is fine with it."

East gave a clipped nod, but the sigh that followed seemed full of relief. Interesting. The idea of Zac's coming with us was a source of comfort he hadn't known he'd been waiting for. The tension in his body eased somewhat as we finally pulled into a nondescript driveway with a garage door. It opened the second Jorge pulled up in front of it, and when he drove us inside, it shut behind us.

"You have a garage in Manhattan?" East asked.

"No," I said as the whirring sound of machinery started, and the floor below us began to move up. "I have a personal car elevator."

"A what?" Zac said. "Are you kidding me?"

The elevator came to a stop in under sixty seconds in a car space that had some of the most impressive views of New York City.

"Holy shit…" East said as he reached for the handle of the car, but then stopped. "Is it safe to get out?"

I nodded, pleased that for a second he'd forgotten the shitstorm that had brought him to this spot. "Yes, it's safe to get out. It's essentially a garage?—"

"In the fucking sky."

"That's right—it adjoins directly with my place."

East shook his head and shoved open the door, mumbling, "A fucking Batcave, that's what this is."

"It helps with privacy."

"Right."

"Still want to stay?" I asked Zac. I'd understand if he didn't. He'd had a lot thrown at him over the last two weeks. A lot to digest about someone he thought he knew. But I found myself hoping he'd be curious enough to at least get out of the car. "Jorge can take you home if you'd rather not."

"That's not it." Zac turned to look out the window at East staring down at the city. "I'm just not sure how I can help or what I'm doing here."

"Just being here with him helps," I said as the door that led into my penthouse opened, and I nodded for him to follow. "Trust me."

We stepped into the sky vault, a glass-enclosed space that also served as a stairwell into the main living area, and East followed. I led them up the stairs and caught a glimpse of their reflections. East's brows were pulled together pensively, and I felt the need to reassure him.

"I've got a secure line for you to call who you need to."

"You think I know their numbers off the top of my head?"

That showed the gap between our generations. I could still rattle off the numbers of those closest to me, but no one had to memorize anything these days.

Shit, was this what it was like to feel old?

"Tell me who you need and I'll get it for you," I said.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Okay." East rubbed a tired hand over his face and sighed. "Maybe just West and my mother."

"Done." I left him with Zac, both of them standing by the windows that overlooked the Hudson River, and reached out to just the person who could get those numbers in a heartbeat and secure the other side of the connections. East wasn't the only one who had people with information at their fingertips.

I came back with a slip of paper and the secured cell in my palm to find Zac had managed to pull East into a hug, holding him tightly even though East's arms were still crossed over his chest like that was keeping his emotions in check.

Not wanting to interrupt the moment, I watched them from the doorway until Zac looked up and saw me.

"You have free rein of the house, so take your time, and if you need anything, let us know," I said, handing everything over to East.

He looked down at the numbers I'd written and ran his finger over the paper. "Thank you."

Zac dropped his arms from East and took a step back, giving him some space, and East turned to walk out of the room. Zac watched him until it was clear he was out of earshot and then blew out a breath."What the hell is happening?"

I pulled out my phone, tapped the screen, and handed it over to Zac to let him read one of the articles himself.

The situation was bad. I wouldn't sugarcoat it. Niles Easton was in a shit-ton of trouble that his wallet wouldn't be able to get him out of. It was clear from East's reaction that whatever business dealings his father had, he hadn't been privy to those, otherwise none of this would come as much of a shock.

But he'd been assuming he'd take his father's place, at least by his side before his old man retired, so had Niles really only shown his son the fa?ade of what he'd be running?

"Shit." Zac ran a hand over his jaw and shook his head. "Seized assets? Like…?"

"Property. Money. Personal belongings."

"Oh my God." He started to pace, glancing back at the doorway East had disappeared through. "So, what, they lose it all? Even East and his mom?"

I nodded. "Everything that could've been obtained illegally or through funds received illegally."

"What if they didn't know?"

"Doesn't matter."

Zac stopped moving. "This is gonna kill him, King. What's he going to do?" He didn't wait for an answer before his eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses. "Wait, did you know?"

"No. Like I said, there have been rumors for years, but I didn't have any reason to look into what he was doing."

"But if you were considering East for recruitment for whatever this is, you would've. Right? I can't imagine you got to where you are without finding out every little detail of the people you surround yourself with."

That keen mind was exactly why Zac had piqued my interest in the first place. "You're right. I planned on having my team do a deep dive when we returned. But one thing I want to make clear is that I'd never punish someone for the sins of others. East is his own person. I trust he'll make his own decisions that don't align with those of his father."

Zac took my measure, tilting his head in a way where I could practically see the wheels turning. "My mom always said no one becomes a billionaire by playing entirely by the rules. Is that true?"

"It might be."

"King."

"Yes. But the number one rule is, don't get caught."

He was quiet as he let that sink in, reading between the lines—probably deciding whether he should even stay another minute in my home or if he should cut ties and get out now. And though I'd give him that freedom if he chose, I found myself hoping he'd make a different choice. That he'd stay.

It felt like a lifetime of silence as we stood there with the truth between us, but then he finally lifted his head."Do you think East is going to be okay?"

"I do. He's tenacious, driven, and isn't willing to accept anything other than greatness for himself. For that reason alone, he'll survive. But he has to admit he will need help, and despite what you think, you are a source of comfort for him."

"So are you."

"Well, it looks like we have our work cut out for us, doesn't it?"

Zac looked in the direction East had disappeared to, a thoughtful expression on his face. "And at school?"

I'd known it would come up, the fact we were all due back at Astor tomorrow morning, but that was a problem for then, not now.

"How about we focus on one thing at a time? You go check on East while I get some food delivered. You two have to be hungry."

Zac nodded and started off in the direction East had gone, but before he got too far he stopped and looked back at me, those blue eyes seeing way more than I should've let him.

"Making good life choices tonight, are we, professor?"

My words from the day I'd caught him and East sneaking out of an empty room had never felt more appropriate. But as he turned and walked out the door, I realized that from the moment they confessed to wanting me, I'd never actually had a choice.