In Peace Lies Havoc (Midnight Mayhem 1)

“Why?” I snap, turning toward Keres. “Why was I so special? Because of our talent with dance and singing?” I ask, already knowing his answer.

“Yes and no,” Keres murmurs. “Midnight Mayhem is what keeps our name alive. It continues to act as a curtain to The Brothers and The Four Fathers of Kiznitch, but that’s not why. It’s because of the blood that runs through your veins.”

“So you steal us all,” I whisper as recognition slowly seeps in. “All of the ones who were on that yacht? They were part of Kiznitch one way or another, weren’t they?” I can feel my anger simmering to the surface.

“Yes,” Keres agrees. “We’re a talented bloodline. One that must remain pure. Not all of them are of direct line like you, but they’re in the line, one way or another.”

My head spins from everything, my eyelids heavy. I want to sleep for days, hours, and I’m thankful that at least this is happening during our break. I can’t imagine dealing with this and then performing the next night.

“You and your sister were special, P. You are Ashley Kournikova’s blood daughters. Kournikovas’ lineage is one of the highest rankings in Kiznitch. She married me, a brother, had Keaton, and then had the affair and had you and your sister. It’s why we always kept you close to the Axton twins. We thought it fate.” I wince, the memories so raw and undiluted. King and Kohen are twins, and all four of us went down in history. Keaton must also be some special hybrid breed if he has both a brother and whatever lineage Ashley is.

“But why did I think I was Dove and not Perse?”

Kaius steps into the conversation. “That is something we will never know. I tried to get it out of your father that night, but he never budged. He vowed he’d go down with that secret, and he did.”

My eyes flutter. “Probably because Dove was always his favorite child. Why not just let me take on her name and it’ll almost be as if she never died?”

Kaius shuffles his feet. My eyes connect with his. “I don’t think that’s it. I have my theories, all of which are far-fetched. We will eventually get to the bottom of it all, but for right now, we’ve hit a wall as to why he called you Dove and not your real name.”

I sigh, my head pounding from all of the information. “So, if I’m so special,” I bring my eyes to Keres, who seems to be answering more questions than Kaius, “why’d one of you almost rape me while I was in that cell?”

Keres freezes, his face falling.

Kaius stills, his hand short of his mouth.

Ashley steps forward dangerously.

There are muffled voices behind me, but the loudest is, of course, King’s. “What the fuck do you mean?” he sneers.

I ignore him. “I just want to leave.”

“I’ll take you,” Keaton murmurs, tucking my hand in his.

“No!” King steps in front of us, his fingers coming to my chin to tilt my face up to his. “What do you mean one of us almost raped you? None of us almost fucking raped you!”

I inhale.

Exhale.

Count to ten. “The man with the neon mask. He did things to me. He didn’t go all of the way, but he made it feel like I was the messenger, and he was the one sending the message.”

King’s hand falls away as his face pales. He takes one step, two steps, three steps back. His face is blank. “Take her home.”

I don’t argue, slipping under Keaton’s arm as he steers me out of the house and into a waiting limo.

I drop down onto the sofa, my hand coming to my hair. “I’ll kill him.” My head is spinning.

“Make it clean.” Ashley takes a seat opposite me. I’ve always known that Ashley was P and Dove’s birth mother, so I’ve always seen the resemblance. “She won’t forgive you, King. Remember, she’s the stubborn one.”

“I don’t want her forgiveness.” My eyes connect with hers. “I want her vengeance.” I shake my head, rage burning hot inside of me. “He did this for Patience. It’s what they do to check that their girls are virgins. They use their fingers to check the barrier. I’ll fuckin’ kill him.”

“Son,” Dad commands my attention, and I bring my eyes up to his, just as the rim of the bottle touches my lips. “You don’t need my permission to kill the man, but be careful with how hard you go for her.”

I stand tall, handing the bottle back to Ashley. “I’ll go as hard as I want. I’ll only ask you this once.” I pause, locking my eyes on his. I’ve come to know when Dad is lying. Only just, and even then, I think some shit still passes over me. “Did you know that she was P?”