A Promise of Torment (A Violent Agenda)

“I didn’t tell Dino so that he could bring you into it,” I say. Didn’t you? They tell each other everything.

“You should have told me,” he says, shoving his hands in his pockets.

I don’t know what to say to that, so I just stare at him. I never agreed to tell him everything. All three of them barged into my life and the rules never got discussed. And I need rules. Dante understands that. This messy, emotional shit makes no fucking sense. Especially when I don’t even know if I’m starting to feel things, or if I’m just evolving into an even more fucked-up monster.

“I don’t have to tell you everything,” I say, shutting down.

Lorcan shakes his head and gives a harsh laugh, flicking his eyes heavenward. “You never give in do you?”

“It’s the way I am.” Accept it or fuck off.

He pauses and then nods. “I guess I can deal with that. But what I’m not good with is seeing you hurt those I care about.”

“I didn’t know asking Dino to get close to his brother would break him. I’m not good with understanding emotions.” Dino doesn’t even look broken. He’s still the same. He’s still annoying and protective as hell.

He snorts. “At least we agree on something.”

There’s another shitty silence.

“Is this the moment where you walk away?” I ask.

He stares back, brow furrowed but the rest of his face unreadable, and then he sighs. “Look, I came because I want to help find Rebecca. I miss you like fucking crazy and I’m jealous as hell, but I’ll put all that aside to help you. Just like you helped me.”

“Okay,” I say, for want of something better. “You don’t have to stay with me. Kristian won’t try anything. He won’t want to piss off my father.”

“Just be fucking careful around Sinner, because you’re not the one who’s going to have to pick up the pieces after you’re gone.”

I take him in, the boy I stalked all those months ago. He seems older, and wiser. It’s turning me the fuck on. If I’m honest, there’s a gaping hole inside me, a void that won’t go away ever since I left the boys and moved back home.

I’ve been trying to ignore it for fucking months.

And now, I’m tired.

I nod. “Okay, but I’m taking Kristian and my father out,” I say. “And I need Griffin on board with it. He knows where Rebecca is.”

Lorcan raises a brow. “Sounds like we’re aligned for once. Leave Graham Baron to me.”

“You think you can convince him to tell you?”

“He’s Finn’s uncle.”

I’ve no idea what that means, but I’m glad of the alliance.

“You need anything else?”

“Do you have access to Joseph’s money?”

He indicates that he does with a nod.

“Then I need that money you once offered me.” I need enough to take Rebecca far away from here. And I need a new identity. One that’s completely untraceable and will pass every goddamn test there is.

Unfortunately, those don’t come cheap.