Cross (Dark Kings 3)

“You’re keeping secrets from me.” I arch a brow, daring him to lie.

He lets go of me and looks over at Titan who is now talking to Bones, who just arrived in his blacked-out Lamborghini Reventon. “Yes, but it wasn’t intentional. We just started sharing an hour ago,” he whisper-shouts, getting irritated about something.

True, but he could have told me while we were in the car on the way here. “Will you tell me later?” I challenge.

“Of course.” He leans in, kissing my forehead, and I let him grab my hand, pulling me over to everyone.

Just then, a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon pulls up and parks. As expected, Grave and April get out of the car. She’s dressed in a white off-the-shoulder sweater dress. She’s got her dark purple hair braided down the center and all pulled up in a big messy bun high on her head. Her lipstick matches her hair, and she’s got smoky eyes with thick black liner. She looks stunning.

“Racing tonight?” Titan asks Grave, looking over his car. “She stays in the garage otherwise.”

“No. Just thought I’d drive her,” Grave answers. He holds his hand out for April, and she takes it, cuddling into his side with a soft smile on her face as she looks up at him adoringly.

They seem happier. Better than when I saw them together last in the Royal Suite. Grave looks over at my brother for a quick second and then dismisses him.

I have a feeling tonight isn’t going to go how the Kings are planning. That’s just not our luck lately.

“Are we ready?” Bones asks, looking around as if he’s counting everyone.

I’m not sure where Haven and Luca are, but they must not be coming.

“Yeah,” Cross answers, taking my hand, and we lead the way into the Airport.

CROSS

WE STAND AT the bar getting the girls drinks. It’s a weekday, so it’s not as packed as the usual weekend crowd. Thank God. I really wasn’t in the mood to go out at all tonight. I wanted to spend my evening in bed with Alexa, but I needed to be here for Grave however I can. Even if that means looking for Ethan.

“He’s got about thirty minutes!” Titan shouts over the song “Raging on a Sunday” by Bohnes.

“Gives us plenty of time.” I sip on my rum and Coke, pulling my cell out with my free hand. Setting the glass on the bar, I send a quick text.

Me: We’re here.

He reads it immediately, and I look up at the black domes hanging from the ceiling, knowing they’re watching us. We’re here to kill two birds with one stone tonight.

My phone vibrates, and I read the incoming text.

Turner: Come on down.

Pocketing my cell, I lean into Titan. “They’re ready.” He walks over to get Bones and Grave while I grab Derek’s neck, yanking him to me.

“Hey …”

“Don’t leave your sister’s side,” I growl.

He nods quickly. “I know the plan.”

I lied to Alexa. We are here for Ethan, but we’re also here for other reasons. We didn’t want to leave the girls at home, so I made sure Derek came along to be the babysitter. “We won’t be long.” I shove him away. Just because he’s decided to kiss our asses doesn’t mean I have to like him. I love his sister, not him, but I might as well make him useful. He’ll be family one day since I’m going to marry Alexa. If I have it my way, someday soon.

“Let’s go,” I say, throwing what’s left of my drink back.

“Cross …?”

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Alexa. “Do not leave this bar. You understand?”

She nods. “Of course.” Leaning up on her tiptoes, she kisses my lips, and a growl forms deep in my throat at the reminder this is the last place I want to be tonight, but business calls.

“Hurry back.” She smiles up at me. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

The Airport sits on two-hundred-and-fifty acres, has five stories of the original airport, and turned the Mason Towers—what was once a hotel next to it—into apartments they rent out. But underneath the airport is where the Mason brothers play.

The Kings and I make our way downstairs to the underground tunnels. The existing, functional airport had a bomb shelter back in the seventies.

They have safe rooms that the Masons use as prison cells. They have their own law enforcement at the Airport. Like the Kings, they don’t put up with shit. They even hung four guys once for trying to steal from them. Made them an example. I can appreciate a man who takes action. Words are meaningless in our businesses.

We make our way down through the brightly lit tunnels and take a right at the end. Turner stands there dressed in a three-piece suit in front of a black metal door. “Kings.”

“You have something for us?” Bones asks, getting to the point. He hates them but understands they can be useful at times. Now is one of them.