Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
The easiness on his face freezes and his shoulders stiffen. Holding my breath, I wait for him to say the next words. Anything. Confirm or try to deny. The truth is, I worked it out a long time ago. At one point in Keaton’s life, he was coming to see me every day, with blood sprays still on him. It’s as though he would come to me, right after doing what he did.
“Are we ready to kill some motherfuckers?” Killian jumps through the door.
I rest back in my chair. “I’m around unstable people.”
Keaton leaves to the back of the plane, shoving through the curtains where the private room is. I don’t bother following. I know when to push and when to pull when it comes to Keaton, and right now, I need to do neither.
Killian looks between the swaying curtains and me. “Trouble already?”
“Trouble from the beginning,” I mumble, just as Kyrin and King enter from behind, with Kohen in tow and Jordan and Christopher. Kenan stumbles in behind them, with Keres and Klaus closely following.
“Well, this is not happening without me!” Kenan finds me instantly, pushing out of Jordan and Christopher’s way and falling down opposite. “Baby girl, I’ve missed you. Haven’t seen you much lately.”
“I know,” I say, peering out the window onto the tarmac. “It’s been a crazy time.”
Kenan’s brows pull in with confusion, his head tilting. “Wait, I mean, since you know”—he leans in closer, half of his mouth curving up when he says the next words—“that happened.”
I turn away from the window. “What—”
“Kenan, who the fuck let you in?” Keaton grabs my hand and places it on his thigh when he’s seated back down. I leave it. Part of loving someone like Keaton is accepting his demons.
Kenan’s wide-tooth smile wrinkles his cheeks, and I can’t help but chuckle. He’s infectious. Everywhere he goes, he leaves a sprinkle of happiness. “Well, someone needs to make sure Killian doesn’t die. Sass’ orders.”
“Me.” Keaton points to himself. “I make sure no one dies.”
“Mmmm.” Kenan’s lips curl around his teeth, his eyes squinting. “No offense, Drac, but we all know that you’d bathe in blood before you’d stop it from spilling.” Keaton tenses beneath my hand, so I gently massage it until he relaxes. “So! Where’s the alcohol? I plan to get drunk now, snort some coochie, and be all prepped for the red reunion.”
“You’re calling it the red reunion?” I raise my brow at Kenan.
“Everyone is. Be right back.” He disappears like a tornado of energy. So much for trying to keep it under wraps, but I should have known that news travels through like wildfire.
I shift to face Keaton, lifting my lips to his jaw to place a kiss on the sharp edge before running my tongue farther back near his ear. “Thought you could get rid of me?” It makes sense now. Kyrin, not wanting him and me to be together, had to do with Keaton doing what he does. Keaton saying he’s going to lose me. “Why would you think that would change anything between us?”
He laughs darkly, but it’s more sarcastic than anything. “Oh, how I wish it was that simple.”
Kohen sits on the other side of Lilith, and I watch as they both exchange a conversation. Everyone knows that Dove and Lilith are close, and have been for a long time. I never thought much about that until right now. We still haven’t addressed the other crew, I’m guessing we will be doing that when we get back, but what are her thoughts on that? What about how Kohen has known about this all along and not said a single word—or did he, and that’s how King knew that night?
So much to unpack, yet all I’ve been focused on is Keaton and me. In hindsight, I know that’s what my job is, but I really need to get better at looking over people. Delila knew what everyone was doing and when they were doing it. Fatigue trickles into the marrow of my bones. That sounds exhausting.
Kenan’s back opposite us, lying flat with a glass of whiskey in his hand as the plane takes off. From New York to Kiznitch is about ten hours, since we’re bypassing Bucharest and landing straight on home soil. I love everything about Kiznitch, especially during these months. December to March is winter, so the ground will be dusted in glowing white snow, and all of the high set ancient buildings will be iced gingerbread houses. I’m most excited to be back in Kiznitch and at The Castle, and less to see The Kings since I don’t know what we will be walking in on. They’ve never been hostile to us before, but they take care of their own, much like we do. Sometimes a common ground with people is the same to start a war on.