Dirty Little Secrets (Kings of Bolten 1)

Kings. Lords. I wouldn’t discriminate. If they wanted a war, I’d give them one.

Seventeen

Dominic

She was late. It was twenty minutes after midnight, and she hadn’t come to me with her answer.

“She did give you her answer,” Levin snapped as I pushed my feet into my shoes to leave. “No answer is an answer.”

“I want to hear her tell me no to my face,” I snarled.

“Man, just go tell Hail she met with us. Let him take care of her.” Vincent sounded let down as he stared at his hands on his lap.

I knew he wanted her on our side. Vincent was as dark and fucked up as the rest of us, but he had a sweet spot in his soul, and I was pretty goddamn sure Bianca D’Angelou had been stroking it for him.

“I’m going to her dorm. I’ll be back later.” I didn’t wait for them to reply. I left, walking fast to her building through the shadows. When I got to her door, I picked the lock and slid inside. I waited in the overstuffed chair in the corner in the dark.

Time ticked by slowly, making me more agitated. Then her door rattled and creaked open. She stepped into the darkness, and I was on my feet in a moment.

I wrapped my fingers around her delicate neck and pressed my hand over her mouth before pulling her back flush to my chest.

“You’re late with my answer,” I snarled in her ear.

She shook in my hold. Tears dropped onto my hand as she sagged against me.

I released her, and she stumbled away and flipped on a light.

Her face was red and blotchy from tears. A bruise colored her cheek. Some of the buttons on her shirt were missing, and her hair was a tangled mess.

“What happened?” I demanded, taking in her disheveled look.

Her bottom lip trembled as she stared back at me with tear-soaked eyes.

“Did he. . .?”

“I-I need a minute, OK? Please. I know we had a midnight deadline, but I need a shower. If you’re going to kill me, just let me be clean first. I don’t want anyone to see me this way.”

“Take a shower,” I said tightly, going to her door and putting the chain lock on it. I turned back to her. “I’ll wait.”

She nodded and went to her dresser and tugged out some clothes before going into her bathroom and closing the door with a soft click.

I sat on her bed and pulled my phone out to message Vincent and Levin in our group chat.

Dom: I’m with her now. Hail fucked up. Bad.

Vincent: What did he do?

Dom: I’ll let you guys know soon.

Levin: Can we say this bullshit is happening then?

Dom: Probably.

I darkened the screen and sat silently, waiting for Bianca to come out. Normally, I wouldn’t give a shit and would’ve burst in on her by now to demand she give me my answer, but I let it slide this time, not even wanting to contemplate this apparently new softer side of me.

The minutes ticked by. I listened to the water run. I listened as she vomited into the toilet. When I heard a soft sob, I got to my feet and stood outside the door.

I didn’t know what Ivanov had done to her, but it wasn’t anything good. If he’d fucked her, it would certainly put a damper on my plans, but I was resourceful and would work around it.