Page 115 of Shadows in Bloom

“No. Flix was just messing around. We’ve got more important things, Tiger.”

“Such as?”

“Those bruises look fresh,” Ledger replied. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the ones painted all over your left side earlier. Does it still hurt?”

“Only when I breathe.” Nikita chuckled and dropped back into his seat.

“Not sure why you’re laughing.”

“Because it’s funny?”

“What is?”

“All of this?” Nikita spun a circle with his finger in the air. “I’m sitting here with you, a Devil of Vitality, after getting the best hand job of my life—potentially my last as well—and you’re asking about the beating my brother gave me?”

Ledger’s eyes narrowed. “Something else I should be asking you about?”

“Anything?” Nikita risked meeting his gaze. “Why do you even care?”

Because he did. Nikita could tell, mostly because Ledger wasn’t doing anything to hide that fact. The second he’d mentioned his brother was the one who’d pushed him to the edge, something had changed in Ledger. Everyone knew about the amazing relationship he had with his adopted brother Pavel. Was that why?

“Are you just curious why my brother and I don’t get along?” Nikita asked. “Is it hard to understand because you and yours do?”

“Not as empty up there as you seem,” Ledger flicked the center of Nikita’s forehead. “So?”

“So?”

“Where is he.”

“Where is—” His eyes widened. “Wait.”

“Why? You said the deal was you had to show him proof, right? Let’s go show him the picture I just took of the two of us on the mat.”

Nikita reached to undo his seatbelt, sucking in a sharp breath when Ledger’s hand slammed over his, stopping him. “Please. I can just text it. We don’t have to…” He shook his head.

The calm he’d been so content in feeling only a moment prior was effectively shattered. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest, and he could feel his skin turning clammy.

“Hey.” Ledger cupped his cheek. “You weren’t scared when you thought I was going to slit your throat. What’s there to fear now?”

“Please.” If he showed up with a Devil, he’d never hear the end of it. Oran would be pissed that Nikita had gotten that type of attention. He’d always been one of their groupies. Last week, he’d tried to hit on Yuze, a member of the Brumal mafia, and gotten his nose smashed in for the efforts.

It’d taken all of Nikita’s willpower to keep himself from smirking when he’d heard. But if Ledger showed him that picture, the only person who’d be hurt next would be Nikita.

“He didn’t break anything this time because he wanted me to be able to sneak into Friction,” Nikita said. “He won’t hold back if we go there. Especially if he finds out you also intend to clear the debts for me.”

“Break?” Ledger’s expression turned frigid. “Tell me we aren’t talking about bones here, Niki.”

He pulled away, glancing out the window.

“How many?” The Devil settled a palm over his thigh. “Tell me.”

“I don’t know.” It wasn’t something Nikita had ever wanted to keep count of. “A few?”

“List them.”

“Ledger, I really?—”

“What was the worst? Give me that much, at least. I need to paint a picture of how bad it was for you.”

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