This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4)

“Husband,” Aviva repeated in surprise.

Jason couldn’t resist giving her a kiss to wipe away her shocked expression. “Yes, her husband. Who also happens to be the same lawyer we used to perform our divorce–”

“What are you talking about, Jason?!” Aviva demanded.

“If you would let me finish what I was about to say, you would already know, Angel.”

“Sorry, you may continue,” Aviva teased with a cheeky smile.

Jason raised an enquiring eyebrow at her but ignored her saucy comment. “When Diana was searching for information, she came across details of my first marriage. Adonis confirmed–”

“Adonis?” Aviva broke in again, seeming unable to help herself.

“That’s it, no more explanations,” Jason told his wife. “You’re just going to have to live in blissful ignorance knowing that you are well and truly married to me.”

“I already knew that. You don’t make the kind of mistakes Diana and Farrah wanted us to believe.” At his smile, Aviva continued. “Don’t bother to get big headed, I wasn’t praising your acumen, it’s just who you are.” Leaning closer at his frown, Aviva whispered, “on the other hand, you’re completely gorgeous, and I love you.”

“Don’t start you two,” Josh interrupted their banter. “I for one want this little gathering over and done with. The sooner that happens the sooner you guys can take your little tête à tête to your room, and give us all a break,” he told them, prowling restlessly around the room.

Jason narrowed his eyes at his younger brother, ready to tell him exactly what he thought about the way he had spoken to them. A squeeze of his arm was enough warning for him to hold in whatever he had on his mind.

“Adonis is a young Italian man who worked for Diana. He’s from a poor background and got seduced by the money and lifestyle she offered.” Jake took up the telling as Jason continued to eyeball Josh. “Everyone has their limit. It would seem, Adonis reached his when Diana told him to kill Farrah. That’s when he got in touch with us. It’s a good thing he did, or he’d probably be in exactly the same place she is.

As Jason said, Farrah is back at home with her husband. They have the money Diana paid them upfront. We have their assurance that she won’t ever show her face again. She has been warned that if she does, she won’t get off so easily a second time.”

“Where’s this, Adonis now?” Aviva asked.

“Don’t know, and I for one don’t care.” Came Jason’s uninterested answer. “Do you have any other questions, Aviva?

“I’m good, thanks,” she said.

Jason was almost at the end of his patience. Turning to MacKenzie, he stared in her direction until she looked at him. With a raised eyebrow and a tip of his head, he silently asked if she had anything to add.

At his silent enquiry, Jason saw she had something on her mind, but if she refused to ask, he wasn’t about to prompt her.

“MacKenzie?” Jake asked.

Licking her lips, Mackenzie looked around the room before she spoke. “I was just wondering if there was any other news about the story, Abe Gantz broke.”

“I took care of it,” Jake replied. “It would seem that your ex was misguided in how he related his side of the story. You don’t need to worry about him ever again. He’s now back under the rock he crawled out from under. He’s still searching for a big paycheck that’s never going to materialize now that his career is over.

As for Abe Gantz, he now understands that should he ever again think of reporting anything about this family, I will hurt him,” Jake finished with a dour look on his face.

Jason smiled liking his twins turn of phrase. Jackson cleared his throat asking for everyone’s attention.

“I would like to say...” Jackson hesitated, and Jason could see the emotion in his father’s eyes. “Throughout my life I have made many mistakes, the biggest being Diana. You all know how sorry I am that any of you had to go through a moment of hurt at her hands. I’m sure you also know if I had the ability, I would gladly remove every second you have suffered.

Yet I find that I can’t regret having met Diana. To do so would be to diminish how proud I am to have such wonderful men as my sons. I would like to propose a toast,” everyone rose to their feet.

“To the Kingdoms!” Jackson exclaimed as he held up his glass.

“The Kingdoms!” Came a resounding cheer.





Chapter 34

In the early hours of the morning, with his wife curled up at his side, Jason smiled into the still darkened room.

“What are you feeling?” Her lovely voice floated around him.

If anyone else had asked the question, he would have lied without compunction. “I feel numb inside, Angel. Even at the end, I think there was still a little part of me that hoped she would say or do something to confirm she had even a scrap of humanity.

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