I can hear music thumping loudly, spilling into the extravagant foyer of the mansion, directly through the floor-to-ceiling doors in the back lounge.
“We leave any time you want, okay?” I say to her, searching her eyes.
“Yes, Little Dragon. Now, come on!” Her hand grasps mine as she tugs me toward where the music is coming from. I shake my head and laugh off her relentlessness. Passing by a long rectangle table, I swipe up two shots each and hand one to her. “For some courage before we head outside.”
She takes two off me and we both pound them back with a hiss after each one.
“Tequila!” My face scrunches.
“Oh, that was definitely Perse!” Val scolds, swiping her mouth. “Her and her nasty taste in alcohol.”
Sliding the empty glasses back onto the table, we head outside through the open doors, where the music is playing. The electric sound of Five Finger Death Punch roars through the dark night as people dance and talk. On the patio there’s another large rectangle table where a whole group are sitting, chatting. I don’t want to look long because I know that Killian is amongst them. Out of the corner of my eye I watch as their heads turn to me and Val, just as we see Perse, Rose, and King standing near the bonfire out on the grass. They’re talking with a few men wearing suits, men I recognize slightly. The Four Fathers and others.
Strong arms wrap around my torso, lifting me off the ground as Kenan’s lips press to the back of my neck. “You look like a whole fuckin’ snack, Saskia.”
I laugh, my head tilting back. Wriggling out of his grip, I turn around to face him when he puts me back down to my feet. “Are you drunk already?” I cock my head.
Kenan leans in so close. Close enough that his lips touch mine. “Maybe.” I shove him backward playfully. Kenan always tests his limits with me and although he’s cute, that’s just it. He’s… cute. Killian would eat him for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then still have room for a six-course meal with some dessert.
Kyrin comes up beside Kenan. “Care for a walk?”
My smile falls slightly. I barely speak to Kyrin, and if I haven’t said it enough, he’s terrifying.
“Sure,” I answer, side-stepping away from my clingy best friend. I turn to face Kenan. “Keep an eye on Val while I’m gone.”
“Well we ain’t gonna eat her, Little Drago,” Keaton growls from the table. My eyes come to his and I watch as a smirk devilishly slips over his lips, his eyes hooded in mischief. He was just shitty with me outside, and now he has completely shifted tunes.
Ky starts dragging me down the stairs and toward the bonfire. He grabs a couple of drinks on our way. We move to the side, behind the fire but far enough away for people to not hear us talk.
He hands me my drink and I take a sip. Whiskey. Figures.
Kyrin studies the fire before turning to face me. “You know, when we all first saw you, we had a hard dick for you.”
I swipe my mouth from the alcohol, slowly lowering my glass to my lap. I squeeze it tightly. “Ah…”
Ky laughs, turning over his shoulder. I follow his line of sight—heading straight to some commotion happening on the patio. He rolls his eyes and brings them back to me. “We know more than you know we know.”
I shake my head. “I’m confused.”
Kyrin’s focus stays on me. “See that’s the thing, I don’t think you are.”
“I don’t know what to say to you or how to defend myself when I don’t know what I’m defending myself from.”
His eyes darken. “You need to stop whatever is going on with you and Killian.”
“I can assure you that it has.” I take another sip, willing the alcohol to kick in faster and numb the aching pounding that’s echoing in my belly.
Ky doesn’t answer, so I turn to face him. “You really believe that shit?”
“What do you want me to say, Kyrin?”
His eyes remain on mine. “I don’t give a fuck about all of this shit, but Killian is a whole different man right now and we all know that the juice is not worth the squeeze.”
I throw back my whole damn drink. “Ky, I get it.”
Kyrin’s face doesn’t move. Not even a flinch. He shuffles closer to me, his hands coming to each side of my legs. He shoves them open and grips me behind my thighs, pulling me forward until I’m straddling him on his lap.
“Mmmm,” he growls, eyeing me up and down. I watch his pretty jaw hit all of the right angles as he cranks his head. His hands move down my back and fall onto my ass.
“Ky…” I warn, tilting my head.