I continued staring out the window, ignoring the question. Whether or not I wanted this or liked any of it, it was never a question.
Three years ago, curious little Erika Fane wanted to play with the boys, so we indulged her, and she betrayed us. There was no way we’d forget. Once restitution was paid, my friends could have peace.
Kai kept his eyes on her as he spoke. “Damon and Will are blind action, Michael. Over three years, that hasn’t changed. They act and react from the gut, but for two men that once believed money and power could get them out of anything, they now know that’s not true.”
He turned his head, locking eyes with me. “There were no games in there. No real friends. No hesitation. Act and commit. That’s what they learned.”
I turned my gaze back out the windows. In there. That was as much as Kai had talked about prison since he’d gotten out.
I hadn’t asked, either. Maybe I knew he’d talk when he was ready, or maybe I felt guilty, knowing that it was all my fault. I’d brought her with us that night, after all. I
’d trusted her. This was on me.
Or maybe, just maybe, it was because I never wanted to know what the last three years had been like for my friends. What they’d lost. How they’d waited.
How they’d changed.
I shook my head, trying to brush off his warning. “They were always like that,” I argued.
“But they were always controllable,” he challenged. “They were appeasable. Now they don’t have limits, and the only thing they truly understand is that they are the only person they can trust.”
So what was he saying? That they might have their own agendas?
I let my eyes fall to her, working vigorously as she rolled on the red paint.
And something coiled inside of me, twisting and tightening until my chest ached.
What would I do if they jumped ship? Took their own course of action? I didn’t like that idea.
But for three years, I’d been forced to look at her in my house, hear about her, and bide my time when all I wanted was to be her nightmare. She was here, and we were ready.
“We can’t stop,” I nearly whispered. We could control Will and Damon. We always had.
“I don’t want to stop,” he retorted, his dark eyes pinned on her. “She deserves everything that’s coming to her. But I am saying that things never go according to plan. Remember that.”
I picked up the glass of bourbon I’d set down and tossed it back, swallowing the remainder of the liquid in one gulp. The burn sat at the back of my tongue, my throat tightening as I set the glass down.
I’d remember it, but I wasn’t going to worry about it. It was finally time to have some fun.
“Why is she painting at two a.m.?” he asked as if just finally realizing what she was doing.
I just shook my head, looking down at her and having no idea. Maybe she couldn’t sleep after Damon and Will’s escapade next door.
Kai exhaled, gazing down at her with a slight smile curling his lips. “She grew up nice, didn’t she?” His voice turned soft but kept its threatening edge. “Beautiful skin, hypnotic eyes and lips, tight body…”
Yeah.
Rika’s Dutch South African mother married her way into money and power, using a face and body that was still only half as beautiful as her daughter’s. Rika may have inherited her mother’s blonde hair and blue eyes, her full lips and mesmerizing smile, but the rest was all Rika.
The sun-kissed, glowing skin; the strong, toned legs from years of fencing; and the way she looked so alluring and sweet but with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
Like a baby vampire.
“Yo!” Will bellowed from below. “What the fuck are you guys doing? Let’s play!”
Kai smiled, dropping his arms and turning for the court.
But I hesitated, still thinking about his warning.