Page 25 of KAI Tortured

Logan snorts. “That’s the gist of it.”

Kai shakes his head, a sly smirk on his lips. “That means we went down a notch.”

“What do you mean?”

“You two became my brothers that day we met, years ago,” Kai says. “And now that you turned out to be my half-brothers, you went down a notch. Meaning, I don’t have to give my life for you anymore, fuckers!” he finishes with a grin.

Logan laughs while I observe Kai. He’s taking this news light-heartedly. I chuckle. “That’s true. We’re already connected. A piece of paper won’t change that.”

“But if you’d died two months ago, I’d never have found out about it,” Kai adds.

Logan pats him on the shoulder. “You saved us. And we’re grateful.”

“Right now, I’m still fighting the demons inside me who insist I should hit you, man. Why the fuck you called a hit on Maisy, you asshole!”

“I was in a bad place that night, Kai. I’m sorry, man. What else can I say?”

Kai tries to sympathize with Logan but it’s hard for him, I see it on his face. “What about our mother?”

Logan shrugs. “Imagine that. I’ve been searching for her all my life, and here she was, giving me half-brothers left right and center.”

I scowl at him. “Watch your mouth, Logan. That’s my mother you’re talking about.”

“What, you gonna fight me, too?” he teases.

“If I have to. I don’t let anyone talk shit about my family.”

Kai pours himself another glass of whiskey. He fills it to the brim, picks it up, and leans back in his seat. “Okay, but how? How is this possible?”

“Rebecca Trellis. That’s our mother,” Logan says. “The woman who gave us our middle names. And we all know what those mean. Why?”

“Maisy said there was something about her in a newspaper, she saw it in Milan’s office,” I interject. “That’s all we know.”

“What’s it about?” Kai asks.

“Fuck knows,” I say.

“Did our fathers know each other?”

“Naah. They knew of each other, but they hated each other’s guts with a vengeance,” Logan replies.

“So how did our mother manage to fool three of the smartest, cruelest, and most savage men in New York?” Kai wonders. “Do you think she had help from Milan?”

We look at each other. Fuck.

“Do you think she was a Slav?” Kai’s question annoys me.

“What the fuck, Kai?” I snap. I don’t even want to entertain the thought. And yet, it’s in my head now.

“That’s our mother you’re talking about!” Logan reprimands him.

“Hey, imagine if Maisy’s our–”

“Stop it!” I growl. “That’s enough!”

All of a sudden, we’re interrupted by multiple buzzes of the interphone. The button is being pressed furiously. Our eyes meet and then we’re up on our feet, alert.

Uncle Jon appears from the other room. “Have you checked the interphone?”

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