Dirty Little Secrets (Kings of Bolten 1)

I turned to see her and Vincent had finally made it to me. Levin was a few feet behind them.

“No.” I got to my feet and peered down at her, wanting to kiss her like Vincent got to.

But I didn’t play games like that. I wasn’t a sweet guy, willing to drop shit for girls. But Bianca D’Angelou had seemingly cast a spell on me that I was getting tired of fighting.

“Your father?” Levin asked, stopping next to Vincent.

I nodded tightly, tearing my eyes from Bianca.

Levin’s Adam’s apple visibly bobbed, and Vincent shuffled, agitated.

“Is everything OK?” Bianca released Vincent’s hand and took mine.

When I returned my focus to her, my emotions warred inside me.

What the fuck was I going to do if I had to kill her? It hadn’t been a big deal when this whole game started. But that was before I started feeling shit. Now? The thought made me sick. This was why my father had warned me to not ever get attached. This was why he’d physically beat the lesson into me.

Never get attached. Never love anyone more than you love yourself. Never choose between your life and theirs.

“No, I don’t think it is,” I said softly, staring into her big, blue eyes. I reached out and ran my knuckles along her cheek.

She closed the space between us and rested her hand on my chest.

“We’ll be here when you get back. The dance is tonight. We’ll have some fun. You’re up for homecoming king.”

I let out a soft laugh. “I already have a crown. I just need my queen.”

She bit her bottom lip before surging forward and pressing her lips to mine in a deep kiss that both shocked me and turned me on. I kissed her back like I’d never taste her again.

And who knew? I might not.

The black limo crunched along the gravel as I stared out the window at the passing trees. Once I’d gotten to my father’s, he’d urged me into a car with Levin’s father and another of my father’s men who they affectionally called the Cleaver. He was as mean as he was ugly. And big. Mother fucker was huge. He was the guy my father called on when he wanted the world to see his power and his enemy’s blood. Cleaver was good at it too. Too good.

And then there was Klaus, Levin’s father. Nearly as big and just as intimidating. Quiet. Deadly. Wicked. Just like my father. The three were the best of friends. Vincent’s father wasn’t there, but if he were, their little fucked up circle of insanity would be complete. It reminded me a lot of me and my guys. Till the end. That was our motto. It seemed like that end may be fast approaching as of late.

“The Ivanovs and D’Angelous have set a date for Mikhail’s wedding. My insider said it was originally set for the summer but has been moved to next month.” Father leveled his dark-eyed gaze on me.

I nodded once and didn’t say anything.

“As you know, we cannot let that happen.” He leaned forward and grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. “Tonight. Midnight. Kill the D’Angelou girl on my call. Understand.”

I swallowed, my stomach heaving. It wasn’t like she’d be my first kill, but she was my first love.

There. I said it. I fucking loved her. Or something. It didn’t matter. I had feelings for her.

I nodded because it was expected of me.

He gripped my face harder and shook it, his face a mask of anger and power.

“Say it.”

“Sí, Father. Midnight. Kill the D’Angelou girl on your word.” My words were clipped venom as I tried to control myself.

Father narrowed his eyes at me for a moment before releasing my face.

/> “Tonight my inside man is supposed to be delivering her to me. If he fails, you’ll have to kill her. And then I’ll have you and your men tend to my inside guy and the Vasiliev girl.”

My father wouldn’t kill Bianca himself, so why did he want her brought to him if possible? “I thought your inside man was going to kill her?” The change of plans had me confused.