Tacet a Mortuis (The Elite King's Club 3)

I didn’t want to press the subject any more than I already had, so I opted to change topics. “I really hope Nate and Tate don’t fight the whole way.”

“Oh, I have no doubt they will,” Cash laughed, getting to his feet. He reached for my hand to help me up and I took it, dusting off my pants.

“Thanks for the chat.” He winked and then walked back inside, just as Bishop was exiting.

“You bonding now?” He grinned, carrying our duffle bags.

I smiled at him. “You know, it’s amazing the things you learn when one is alone with a King.”

“Easy, Kitty…”

He dived for me, his arm wrapping around my waist to pull me into him. He snapped at my lip, his teeth sinking into my flesh and pulled back. His eyes fell to my mouth and then came back to my eyes. “You don’t wanna be the next missing person case over the Bermuda Triangle, do you?” He said it with such seriousness that my laughter quickly died out as I turned and watched him carry our bags to his Maserati.

“Not funny!” I hollered out.

His head tipped back in laughter.

Asshole.

I smiled. He was an asshole, and I loved it. I wouldn’t ever want Bishop any other way. Even though we’re an item now, and even though he’s mine and I’m his officially, he was still the same Bishop. He wasn’t some watered down version of himself just because of me. A loud slap sounded out just as my ass cheek stung in pain. I yelped and grabbed onto my cheek, turning to see who the fuck wanted a knuckle sandwich.

“Come on, bitch. I’m ready!”

“Tate!” I scolded her as she brushed past me and made her way to the Maserati instead of Nate’s Audi. “Um, why don’t you ride with Nate so you can both have a chat about how you’re not going to argue on the plane ride!” I yelled out, just as she dropped her bag into the trunk of Bishop’s car.

“How about no! Because you might be down a brother if I do.”

Jesus. Nate came up next to me, shoving an apple into his mouth. “What did you do?” I didn’t look at him, my eyes stayed on Tate.

“What did I do?” he asked, turning to me. I finally looked at him as he crunched down on his apple. “What I did was be honest with her. It’s not my fault she can’t handle it.”

“But were you nice, though?” I quirked an eyebrow at him.

His eyes darted over my shoulder absently. “I’m always nice.”

“Nate!” I punched his shoulder.

“Ouch!” He rubbed his wound. “That wasn’t very nice, sis.”

“Pot meet kettle.”

He rolled his eyes and walked down the steps. “I’ve always told her from day one that I ain’t with relationships. It’s her that couldn’t handle it.” Somehow, I feel like there’s something he isn’t telling me, and if that’s the case, I’ll be disappointed. I thought we were all beyond that stage. I headed down and climbed into the front seat, shutting the door behind myself. Bishop was still talking with Saint and Chase, so I turned in my seat to face Tate who was looking absently out the window.

“What is going on? And don’t lie to me, T.”

She sighed. “He pulls me in, makes me feel things, gives me incredible sex and tells me everything I want to hear, and then after all the excitement is done, he goes back to telling me that I’m just a bit of fun and that we can’t go anywhere.”

“Congratulations, you’re sleeping with a male.”

She laughed a little at that, which made my heart a little happier, then her eyes came to mine. “I’m serious, Mads. It’s seriously fucking with my head, and I’m such an idiot because I keep going back to him like a fucking twat. I’ve turned into one of those girls I make fun of.”

“Well, yes, you were a dick for making fun of those girls, but Tate, give yourself a break. Not only is Nate, well, —”

“—Hot, dangerous, sexy wrapped in tattoo’s, piercings, and muscles?” she ended for me.

“Well, yes, that, but what I was going to say is that you’re a girl, Tate. We do this. You’re not alone. My advice, if you want it, is to stay away from him until you can grasp your feelings, or else you’re making this too easy for him and also, every time this happens you sink deeper and deeper into feelings. It’s a pointless dive.”

“Because he loves Tillie.” Her face fell and she went back to looking out the window. “You know,” her tone turned angry. Hopefully Bishop waited until I had cooled her down before jumping into the car. “I don’t fucking get it! She is not even here. She ran away and left all of us! He had been with her once! Like they haven’t even shared the same memories as he and I have.” I wanted to bite my tongue, but she was beginning to get silly over it.