Cross (Dark Kings 3)

“What if we partnered with the Masons?” Titan offers, sitting up straighter looking over at Bones. “They make the order, but Cross and I go with him to pick it up. They can say they’ve hired us for protection.”

I give a rough laugh. “Everyone knows the Mason brothers are like us. They are their own protection.”

“What do you suggest?” Titan snaps at me. “That we do nothing?”

“You know how I feel about the Masons,” Bones adds, ignoring Titan’s outburst.

“I’m not a fan of them either, but we need to get to the bottom of this before our client comes after us for not getting the information that we promised,” Titan adds.

Bones lets out a frustrated sigh, and I know Titan has won. “Fine. But take Nite with you. Three is better than two.” With that, he gets up leaving the room.

ALEXA

I’M BEHIND THE bar at Lucky’s when my cell vibrates in my back pocket. I pull it out to see Cross is calling me. Although it’s after closing hours, I make my way to the back office to take the call because I don’t want my brother to hear my conversation. He hasn’t said one word to me since he found out I was sleeping with Cross. Just shows up to work his shifts and then goes home. “Hello?”

“Hey,” he says softly.

I drop my head and look down at my black boots. I haven’t spoken to him since last night. Haven and I were with April when they informed her complications were causing her to miscarry the baby. Grave arrived shortly after. I wanted to stay for her, but I left with Jasmine, knowing that she and Grave wanted to be left alone.

“I would ask how your day went, but I bet it was about as good as mine was.” He sighs.

“Grave ignoring you like April is ignoring me?” I ask. I’ve tried reaching out to her a hundred times today, and my calls have gone unanswered, my text unread.

“I wish that were the case. All of a sudden, the guy has fallen headfirst into Kingdom. He’s been practically MIA for years, and now Bones can’t get him to leave. You said April is ignoring you?”

I fall into the chair at the desk, making it squeak with my weight. “Yeah, I’ve been calling her, but it goes straight to voicemail. This afternoon, I found myself taking the long way to work and drove by Roses and saw her car. I went in, and she totally blew me off.” She pretended to be busier than I know she was. I took the hint and left, not wanting to add more stress.

“I just hate it for them,” he says softly.

“Me too,” I say, placing my right elbow on the old wooden desk and my face in my hand. I’ve been friends with April since we were kids. We’ve been through a lot together, but she’s never shut me out like this.

“Alexa.” He sighs my name, and I close my eyes, expecting him to end this. Too much is going on. Grave needs him now more than ever. We can’t continue sneaking around like this. He was going to come clean with Grave last night after his fight. He can’t do that now. “About yesterday.”

I open my eyes and frown as I stare at my messy desk. “What about it?”

“Before Grave went to fight. Him bringing up Rachel—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupt him. Another thing that seems small compared to everything else.

“No. It’s not.”

I sit back and run a hand down my face. I’m too exhausted to go into his line of women right now. “It is, Cross. We’re not together. You can fuck whoever you want.”

There’s a long pause on his end. I pull it away from my ear to make sure he hasn’t hung up on me. Instead, he changes the subject. “What are you doing once you’re done at the bar?”

I look up at the clock on the wall. It’s almost three a.m. We’ve been closed for half an hour. “Going home,” I answer. It’s been a long twenty-four hours, and I’m exhausted. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I doubt I will tonight either. April is heavy on my mind, and I feel like my hands are tied. I can’t do anything to help her.

“Why don’t you come up to Kingdom?” he offers.

I bite my lower lip. “For what exactly?”

“Stay the night with me,” he answers as if I should have known that’s what he meant.

I stand, needing the space. “Are you sure that’s a good thing? I mean, although everyone suspects what we’re doing, we haven’t actually told them. And what if someone sees us? It’s not the time—”

“No one is here tonight,” he interrupts me. “Titan hasn’t stayed here since he married Emilee. Bones is still working and will be doing it all night because that’s just what he does. And Grave left hours ago to go home. I’m guessing to be with April. It’ll just be you and me.”