Page 4 of Our Blood, Our Pain

I close Lev’s door behind us as we step inside his office. The room screams masculine dominance: the sumptuous leather chairs and large mahogany desk, the lingering scent of cigars, leather, and aftershave fills the space.

“What's up with you?” Lev says, as he sits behind his desk, and I take the seat in front of it.

“Nothing’s up with me,” I say. He watches me closely with those vivid green eyes, detecting bullshit, no doubt.

“You’re acting like a kid. Moody and silent. Should I beat it out of you?”

“Fuck off, Lev.”

Lev quirks a brow at me, taking my words as an invitation to fuck me up. Such a dick.

“Fine. My nephew is in trouble, and I need to go to collect him from jail tomorrow as my sister is freakin' out.”

“Isn’t he in his twenties?”

“Twenty-two.”

“Why can’t he sort his own shit out?”

“Because he’s caught up in some gang, and Jenny can’t deal with it anymore.”

Lev rolls his eyes like this is the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard.

“Fuck, it’s like listening to a fucking soap opera.”

“I want to bring him here to work with us,” I say, and I have no clue when that became an idea. Lev just continues to stare at me, and the silence forces me to continue talking to fill in the awkwardness.

“Now that Zayn’s dead, we’re a guard short. I can train him up. It’s a win for us all.”

“How do you know he’ll be good enough? I don’t even remember the last time you mentioned him or Jenny. He’s a stranger.”

“He’s my sister's son, and that's good enough for me.”

“Step sister,” Lev corrects.

“She’s still my sister, and they’re family. Please, Lev. It’s just a trial. If you don’t like him, then I’ll send him back home.”

“Please stop begging. It’s embarrassing.”

“Is that a yes, or do you need to run it past Dima?”

“Shut the fuck up, I don’t need to run anything past D. Kai can come on board, but it’ll be on trial. He’s your responsibility, and I’ll hold you accountable for any trouble. Got it?”

“Got it.”

3

JULES

Three hours of driving and overthinking later, I’m sitting in my car— which happens to be the love of my life—staring out of the window at the local police station, questioning if this was a bad idea. Jenny texted me the address last night, and I plan to go straight to see her after I pick up Kai. I have no idea what to expect from him. Will he be an asshole? Difficult? Or will he be embarrassed? Shy? Who the fuck knows. I barely knew Kai as a kid, so I have no idea how this will go. As Lev pointed out, I’m technically about to collect a stranger. Guilt builds at the years I’ve missed in his and Jenny’s life. Maybe I could’ve made a difference, but I’m hardly the best role model.

Exiting my car, I enter the police station and take in the worn-down building. Faded yellow-stained paint peels off the walls and scuffs adorn the floors to the point that you can no longer tell what color it actually was when it was first laid. The air smells stale, like old coffee and sweat. The constant sound of phones ringing and loud chatting makes my head ache instantly. This place is enough to make anyone insane. I approach the desk where the plexiglass panels separate me and the disinterested cop that is sitting behind it, waiting for me to speak first.

“I’m here to collect Kai Miller,” I say to the balding cop who looks like he wants to be anywhere but here.

“His mom finally given up?” he says as he pulls out some paperwork before grabbing his keys.

“No. She’s just busy,” I say defensively, not liking the insinuation that my step-sister has given up on Kai.

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