Ward of the state, p.1
Ward of the State, page 1
Ward of the State
The Savage Kings Series, Book 4
Jade Royal
Copyright © 2022 by Jade Royal
www.authorjaderoyal.com
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Playlist Ward of the State
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
The Test of Perc
The Compromise
Savage Kings Empire
Acknowledgments
About the Author
New Releases
Also by Jade Royal
I always use music to fuel my stories. Because the list keeps growing, I’m going to give you the link to my Spotify playlist to listen to. Usually, I list the titles of the songs in a playlist but thought that giving you the direct link would be better. Don’t worry about whether you have Spotify or not. They’ll still let you listen to the tunes at no cost as long as you follow the link.
You can always send me a email at jaderoyalnews@gmail.com to let me know what you think. Enjoy the playlist as you read, I know I have a few times.
Cheers,
Jade Royal
He's a Savage...
He's a Savage...
Ward
Growing up with nobody to rely on, I learned to fend for myself. That is until I became a Savage King. Now, I like the finer things in life. The best that money can buy. So when I find a woman that compliments my style, I'm hesitant about getting to know her. She is too perfect. My past has shown me that everybody has a flaw, so what is her's?
* * *
Natalie
I have been outrunning my past for two years, so meeting someone like my ex puts me on alert. He's too demanding and admits he's trouble. It’s hard to say no to a man who never asks.
I can tell that he does not trust me. What is his story? And why can I not get enough of him?
Ward
The hustle and bustle of the city of Los Santos-Rosa happens right here on Thornton Avenue, especially at night. You never knew what you were going to get when you talked to any one person. Where they were going could be as different as a nightclub, bar, strip club, or even a liquor store. There was an all-night bookstore where even those freaks had a place to go.
Freaks… We came in all kinds of flavors. I believed that people who preferred the night versus the day were natural freaks. Most of us hibernated while everyone else took care of business. Not my people. We liked the allure of the night. It was dark and easy to disappear. While others feared it, we thrived. People feared our kind, holding their purses, walking fast, and retiring before the dark skies enveloped us in its perfection. That’s why I called us freaks, and we were spectacular.
I stood watching the way we moved. Those who were comfortable enjoyed this time the same way that people laughed and carried on during the day. I could point out each and every freak, even in the thick crowds of people trying to pick their poison, as a destination for entertainment. Mine was front and center, a cigar shop that kept nighttime hours, just like a bar filled with alcohol and its patrons.
Ready to get to my place, I opened the door and walked into my haven. In here, the savage things I did outside didn’t matter. Here, I was the only king. The atmosphere was only for the sophisticated. I heavily enforced a dress code. If you didn’t look important enough to mingle with the other guests, you couldn’t. It wasn’t an official club, but it may as well have been. Suits and ties were on every man in here. The women were magazine picture perfect, ready to pose. Cigars were on trays of the wait staff as they circulated, percolating the room.
We served plenty to the freaks who chose them: rich bourbons, cultured brandy, spiced rums, sinful gins, wise whiskeys, free-spirited vodkas, and perilous tequilas. The wine was for those who wanted to appear as something they weren’t. Not yet comfortable exposing themselves to others like them. They’d come around, always did. And the beer connoisseurs had specific tastes in things. Particular bastards. But I loved them all.
Alcohol didn’t flow like it did in regular bars and clubs. Like the smokes, they consumed them with purpose. It didn’t mean that people didn’t leave happy and drunk. The atmosphere allowed them to experience things in a much more relaxed atmosphere.
“Boss,” Caesar caught my attention as I approached the bar. He managed things in here while I was away. Couldn’t tell you what I’d do without him. “Sam called and said the books you ordered are in.”
“Couldn’t have come at a better time. How are you feeling tonight?” When I was close, we exchanged a clap of hands, tug on curled fingers, and a shoulder bump as our greeting. Been that way since I hired him and his brother, Tavi.
“I’m very well. Glad the house is packed. Did you see the new ‘gars’ we got in? They smell like aged Bourbon. Fuckin’ magnificent.”
“I’ll check them out when I come back. Hold it down for me?”
“Don’t I always?” Caesar saluted me and turned to the tray of cigars he was replenishing.
I exited the bar, and the fresh air welcomed me before I walked down three storefronts to the bookstore. The Sandbox smelled of freshly printed paper bound in crisp hardcovers with drying ink. Nostalgic.
“There he is!” Sam smiled coyly, knowing exactly why I was here. “They’re already wrapped and ready. Are you going to look around?”
“You know it. I need to see what’s new.” I walked away backward. “Keep those safe while I see if I want to add something to the bill.”
“See you soon, handsome.” Sam flipped her red hair over her shoulder as she settled back into the rhythm of the music. Beautiful, she wasn’t my type. She drew too much attention with her sassy personality.
