Pretty Little Sins (Kings of Bolten 2)

LEVIN

Isat on our table in the courtyard, my leg bouncing as I waited for Dom and Bianca to show up. She hadn’t texted me, but then again, Dom probably had her phone on lockdown like Stella’s.

“You look like shit,” Vincent commented, collapsing beside me.

I glanced at him to find he wasn't faring much better.

“You heard from Dom?”

“Radio silence,” he grumbled. “I did see Vasiliev trudging across the lawn this morning looking like he was dead on his ass.”

“Guess we all have that in common,” I muttered. I’d barely slept, worrying about what shit would go down once Dom and Bianca made it back to campus. I wasn’t even sure what to do when she got back. I’d tried to comfort her back at the safe house, but she'd pretty much ignored my efforts, which didn’t give me much hope for a future with her.

I hoped she could tell I cared. I did, after all, refuse to shoot her in the head like I was supposed to. That shit had to count for something at least.

“You OK?” Vincent asked.

I scoffed and continued glaring at a tree across the courtyard. Celeste Vander Veer giggled beneath it with her friends. Her old man owned one of the largest gun factories in the entire country. Old money. He was someone we’d been trying for ages to get close to.

“I’ll take that as a no.” Vincent shifted in his seat. “You know, she’s going to forgive us.”

“Why would she do that?” I murmured.

I’d planned on killing her. We’d made her believe Vasiliev was dead. We’d forced her into a marriage. She’d be crazy to she forgive a single hair on our heads.

“We’ve talked about this before. Just relax. She’ll come around.” His gaze roamed the courtyard, probably looking for bumblebee and Dom like I was. I hated the silence from them.

“Whatever,” I grunted, knowing damn well it was more than a whatever matter.

This was all my damn fault, and knowing that haunted me. If I’d kept my distance I wouldn’t feel so fucked up inside. This was what I got for getting involved. Everyone fucking leaves. Even Stefan…It was the story of my life…

I sighed, trying to keep my shit together. Vasiliev’s words about my brother had been weighing heavily on me. It was a surprise to find out Stefan had been dating Natalia. I knew there'd been someone, but a fucking Russian enforcer’s daughter? Fucking idiot bit off more than he could chew. Imagining my old man being involved in Stefan's death made me sick. I knew what he was capable of, but I wanted to think he’d never to that to his own son. He would've killed me before laying a finger on Stefan. There was just no way.

“There they are.” Vincent slapped my arm.

I followed his gaze to where Dom and Bianca were walking across the courtyard. They were close to each other but not touching.

Her head was down as she listened to him talk, her blonde waves tumbling around her.

I rubbed my chest as I took in every perfect facet of her. Those long legs. That blonde hair. Her full, pouty lips that made me want to bury my cock deep in her throat just so I could feel the brush of them against me. The thought of blowing my load into her warm mouth and making her swallow me down just so I'd always be a part of her had my cock growing hard in my pants.

I drew in a deep breath and forced myself to think about how awful the dumpsters on campus smelled on a hot summer day. It helped. Some.

“How are the newlyweds?” Vincent asked when they stopped in front of us. “B looks like she’s walking all right.”

She lifted her gaze and scowled at him, her lips pursed in irritation. It helped soothe my ego to know she hated all of us and not just me. At least, I wasn’t drowning alone.

“Everything status quo?” Dom asked, ignoring the mention of his marriage. With a frown on his face, he reached out and tucked a lock of Bianca’s hair behind her ear, his wedding ring glinting in the sunlight.

My guts tightened, nauseous for some fucked up reason. Jealousy? Anger? Resentment?

I wanted her too. At the rate we were going, she’d freeze our asses out before she warmed up to the idea of being with us all again. I’d seen her with Vasiliev though. She’d do anything for that son of a bitch. But fuck it. I was scraping rock bottom and would gladly eat shit with that piece of trash if it meant I got Bianca to care again.

“All’s good. Vasiliev is being a good boy and doing what he’s told,” Vincent said.

“It’s been one fucking day. Don’t give him a halo yet,” I grumbled.

“He won’t disappoint you,” Bianca cut in, surprisingly addressing me. She stared me down with so much certainty on her pretty face it made me sick. She believed in that little shit but hadn’t had an ounce of faith in me.

I rose and peered right back at her. “I’ve taken pisses longer than you’ve known him. We—” I gestured to Dom and Vincent. “—have known him and his entire gang of shit stains since we could walk. Never trust an Ivanov, and by default, never trust anyone associated with them.”

She visibly swallowed. “I trust him, d-despite…”

I scoffed, knowing she had her reservations. I wanted to twist the knife though because I really hated the guy. “He’s the last person you should trust.”

“As opposed to you?”

Low blow, but I had held a gun to her head.

“Enough,” Dom snapped, getting between us as my fury over the entire situation took hold.

What the hell is the matter with me?I’d agreed to this shit. I could've said no, beat the piss out of Vasiliev, and shot him in the head like I was supposed to. Then I'd be free of this nightmare. But no, I’d found a spark of hope with Bianca and had clung to it like an idiot. I’d saved their lives, but it still wasn’t good enough. Hell, I’d saved Vasiliev’s life twice in a week. Apparently, it didn’t matter to her.

“He’s staying in line as far as we know,” Vincent said, casting an uneasy glance between me and Bianca. “If B thinks this will work, then let’s have a little faith too.”

A muscle popped along Dom’s jaw as I rolled my eyes. This was fucking stupid.

“Time will tell. For now, we play the game like we intended. Everyone.” He looked pointedly at Bianca. “That means you too.”

“Like I’d ever dare defy my dear husband,” she said with a sneer.