Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 147801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“He helped cover up murder for me.”
He tilts his head in my direction, his eyes lighting up. “How did it feel?”
I lift a shoulder. “Euphoric, but only for a few minutes, though. Then it was just…the void again.”
“Is that…why you never killed again? Because the void came back so fast?” There’s a strange deepness to his voice, an eagerness almost. This is the side I share with Killian. If he hadn’t been such an outward person who loved advertising his neurodivergence, I would’ve been more comfortable talking to him.
It’s not really about the threats he regularly made. That was his way to demand my attention since I usually ignored him. It’s that, despite our similarities, I’m more private than he is and don’t enjoy having others’ noses in my business. I also despise how he can hurt Dad.
I don’t like that.
But now, the words just spill out. “It’s because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop if I started, and someone as beautiful as myself isn’t made for prison.”
He bursts out laughing. The sight is so curious. He looks so happy. Ecstatic. His shoulders vibrate, and he even wipes the corners of his eyes.
I’ve honestly never seen Kill this happy, not even when we were kids.
“What?” I pout. “I am beautiful.”
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“That you thought yourself to be more beautiful than me.”
“That’s because I am. You might be the mama’s boy, but I’m the one who got her looks.”
“And I got Dad’s.” He wiggles his brows.
I slam a hand to his face and push it away. “Fuck off, asshole.”
“Wow. Were you always this petty?”
“Damn straight. I’m the petty king, so shut the fuck up, Kill.”
“I’ve been missing out. Pity” He chuckles again, then ruffles my hair like I used to do to him when we were young. “I feel the same, though.”
“About?”
“Not killing because I wouldn’t be able to stop.” He grins. “Lucky for me, I found Glyn. She tames my demons and fills up that void.”
“Ha. No need to brag. I found someone too—” I bite my lower lip because I didn’t.
I haven’t.
Kill has Glyn by his side, and I have no one to calm the raging emptiness gnawing at my insides.
I’m glad Kill doesn’t push. Instead, he kept talking. Which is the most I’ve heard him talk, and that kind of distracts me. Even if only for a while.
Back to the present, after promising Dad and Grandpa that I’ll keep in touch, Kill and I head to the car. Glyn walks ahead, chattering on the phone with her mom. She’s been hovering ever since I got back, either out of worry or because Kill won’t let her out of his sight
I glance around, frowning. Simone is nowhere to be seen.
She’s always by the door.
Isaac, her silent shadow, is also missing.
Weird. I’ve grown used to them tailing me, and I don’t entirely hate it. Simone, at least, has been apologetic about her PI stint and answers every question I throw at her.
Over the past few days, I’ve learned more about the Davenport side of Kayden. About his dual life—balancing working from the London office, trips to the States, and teaching.
Because he didn’t want me to get suspicious.
Simone says it’s mostly because he wanted to be close to me, but she’s biased.
“So you’re going to let him get away with it?” Kill’s voice cuts through my thoughts as he stops near the car.
I drag my gaze to him.
Aside from last night’s conversation, he’s been asking all sorts of stupid questions. Like, when am I going to punish the asshole for messing with me? When do we start?
He said he’d help since he has time now and can consider it.
Hot and cold kind of runs in the family.
“It’s unlike you to let things go,” he continues. “Just saying.”
“What do you know about what’s like or unlike me?”
“Not much, admittedly,” he says, leaning casually against the car. “But I’m relearning. I should’ve known when you gave me that tip about emulating others. You always had that disgustingly fake smile. I had my suspicions, but you fooled me for years. I’m impressed.”
“Impressing you is not on my to-do list.” My eyes sweep the area again. Where the hell are Simone and Isaac?
Does their mission end today now that I’m leaving? Though that doesn’t really make sense.
I’m under more of a threat on foreign soil, right?
“It should be,” Kill retorts. “As should making sure Kayden doesn’t get off easily.”
“Seriously, why do you care?”
“He’s the girl”—he air quotes—“you were humming about, right? Except he’s not a girl.”
My jaw tightens. “And what if he is? Are you about to drop some god-awful gay joke?”
“Nah, I’m all about fluidity. Though I am a little bummed you’re a bottom.”
“Who the fuck says I am?”
“So you are?” He sighs dramatically. “RIP, my ego. Dad and Grandpa would have a stroke.”