Page 124 of Just Between Us

I put my knife to his throat, applying enough pressure to pierce the soft flesh. It’s exhilarating and all I have to do is drag the knife a little and he’d bleed out right here.

“So, option three, Kenny. I slice your neck open right now and you never touch Kai again.”

I feel a warm tear fall on my hand. “Fuck. Off.” Kenny grinds out. “You’re bluffing. You’re just a kid. You won’t do anything to me.”

My knife digs deeper and this time, a rivulet of crimson spills onto my hand. It’s warm. Kenny lets out a shriek and I tug his hair harder.

“I don’t think you want to find out if I’m bluffing or not, because I’d very much enjoy cutting you open, Kenny.” I lean in, whispering in his ear. “Trust me, there is nothing I’d love more.”

He lets out another cry and I ease the pressure of the knife. “I rarely dream of being someone’s worst nightmare, but you’re a problem for someone I love very deeply which means you’ve become my problem, and we can’t have that. So, make a choice. Is it one, two or three? I’m really hoping it’s three.”

“Get out,” he says quietly, his voice shaking. “Get out! Get out!” he screams.

I grin, letting him go. “Not a fan of option three then. That’s a shame.”

I straighten myself, looking down at the blood on my hand. “The police will receive this file in the next two days, and they’ll be here to arrest you. Either they drag you out in a body bag or they take you to your own personal, tailor-made hell. Your choice.” I pause. “Oh, don’t try to run either. Someone will be watching you for the next few days.”

“Get the hell out,” Kenny whispers, breath ragged, holding his wound to stop the bleeding. He’s being dramatic, I didn’t cut that deep.

“Mind if I wash my hands first?” I ask. “Can’t be walking around with blood on my hands.” I laugh at my joke, heading over to the dingy sink piled with dirty dishes and cigarette ash. Fruit flies float around, and limescale stains mar the steel.

I shoot Kenny a sunny smile, the one I spent hours perfecting just to be more tolerable to my family and the doctors. “Can’t say it’s been a pleasure, Kenny.”

I walk out the door, Daniel following behind me. Kenny will try to run, and someone will stop him. After that, I know what he’ll pick.

Men like him are all the same.

Chapter Thirty-Five: Kai

Halfway through the week, Levi is still on bed rest and even if he is completely fine, Cole won’t let him out of his sight or let him lift a finger. Levi complains and looks at me for help, but I’m on the same team as Cole and selfishly, it’s nice to hold him whenever I want.

I’ve been working from their place since but today, our manager wants to see all of us for an in-person meeting. I feel grouchy as I sit at my desk. The idea of leaving them makes me whinier than I’d like to admit.

Is this what it is to be really in love? I can’t stand being away from them.

By the time lunch rolls around, I’m a little less moody and work doesn’t feel as tiring as it did before. Without the looming cloud of Kenny’s threats, it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. I completely believe Levi and Cole when they say I shouldn’t worry about him. They have all sorts of connections, and I know they wouldn’t let anything happen to me or my sisters and my mom.

During lunch, I sit with Marie and Connor who look severely sunburned after a stag-do in Marbella which he narrated throughout the weekend via text.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” he asks, munching on a salad.

I almost spit out my yoghurt. “What?”

Next to Connor, Marie’s mouth falls open as he rolls his eyes. “Oh, come on, Kai. I’m not that stupid.” He juts his chin towards my wrist. I’m in a short-sleeved t-shirt and my arms are on full display. The diamond bracelet sits snugly on my left wrist, gleaming ever so slightly from the lights above us.

“You think we all haven’t noticed the ridiculous diamond bracelet you’ve been wearing for well over a month now, a bracelet that conveniently matches Levi Bellamy’s. Or the sneaky holiday to watch the freaking Monaco Grand Prix which you conveniently never mentioned or posted any pictures of.” He pauses. “We make decent money, but we don’t make holiday in Monaco money.”

My cheeks flush and I look down at my wrist then back at Connor. Next to him, Marie clears her throat and shifts. “Ah, no way he’s dating Levi. That’s so ridiculous,” she laughs nervously.

I shake my head. It’s not been a secret really; I just didn’t want people from work to talk whilst it was still so new, but I should have told Connor. He’s one of my best friends.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I say to him. “I’ve been trying to figure it out myself and I didn’t want anyone to judge me for sleeping with the boss, you know?”

Connor looks sympathetic. “I get it, mate. It was pretty obvious you two were constantly desperate to see each other’s dicks. Don’t worry about it.” He pauses, frowning. “So, wait, did you home wreck?”

I shake my head quickly. “No, whoa! I’m dating them both.”

This time Connor’s eyes widen. “No fucking way! This is crazier than you home wrecking. You’re dating them both? Shit, Kai, and Cole’s family own this company.”

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