Page 76 of Devil May Lie

“Yes, actually.” He dropped down onto the bed, exhausted. He’d been too wary to sleep these past couple of nights, too worried that something might happen to Berga or those guys might return. Madden could take care of himself, but unconscious, his man was vulnerable, and ensuring his safety had to come first. Even before his Royal duties. Still, that didn’t mean he’d been completely irresponsible. “Yuze contacted me last night after the party and said everything had gone as planned. You should be thanking me right now, really.”

“Thank you,” Kelevra drawled, “for sending a mafia member in your place?”

“Yuze is a Royal,” he reminded. “The Quint name is well known throughout several galaxies. He did us a solid going in my stead, and he was able to book the deal. Why are you complaining?”

Madden had contacted Yuze last minute and sent him to the gala event in his place. At first, the Satellite member had refused until he’d learned Madden’s reason. The Brumal member's tune had changed the second he'd name-dropped Berga.

He knew what he wanted, and Madden was going to do whatever it took to ensure he got it. If that meant manipulating his friends and those in their social circles? So be it. He’d do it shamelessly and without the need for repentance.

Sila Varun had been right. He wasn’t a good guy, and everyone knew it. Why bother pretending otherwise?

“Your mother was livid,” Kelevra told him. “I bet you didn’t bother checking in with them beforehand, did you? They decided to cut their business trip short and arrived just in time to see you noticeably absent.”

“She’ll get over it.”

“Will she?”

“Yes, as soon as that first fat paycheck from this deal rolls in, she’ll forget all about her irritation.”

“And your father’s irritation in regards to your present company?” he drawled. “What about that?”

“So you know.”

“I know because you wanted me to,” Kelevra said. “You wanted everyone to. Why else would you have sent Yuze Quint, a known member of the Satellite, instead of someone like Zane or Pavel? He wasn’t quiet about your reasoning either, by the way. He walked right up to my sister, bowed, and apologized on your behalf, saying you were busy nursing your Butcher boyfriend back to health.”

Wow. Madden was seriously going to have to repay Yuze. What was the guy into? Maybe he’d buy him a hoverbike.

“Knew I chose correctly,” Madden grinned.

“You sound far too pleased with yourself. Do you have any idea how complicated you just made things for everyone?”

“Kel, I’m going to be real with you,” he said, “do you think I care?”

“Not in the slightest,” he sighed.

Madden dropped his device next to him and yanked the black t-shirt he’d been forced to put back on before going to the lobby over his head. As soon as his bare skin was exposed to the warm temperature of the room, he felt a million times less restricted.

“Does he know you’re sowing seeds?” Kelevra asked.

“Odd way of putting it, but no. Not yet.” He’d find the right time to tell him. Right now, Berga was still struggling with coming to terms with the fact the two of them were together. He’d need to beat that detail into his brain first and would worry about the rest later.

But not, like, literally beat.

Berga might like pain, but he was still in a bad way physically.

Maybe he’d beat himself off though, to satisfy himself enough to resist pouncing on the guy. Madden widened his thighs on the bed and glanced down. Even the thought was enough to have his cock throbbing and lengthening in his pants.

“Having a way to tie the Butcher to me isn’t a bad thing,” Kelevra mussed. “But Baikal may be a harder sell.”

“I’m not with him so you can use him,” Madden warned.

“Noted.”

Maybe he really should rub one out before going back to the kitchen.

“My sister has decided to let you off the hook this once, since this has never happened before, but take this as a warning, Madden,” Kel said. “The Emperor isn’t the forgiving sort. She won’t care that you’re my best friend if you cost her a treaty in the future.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. I covered my ass, didn’t I? I wouldn’t leave you hanging.”

---