I’ve watched her more than enough times to know that there was something about her that appealed to me. Though, I was wise enough to know that wasn’t perspective enough. There were places I could go for temporary affections. Shitting where I ate wasn’t my style. Here, I could lose myself for hours just browsing the shelves. No need to disturb that kind of peace for passion.
Fantasy was my first stop. Two titles caught my attention before I left the section to go to the Romance one. Sam didn’t bother with hiding these books in the fiction section to be stumbled upon. She had a nice, cozy section for them. Good thing, too, since I did not know what I wanted.
As always, I let the covers do the talking. One with flowers and boldly scribed words caught my attention. Turning it over, I let the premise tell me what it was all about.
“You’ll love that one.” A voice to my right informed me. “It’ll break your heart and put the pieces back together.”
“You think?” I flipped to a random page inside and read a paragraph. “She’s got my attention. How’d you find this?”
“Browsing. Now I’ve read everything in the author’s catalog. I definitely recommend her. Especially that book.”
This woman’s voice pulled me into everything she was selling. It was like fingertips on perfectly sanded wood. Soft and worn down to the tenderest splinters. With the wrong motivation, wiping against the grain, I knew it’d cut you and go for blood. That’s what hid in her voice. Strong pricks which drew you into her.
Taking a chance, I looked over to see her stunning beauty as she flipped through the book she was holding. Her face was youthful, but she pulled her hair into a ponytail that reminded me of something from the 50s.
Her bang had a wave that plumped before disappearing into the rest of her hair. Red lips, a mole next to her nose, and dark flares of makeup whisping beside her eye. Her breasts pushed high against her black and white polka dot halter dress. A red belt cinched her waist, and… Somebody help me. Red patent leather heels graced her feet, about three inches high and hardening my dick. Classic pinup, girl.
“Close your mouth, sir. You’re making me antsy.” She whispered. “Have you never seen a woman before?”
“None as beautiful as you,” I admitted. That wasn’t a line. It was the truth.
Her cheeks warmed, reddening the smooth teddy bear's brown skin. Quickly, she looked my way and then back to her book. “I’m not worthy of your compliments. Because you, too, are beautiful. There’s no way that two beautiful people can occupy the same space.”
“Then I must pale in comparison. You, Sweetness, are absolutely divine.”
“I know.” She winked at me as she walked away. “That doesn’t take away from your swagger, though.”
Watching the sway of her hips, I saw her appeal. She was feminine, down to the core. The way she dressed, walked, and even the delivery of her words. She was confident, yet still shy. Her blush was proof enough of that.
Don’t follow her.
I wanted to. My eyes did, until she rounded a corner, and I grunted out my frustration.
Don’t follow her.
I repeated it until I turned back to the bookshelf, sure that I would not go after the most breathtaking woman I’d ever seen. However, I promised myself that I'd make it count if I ran into her again.
Ward
Still looking for another book, I stayed my course. I found one and dragged two copies of it and the previous title. Yasmine, Domino’s wife, and I had our two-person book club. Reality TV wasn’t her thing, but she watched it with me when we hung out. In return, I read romance novels with her. It’s a fair exchange when I get to pick most of the books.
I finished browsing; for now, I approached the coffee area, hoping to get something I’ve been craving all day. Coffee. Unlike most people, I usually drink it at night because that’s when I started my day. There was a new brew on the menu, and I spied my favorite apple crisp muffin in the display window.
When the cashier asked for my order, I was ready. Just as I was finishing it, I smelled the essence of honey and clementine. Curiosity won, making me turn toward the mouth-watering smell. It surprised me to see Sweetness from the romance section standing behind me. How did I not smell how good she smelt before?
Now I could, and she gave me an even better look at her. She still appeared younger than me, but that didn’t kill the attraction. Her red lips were driving me insane, and I had a direct path to trail my tongue from her ear to the center of her cleavage.
Reeling in my thoughts, I knew I wanted to know her better. Saying anything, so she didn’t notice me undressing her with my eyes was better than sitting and staring.
“Are you ordering something?” I asked, hoping that she wasn’t just in line to pay for her things.
“I am.” She nodded.
I moved out of the way and let her step up to the counter. Without hesitation, she placed her order of cherry dark roast coffee and a cheesecake danish. When she finished, I nodded at the cashier, who looked at me. I hadn’t paid for my order, so she’d totaled them together. I paid for everything and was rewarded with a frown on Sweetness’ face.
“Hey, I never—” she started, but I interrupted.
“I felt like I owed you for the recommendation. Look at it as my way of saying thank you.”
The cashier gave me my change, and I dropped it into the tip jar.
“Well, thank you. I appreciate the gesture.”
