Page 2 of Queen of Spades

They won’t be able to keep me from dating and finding a suitable pack forever, but I’d like to live it up and actually enjoy life a little before tying myself to alphas.

Kane’s phone buzzes, and he pulls it out. His jaw clenches as he studies the screen. He takes a turn way too fast, slamming the car into gear and pulling his hands up so he can type.

“Texting and driving is a great way to get us both killed. I’m sure your fuck buddy can wait two minutes for a reply.”

He grunts, dropping the phone into his lap. It’s a tense couple of minutes before he pulls the car into the driveway and stops, but he doesn’t climb out.

My head tilts as I grab my bag from the floorboard. He’s been weird ever since I climbed into the vehicle.

“Are you coming in or…”

“Nah, I’ve got a few errands to run,” Kane says, nodding to the door. “I’ll be back in a few hours, but Edmond and Charles are around.”

“Oookay.” I frown, but toss open the car door and aim for the open garage.

The cool air tickles against my skin as I climb the few steps to the door that heads into the laundry room of the house.

I glance back over my shoulder, but Kane is already backing his sports car out of the driveway.

That’s really not like him.

I smack the button to close the garage and head inside, but my arms prickle with goosebumps.

I frown as I try to figure out what’s up.

It’s not like he’d tell me anything if I asked.

The culture of the world I grew up in is fairly set in stone. My mom has somewhat managed to force her way into a position of power, but that’s only because she has my fathers at her back and, even then, they run the show. At least, in public. Behind closed doors, my family triad is actually quite equally balanced. They each have a skill set, and they trust the others to manage those pieces.

Then again, my mom has no qualms about being viewed as the doting omega trophy wife. It gives her an advantage because everyone always underestimates what a threat she really is. She’s just as deadly as either of my fathers and, surprisingly enough, she’s got the most cunning mind out of the three of them.

I wouldn’t say I’m opposed to violence, but I don’t thrive on it like the rest of my family. It’s a major reason I moved three states away for college. Without my mother’s intervention, I have no doubt that my fathers would have kept me trapped in that house until I was bonded.

Meanwhile, my older brother, Ranger, has always been free to do as he pleases.

It’s unfair, but luckily, my mom wasn’t having it. She stood her ground, and eventually, my fathers caved with the caveat that I take a handpicked live-in security team with me.

It’s not that my dads aren’t good guys.

Okay, they aren’t bad men, even if they have skewed moral compasses.

They’re just overprotective to a fault.

The house is quiet as I head down the back hallway toward the living room. It’s ridiculous for a college freshman to live in a 3,500-square-foot mansion, but that’s my parents for you. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could have roommates.

I’d probably be more popular if I could host parties or even have friends over to hang out.

But I know my security would never stand for it.

I can practically hear Edmond now. Sorry, little bird. There are too many variables. It’s not going to happen.

It’s hard not to be bitter.

I’ve always wanted a different kind of life. Organized crime is not for me, even if I haven’t been able to forget the lifetime of training forced upon me since birth. My fathers prepared me the same way they did my psychopath brother. It wasn’t that I pushed back because I didn’t excel at the same types of things Ranger did, but I’ve also got a conscience, where he and our fathers seem to have none.

My mother and I share an unnatural affinity for numbers and memory recall. She hoped I’d take after her skill set, and I really have.

My entire body freezes as the scent of blood fills my nostrils.

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