Page 11 of KAI Tortured

It can’t be this easy.

Today, I’m gonna kill as many Slavs as possible. Fucking Slavs!

If Maisy comes out of this alive, I’m fucking her straight into her grave. She’s caused me so much stress, and shaved at least twenty years off my life. Fucking Maisy!

“Uncle Jon!” I yell through the door. Uncle Jon is always close by. He’s a God-sent man, or father-sent, and always looks after me. But surely he must have known something about my mother. I did ask him once, but he didn’t have an answer, and the subject was closed and has been ever since.

“Yes?” Uncle Jon enters my bedroom.

“We have a situation. The war with the Slavs is starting and we need everyone ready and prepared. Not sure where it’s gonna be, but what I do know is that they’re still after Maisy and will try to get her one way or another. Our goal is to keep her alive. Right now, she’s with Kai, we don’t know where.” Saying Kai’s name for the first time since I found out we’re blood-related gives it a different sound, somehow.

“Logan…” he starts, hesitantly.

I button up my shirt and look at him, waiting on him to continue.

“Everyone’s been talking about her this morning. Apparently, she’s a daughter of Goran Slavinovich.”

I tuck my shirt into my pants. “And your point is?”

He looks exasperated. “My point is that the Slavs will want her back.”

I stop and stare at him coldly. “Did you not hear me when I said there is a war with the Slavs?”

“Is the war about her? Or something else?” Uncle Jon asks. “Are we using her to get to them, or are we protecting her? You gotta be clear, Logan. People will make up their own minds if the order isn’t clear enough.”

“For fuck’s sake, Uncle Jon! It’s complicated! Just make sure my men are ready to kill every Slav who approaches.” I add my favorite piece to the ensemble, the blades in my pockets. I then grab my jacket and turn to him as I leave. “Except Maisy. She’s to be kept alive.” I remember, and stop for a moment. “And Kai. Keep Kai alive too.”

I leave Uncle Jon shaking his head at me and enter the elevator. A woman. A fucking woman will be the death of me. Of us. My father died because of a woman; I will die because of a woman. A fucking stupid man, I am.

CHAPTER 4

ORION

From the outside, the Delgados’ bar exudes ferocity and rebellion. It’s daytime, and still there is a glow of a neon sign flickering above the front door.

The few bikers outside, all decked out with weather-beaten leather jackets and metal emblems, are keeping watch.

I’m standing on the sidewalk, completely out of place in my smart three-piece suit, observing the new windows they got after our most recent altercation. Last time I was here I wore a balaclava, and I saved Maisy from getting gangbanged. And now, again, it’s because of Maisy that I’m here. Fucking Maisy.

I shake off the feeling of frustration and throw a glance at Emilio, my driver, parked on the road. Another car pulls up, a cab, that gets my attention. It’s Logan.

He pays the driver and climbs out, joining me on the sidewalk.

Standing across from him, I wonder if the innate pull I feel with him is because we’re related. Like the one I feel with Lisa. He doesn’t have siblings, and didn’t really have a normal childhood, hence he wouldn’t necessarily recognize it. I love him, I’ve loved him as a brother since before finding out what I now know, and it doesn’t change my emotions. Except now I know I’m fucking vulnerable to the core.

Logan looks at me, and hesitantly, as though he’s battling the idea of having a brother, he opens his arms. This is my brother in front of me. I still can’t believe it.

He grins and shakes his head. “It’s fucking crazy, right?” he mumbles as I embrace him.

My brother. It’s surreal. “Crazy or not, it’s real.”

“How certain are you? Because when all this turns out to be a big joke, I’ll be the first to say I told ya so! Come on, Orion, we knew our fathers well. There wouldn’t be a chance in hell that they’d allow for this to happen. Right?”

I shrug, having no answer for maybe the first time in my life. I’m going to allow this. Kai and Logan are like brothers to me anyway, so nothing has really changed. In fact, I like having them as brothers because I’ll have more of a say in their safety.

“Let’s find Kai. How about that?” I snort, although if I’m honest, I’m really worried for Kai.

Logan nods. “Yeah, yeah, let’s get the little prick.”

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