Page 96 of Just Between Us

I should cut the call. I shouldn’t be listening to any of this, but I can’t bring myself to because somewhere inside me, guilt swirls. He’s right. I did take something from him. I lied because I was so desperate to survive.

On the other end, Kenny laughs quietly. “But as much as I want you dead and buried, I think you’re of better use to me alive and right where you are.”

I let out a quiet breath. “What do you want?”

“I want to make a deal,” Kenny says. “You do this for me, and you never hear from me again. I’ll even leave your mother and your sisters alone. I know how badly you want that.”

I wait for him to say it, my scalp prickling. I breathe quietly, trying to remind myself that I’m in Monaco, with my boyfriends and Kenny is not here. He can’t touch me. He can’t hurt me.

“If you give me a hundred thousand pounds I’ll disappear for good.”

My chest squeezes. I’m shaking my head quickly. “I don’t have that kind of money.”

Kenny laughs again. “Oh, I know you don’t have that kind of money, Kai, but your boyfriends do, don’t they?” he says. “I always knew you were a little funny but whoring yourself out to two men? Jesus. If only I’d known you liked it like that! I think some of the guys would have paid some good money for a pretty little boy like you.”

This can’t be happening. Bile rises up my throat. My legs feel like they are about to give out. He knows about them—about us. He knows I’m happy and there’s nothing he hates more.

“You still there?” Kenny asks. I can hear the smugness in his voice. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you not to mention this to anyone. I don’t think your little boyfriends would want to meet my friends.”

“Kenny—”

“One hundred thousand, Kai,” he cuts me off. “Talk soon.”

The line goes dead and it’s like the walls of the entire suite are caving in. I take in a deep breath, trying to control my breathing. Tears well in my eyes, threatening to spill. I can’t panic, not here, not right now—

“Kai?”

Cole.

I take a steadying breath and blink away my tears before turning to find him leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He still looks half asleep, his hair messy and falling into his eyes.

It’s so easy to smile and to pretend when you’ve had to lie through your teeth since you were a child. “Oh yeah. It was just Zara calling,” I say, the lie sliding off my tongue easily. “She goes to the library pretty early and calls me sometimes when she needs company on the walk.”

He looks at me for a long moment and by the way he watches me, I think he might be able to tell I’m lying. I keep smiling lazily as I walk up to him, curling my arms over his shoulder and burying my face in the dip of his neck, hoping he can’t feel my racing heartbeat.

“Do you want to go back to bed?” he asks, his hand running down my back—soothing me. “We only need to be up at nine.”

I nod, holding him a little tighter, and breathing in his scent that feels like home now. I’ve grown so used to it, so addicted to it.

He kisses the top of my head. “Okay, princess. Let’s go back to bed.”

Knowing that Kenny has already seen them and gotten close enough to them to know who they are makes my stomach turn. I can’t lose them again.

I won’t.

I need to do something before Kenny ruins everything.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Cole

Our final day in Monaco is spent watching cars loop around the city track over and over again, from a yacht that belongs to one of Anant’s friends. I don’t see the appeal, but Levi loves cars and Formula One which is why I planned this trip initially.

Him, Anant and Kez watch on intently, groaning when someone takes too long in the pit area and screaming whenever a car tries and fails to overtake another in the narrow streets. When their favourite driver wins, they scream, hugging each other as the entire city breaks out in celebration.

By the time the sky turns a deep blue, everyone is slightly drunk, and loud chatter and music float through the harbour. Kai leans into me and my arm rests on top of his chest. His eyes focus on the sky as a new round of fireworks begins, breaking out into a sparkling flurry.

I look down at him carefully. His skin has deepened because of the sun and little freckles have popped up around his nose. He’s so pretty, it’s almost unnatural but today, he’s been quiet. He’s stuck in deep thought about something that’s not here. I wonder if it has anything to do with that phone call in the morning.

“Hey,” I whisper against the shell of his ear.

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