Malum: Part 2 (The Elite King's Club 5)

I think over his words. I’ve done some heavy damage to her in the time that we’ve been together, without really being together. She deserves every fucking thing that she wants, and I don’t know if it’s me and this world that she really wants. Why would she want to be held by the same hands that broke her?

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

“Think of her. Not you,” Brantley says before standing.

“Alright, Dr. Phil.” I follow suit, handing him back the bottle. “Let’s get this fucking ceremony over with so she can at least be back on world soil.”

I start heading back through the kitchen and to the dining room, just as Brantley’s hand comes out and stops me. “Don’t tease her with Valentina. You’re both past that and she’s dealt with enough of that bullshit. Also, if you care for your little toy’s safety, I wouldn’t push Tillie too far. Your toy might end up… broken.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I know.” Then I shove through and head into the dining room where Bishop is sitting, eyes distracted and lost in the distance.

“We need to talk…”

“Fuck,” I mutter, pulling the seat out before I take it. “Now what.”

“It’s true,” Bishop whispers, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Brantley enters just as Bishop says the words.

“What’s true?” Brantley asks, his eyes going between the two of us.

I bury my face into my hands, running my fingertips through my hair. “She can’t know. Brantley, we need to tell you something…” I cover my mouth with my hand.

Brantley glares at both of us. “Fucking secrets. Really?”

“No.” I shake my head, because out of everything, I can’t handle Brantley being salty as fuck with me. “It was kept between the two of us until we could find proof, which Bishop has.”

Brantley takes a seat, his jaw clenching.

Bishop’s eyes go to Brantley. “We know about Saint.”

Tillie

We’re at the front of the gates of the mansion, and I have The Kings behind me, standing firm. I turn to the left, my eyes finding Benny, who’s watching me with obvious zeal. His eyes drop up and down my body, taking me in slowly. I chose the sluttiest thing I could find in Khales’ wardrobe, which wasn’t hard considering she owned patches as shirts. It’s a small black dress that hugs all of my curves. Strapless, pushing my tits up and has a nice little slit up the left thigh that goes right up past my hip.

Hello, no panties.

I matched it with thigh-high boots and spent hours on my hair and makeup. I wanted to look unstoppable and strong. I figure if I look strong, it will hide the fact that I’m falling apart inside.

I swallow past my nerves, my eyes glassing over as I gaze back out in front of me. I don’t look at the swarm of people. I keep my eyes locked on the end of the road, so far back that I can actually see. When Gabe begins talking, I start counting shops.

One.

Two.

Twenty-four.

By shop fifty, Valentina is walking up to us with a long robe on, a hoodie covering her face.

I don’t look at her, because fuck her, and carry on my count.

Valentina removes the robe, and that’s when I finally look at her. She’s wearing a red dress that flows to the floor in lace patterns, a trail behind her.

Nothing slutty or over the top. Nothing like my mother. Maybe it will be a good thing, maybe I can trust Nate when he says that I can trust her.

Or maybe I’ll continue being bitter.

I choose the latter and turn to Gabe when he takes my hand. He presses the sharp side of a silver blade into the palm of my hand. I wince as the sting resonates through all my nerves, before he does the same to Valentina. I don’t flinch when he presses her hand to mine. I remain vacant, and unfazed. I never look at her once, and I ignore the heat that’s radiating from the back of me. I know it’s Nate glaring laser beams into the back of my skull.

I want off this fucking island.

The crowd cheers.

Gabriel turns to me, his hands coming to my face. “You’re free, sweet one.”

“Thank fucking god.” I slice Brantley with a stare. “Home?”

He nods. “Yeah. Alright.”

Nate stayed behind. Because of course he fucking did. The flight was long because of this, and it was torture because all I could fucking think about is all the dirty things he was doing to Valentina.

“I will never buy Valentino,” I mutter, scrolling on my laptop as I search for houses.

Bailey chuckles. “That bad, huh?”

I nod. “That fucking bad.”

“Have you heard from him since you left yesterday?” she asks, throwing fruit and all sorts of shit into the blender.

I shake my head. “Nope. All I know is that he and Bishop both stayed behind, and since Bishop is now single, and so is Nate, I’d hate to know what they were up to all night.” I pause, tilting my head as I look over a house that stands away from the rest.