We walked to the pickup lane and waited for our order. It was awkward at first. More so because I was trying not to say anything, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that she was fidgeting.
I chuckled, finding the entire situation comedic.
“What are you laughing about?”
I smiled, hoping that I wouldn’t kill my chances of more conversation after what I was about to say.
“I think it’s obvious that we both want to say something, at least more than what we have.”
“Obvious, huh? You don’t know me well enough to say that for sure.”
“You’re fidgeting, and I’m trying to play it cool. Why don’t we share our coffees together at a table nearby? No pressure.”
“No pressure?”
“No, none at all.”
I thought she would say no, but something changed in her eyes, and I knew she’d talked herself into it.
“Don’t try anything funny.” She warned.
“Trust me. I don’t have any jokes right now.”
Once we got our things and sat down, the pressure of being perfect strangers melted away. We relaxed into the situation, and the conversation seemed to flow between us.
“Tell me about this book.” I tapped the cover for emphasis.
“Well,” she took a sip of her coffee and then went into an explanation.
When she finished, I had a better understanding of why she was drawn to it. She emphasized the fact that the heroine was strong and the hero was understanding of her strength. As she explained how much it meant to her, I could see into her psyche a little and understood a bit of who she was.
“So, what do you do for a living?” I watched her mouth as she nibbled on her danish. Those beautiful red lips stayed true and didn’t fade away as she ate. If I nibbled them, would they smear?
“Well, I’m an artist. I paint and sculpt.”
“That makes sense.”
“Oh, is that because I’m a woman?” Her disturbed expression was irritated by something I didn’t mean to insinuate.
“No, because you’re flawless and well put together. The strategic way you’re dressed is exceptional. Your nails are beautiful and match your clothing.” I looked her over, appreciating the effort she put forward to look good tonight, even though this wasn’t planned.
“Thank you.” She accepted the compliment finally. “What about you? What do you do?”
“I own the cigar club a few doors down.”
“I’ve seen that place! I always thought it was cool because it’s different from having a club for reasons other than dancing and alcohol.”
“Do you smoke?”
She crossed her legs, drawing my attention to them. “No, do you?”
I took a minute to admire them before answering. “No, but I like the smell of cigars and different tobacco. It takes me back to my childhood years with my grandfather. He smoked flavored tobacco all the time. I would just go with him to the tobacco shop so that I could smell the different flavors of tobacco. It just stuck with me.”
“Is your grandfather still alive?”
I cleared my throat, uncomfortable for the millionth time since meeting her. “No, he passed away when I was a boy.”
“I’m sorry. Was he your favorite person in the world?”
My smile returned. “He was. I never really knew who my dad was. I’d seen a photo of him once or twice. My mom chose everything else but me. First, drugs and alcohol, then men. I don’t even think she noticed when they took me away.”
“Where did you go?”
“Foster homes.”
“How was that?” Her eyes scrunched up, and she leaned toward me a little. I appreciated her concern, but I didn’t want the pity.
“Disgustingly bad. I wish I could say I was one of those success stories you sometimes read about. That’s not how it went.” I sipped my coffee and tried to think of a way to explain who I was without giving her too much information. “I was a mannish boy and in more trouble than not. Couldn’t seem to catch the ground. Every time I turned around. There was always something pulling me back under. I tried a few times to do the right thing. Just never worked out for me. It wasn’t until I was older, in my 20s, that I met a guy who showed me a different way. He utilized my skills to find trouble to cultivate a new type of life.”
“So you still surround yourself with trouble?”
“Yeah, just differently. Smoothe is a cigar club that allows me a safe space to do what’s right. When everything else is wrong, I always know I can go there and get the peace I’m looking for.”
“You know I had an ex that was kind of the same way except, it always seemed like trouble seemed to follow him and never let go. I’m not sure he had a safe place. It didn’t work out so well for him, though. Seems like maybe you’re on a different path. I’m not trying to up-talk him. It’s just nice to know that you came out on top.”
“Maybe. All I know is that I’m a different man than I was years ago.”
“My life was different growing up than yours. Both of my parents raised me. I have siblings. We’re just not that close. They’ve moved on to other places, leaving me behind. My parents divorced. Now they also live elsewhere. I’m the only one here, and it’s left me more vulnerable than I’d like. Sometimes, I feel alone. I have good friends, but there’s nothing like having family around. You know?”
“Do you have any kids?”
She smiled. “Would it be a problem if I did?”
“Not at all. Just curious.”
“I don’t have any children, but I want to someday. That day just isn’t now.”
“Yeah, I want children, too. Always have, but I didn’t want to be one of those guys with them scattered all over the place. So I made sure that didn’t happen. Even if I am not with my children’s mother forever, I want all my children to grow up in the same home.”
