Page 55 of Our Blood, Our Pain

“So your man, he fucked up that dude who called you a pussy. It was so awesome, and pretty hot. My Steve is no longer a virgin.”

“Wait! He what now? Jules? What did you do?” I ask, nervous of the response, but weirdly excited if the butterflies in my stomach are anything to go by. Now that’s odd.

“He’s not dead, if that’s what you’re asking. Even if he deserved it. I just taught him a lesson.”

“With Aaron’s switchblade?”

“He’s called Steve,” Aaron says.

“Let’s just say he won’t be able to use his left hand for a long time,” Lev says as he fills two cups of coffee, while I stand here dumbfounded. He hurt the guy for me. I’m annoyed as my ego takes a hit that he had to do this in my honor, but the flutter in my heart at how romantic the gesture was overtakes the bad. What the hell is wrong with me? Have I been here too long?

I walk over to Jules and hold his face in my hands.

“You did that for me?” I whisper, too emotional to talk loudly.

“I’d do more than that. I look after what’s mine. I’d cover the streets in blood for you, Kai.”

“That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” I say, as I lean in to kiss him softly.

“Lev has said more romantic things than that, but I get it. It’s hot when they hurt others for you,” Aaron says as I laugh at his skewed view of the world.

“For fucks sake, what did I say about making out in my house? Quit it,” Dima says as he walks into the kitchen with Seb.

“Stop moaning, D. You’re like that with me all the time,” Seb says.

“Yes, but it’s my house.”

Seb rolls his eyes, sighing in defeat at Dima’s broody nature.

“Roll those eyes again, beautiful and see what happens,” Dima says, but Seb just smiles and pecks Dima on the lips before sitting at the kitchen table, unaffected by the threat.

Still lost in the land of fairies that Jules did that for me, harmed another in my name, I forget that I may be in trouble for yesterday. Before Dima brings my ass back to planet Earth.

“Kai. Stop staring at Jules like that and tell me what the fuck happened yesterday?” Dima says.

“D, don’t go hard on him,” Seb says.

“Seb, stay out of it. This is business. So, Kai, explain,” Dima says, as he crosses his arms. He’s so fucking intimidating, it would be easy to curl up and hide away. His piercing eyes don’t blink as they sear into my soul. There’s no mercy or empathy in his tone. Not that I expected there to be.

“I don’t know. I thought I could handle that side of things, but I started to feel off and I just couldn’t cope with it.”

“You should’ve said something beforehand. You completely derailed the whole interrogation. Fortunately it was Carlos, but it would’ve been very difficult if we’d had someone else in there. You’re gonna have to find a way to deal with it or you’ll be no use to us.”

“I can’t go back home,” I say, pleading that they don’t get rid of me.

“Who said you would be going back home?”

“Dima…” Jules growls.

“Do you not listen, Jules? You’re employed by us. I couldn’t give a fuck if you’re screwing each other. You’re treated all the same. You were hardly any better down there, reacting like a possessive boyfriend.”

“That’s fucking rich coming from you. You seem to forget what your husband got us all involved in,” Jules says, and I’m horrified. What the hell is he doing?

Dima walks towards Jules and gets in his face, his hands grab onto Jules’s shirt, making sure he can’t move.

“I would watch that fucking mouth of yours. I’ve allowed you enough leeway when it comes to Kai. But no more,” Dima says before shoving Jules in the chest. I rush to Jules’s side, and hold his hand in mine.

“Leave it, Jules. It’s not worth it.”

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