Chapter 237 - Invasion of Privacy (2/2)

Poseidon laughed, ”You personally need to impress your people and intimidate your uncle and his goonies. Ry and I are operating under different plans... however, It wouldn't hurt for you to hide some of your tricks from your uncle as well. From what Ry has told me, he's as smart as he is slimy.” He lowered his voice as they walked toward the more populated bar where the bartender and a handful of customers chatted. ”Remember, the name is Don.” Poseidon whispered as he leaned closer to Russ.

Russ nodded as he pulled out a stool and sat down. He cast a glance down at his phone which still displayed the driver's information. ”The car will be here in five.” He sent the other two a wary glance. ”Are we really having them wait?”

Poseidon smiled. ”Why not.” He turned his focus toward Ry. ”There's time for a quick drink, yes? What are you having?”

Ry glanced over the menu on the counter. The place had little to choose from but at least the pricing was low. He pushed the menu toward his father as he met the bartender's curious gaze. ”Coke over ice.” When he caught the mischievous smile and arch of his father's brows, he said. ”What? I told you I stopped drinking... a long a.s.s time ago mind you.”

Poseidon chuckled, ”Your loss.” He turned his attention to the bartender. ”Two drafts, whatever you have.”

The bartender sent the three of them a questioning look as she began gathering glasses and quickly filling them. Pushing the two mugs in front of Poseidon and Russ, she sent Ry a skeptical look as she slid the coke toward him. ”If that will be all? Sure you don't want a shot with that or something?”

”I'm sure.” He lifted the glass and tipped it toward her before taking the first drink. ”So, tell me. We're new here. Are there any areas to look out for? Ya, know high crime... that kind of thing.”

The bartender sent them another skeptical look. ”It doesn't seem like the three of you would have many problems with a mugger if you came up against one... well maybe your friend here, but I'm sure even he could put up a fair fight in these parts.” She said pointing toward Poseidon as she held Ry's gaze with her own skeptical one.

”Why is that, if you don't mind me asking.” Ry asked forging ignorance. ”I'd heard less than twenty years ago this was quite the booming city. What drove it to ruin so rapidly?”

The woman's weathered face fell into a deep frown. She crossed her arms over her c.h.e.s.t. ”IF you must know the island was attacked some years ago, and the king and queen were killed-”

”Assassinated if ya askin' me!” One of the inebriated patrons seated at the bar called out.

The bartender sent him a glare. ”Anyway, the king's brother stepped in until the king's only son comes of age. BUT all that's amounted to is higher taxes and poverty! And where are the taxes going? Well, it's not going to repairing the town or helping out business owners... the few of us left, that is. The town has gone to shit while 'King' Fernando and his pampered niece and nephew sleep cozy at night.”

Ry raised surprised brows. ”King Fernando? Isn't it odd for a beta to take on the title?”

The bartender arched a suspicious brow. ”I didn't take you for one to use that wording, but yes... it is highly uncommon.” She shrugged. ”But rumor has it that he was in line to rule as the oldest son, but his younger brother-” She glanced around at the other two men in Ry's party before continuing. ”His younger brother gained the right over him in the end. Took his crown and his bride, or so the story goes.”

Russ furrowed his brows in confusion. ”So, the story goes? You don't actually know though?”

She shrugged. ”It was before my time. It happened over two hundred years ago.” She sent him a flirtatious smile. ”I may be old, kid... but not that old.”

Russ nodded. ”And what of the niece and nephew? What stories were you told about them? What are they like.”

She shrugged, crossing her thin arms over her c.h.e.s.t. ”Pampered brats I suspect. They were rushed out of the country at the first signs of trouble and kept safe in the U.S. Probably put up in some mansion there, silver spoons, and servants... while the rest of us slowly starve to death...” Her lips curved upwards in disgust.

Russ moved his focus to the glass in front of him, watching the amber liquid as he spun the glass slowly from side to side. ”You don't think he neglected them the same as he did the town and its people?” He met her gaze, pain reflecting in his own eyes. ”I'd wager he did... I'd bet so much so that the prince would have considered never returning to this place.”

The bartender narrowed her eyes at him. ”What did you boys say your names were?”

Ry stood, tossing a wad of cash on the table. ”Our ride should be here, don't you think?”

Russ nodded, not taking his gaze off the bartender. He lifted the glass and tossed back the content, before sliding the glass toward her. He met her calculating gaze with his own as he pulled the hat from his head and tossed it across the table. ”And to answer your question, my name is Russell Boosilis... your pampered brat of a prince...” He bit out the title as he pulled out his wallet and tossed a few more American dollars on the table. He narrowed his eyes angrily as he snarled his lips. ”And frankly my uncle can f.u.c.k himself-”

”Alright, that's quite enough!” Ry said as he grabbed Russ's arm and all but dragged him toward the door.

Poseidon snickered as he finished off his drink and nodded a goodbye toward the now stunned bartender. He tossed some money on the table as he stood. Grabbing the hat Russ had flung, he put it on his head and tipped it to the bartender and the other patrons. He sent her a wide charming smile. ”It's been fun, but there's a town records room just waiting with our names on it...”

Her expression shifted from shock to confusion. ”But it's late, everything is closed?!”

His smile widened. ”We're aware.” He sent her a wink as he turned and headed for the doors that Ry and Russ had already exited.

The bartender sent the man who'd been sitting closest a puzzled look. ”You think that was really the prince?”

The old man shrugged. ”If not the prince, then the late king had a son he didn't know about. The boy's a spittin' image of him... save the hair but I'll figure as pale as the queen was, it's to be expected.”

The bartender's eyes widened as they moved back to the door. {Did I just insult the prince?} She moved her troubled gaze back to the old man. ”You think what he said was true?”

”Bout robbin' the records room or saying his uncle can go f.u.c.k himself? He seemed pretty adamant about that sentiment...” The old man said with a slight slur of his words.

The bartender's gaze moved back to the door. ”About being neglected enough by Fernando that he'd considered not returning at all...”

The old man nodded, ”I suspect it could be, the boy wouldn't have been so inraged if it weren't so.” The old man chuckled. ”Though I suspect it could be because you called him and his sister pampered brats.”