Kings of Blood and Money (Underworld Kings)

I think I’ve over fucking shared again. What the hell did he tell her he did for work? Clearly it wasn’t the truth.

“Are you sure everything is okay?” he asks, worry crinkling his eyes.

“I just feel a little woozy, hungry, I’ll be fine,” she assures. It must satisfy him because he drops it and leaves the room.

Turning toward her, I clasp her upper arms and force her eyes to mine. “Tell me what’s bothering you.” My stomach clenches at the storm whirling in her eyes.

“I’m just…did he do that? Did he use my parents for—?”

“No,” I interrupt her. “I told you, he didn’t hurt your mother. He didn’t kill either of them.”

Goddammit, I have a big fucking mouth. “Really?” she pleads, her fingers clawing into my shirt, her body pushing against me until we’re sharing breath.

“Really.” I wrap her into my chest, feeling her sag against me.

She can never know the truth about her dad.

Twenty-Two

Freya

God, that’s who Father thinks he is, playing who gets to live and who gets to die, taking whatever he wants. The person in the box…are they even alive now? He lied about what he does. Sickness roils in my guts. He raised the twins, made them believe he was some kind of hero. The way Remi spoke about him, so in awe…

Why does he get to choose who’s bad and who’s good? Did he play God with someone in my blood family? Is that why his family was targeted? He put the twins at risk because he didn’t like rules, the idea that there wouldn’t be medicine if he one day needed help.

My mind flashes with that time he appeared in the kitchen in gloves and an apron, the blood speckles… I’d been so gullible, so easily pacified. I’ve seen one room, but what’s in the others hidden behind his locked door?

The dreaded thought of maybe that’s why he took me in the first place inserts itself into my chest. Do I have something he may need in the future? Is he going to cut me up and sell me for parts when the time presented itself?

No.

If that were the case, why put me through school, tell me to pick a college? Let the boys get to know me? I could have run away from boarding school at any time. He trusted me not to, and I never did. I had no money and nowhere to go but that’s not the point. I have a car now. I could pack a bag. Could I leave them, though?

No.

I take another bite of the cheese crust and dump the rest on the box. I only managed to eat one slice while Remi ate an entire meat lovers pizza, a box of wings, and half a pint of Ben and Jerry's. How he looked the way he did would be a goldmine if he sold his secrets.

We’d opted for a light movie. After all the heavy talk earlier, I needed a distraction, but the movie isn’t doing the job.

Sipping another mouthful of the beer Remi brought up for me, I wince. The taste bitter and unpleasant on my tongue. “Will you come shopping with me?” I ask randomly.

He’s slouched over my lap, his bare chest resting on my thighs, his head using his arm over my knee as a pillow.

“Will I get to pick your underwear?” I sense his grin.

“Maybe,” I tease, taking another swig, guzzling until the bottle is empty.

His spare hand curls around my calf.

“Then definitely. Let’s go now.” He makes an effort to get to his knees, and it causes a giggle to trickle from me.

“Hold your horses. It’s too late to go now.” It’s dark outside. I wonder where Noah could be, but quickly shake the thought away.

A dance scene takes form on the screen. The girl in this movie reminds me of Ivy—before the school uniform and natural hair. “I’m thinking I may get a piercing too,” I say, making the decision the moment I see the nose ring on the female lead. I can’t help myself as I reach up and stroke the pad of my thumb over his thick, inviting lips. He’s so close, so handsome. “Maybe lip?” I muse out loud.

Would he kiss me between my thighs differently than his brother?

“What are you thinking about?” He presses his lips to my thumb and grips my wrist.

“The piercing,” I lie.

“My piercing?” he breathes heavily.

My eyes enlarge, scanning his body. There’s no piercing…my eyes dart to his crotch. “No way,” I gasp, my jaw almost dislocating. “Are you joking?”

Still keeping my wrist hostage, he drags my hand down his body until it’s resting at the waist of his jeans.

“No. I thought you were teasing me?”

“Oh my god, Remi.” My stomach clenches, heat blossoming up my neck and over my cheeks. “Can I see it?”