Page 88 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“Probably,” Zander surprisingly agrees. “Who’s driving us tomorrow?”

“I don’t know or care,” Ares admits.

“Hmm. Okay.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” Zander dismisses it and yawns. “Fuck, let’s sleep. Can barely keep my eyes open when Dolcezza’s so warm. Listening to her breath is going to be my new lullaby.”

“Don’t get addicted. You’re the worst trying to break something you’re addicted to.”

“That’s because I have no intention of breaking such a loving and passionate commitment. Let my addiction grow,” Zander encourages.

“God, no,” Ares complains. “Nothing ever goes right when you get obsessively addicted.”

“True, but do I learn? No.” He sounds proud of it, too. “Though I did like Matteo’s singing.”

“Huh?”

“The sad lullabies. They’re nice to listen to.”

“Did you say Matteo sings?”

“I did,” Zander yawns. “He does that when he’s lost in thought.”

“So, you observed this while Sweet Canary was recovering.”

“Did you think I’d leave her alone in a room with a stranger? I don’t think so.”

“He’s not necessarily a stranger. At least, not anymore,” Ares argues.

“No. He’s still a stranger to you,” Zander notes.

“And why to me and not us?”

“Because I do my research.”

“I shouldn’t even ask.”

“The fact you don’t ask questions is the problem, Ares,” Zander mutters.

Ares doesn’t reply, but the creak of the bed has me lift my head enough to see Ares turn to his side, so he’s pressed right against V’s back. She’s still in Zander’s arms, sleeping away with no knowledge these two are having a conversation.

“I’ll work on it,” Ares shockingly states.

“What?”

“I’ll work on it,” he repeats, muttering the words before he presses his lips to the top of V’s head. “I don’t want to let you guys down.”

Zander doesn’t answer. It takes a good minute before he does.

“You don’t lack the way you make it sound,” he finally admits. “Your ignorance is what the world preys on. Be less ignorant and see the truth that people don’t try to hide and voila. You know who your friends and foes are.”

“Verena thinks I can be a valuable asset, like you and Matteo,” Ares grumbles. “Yet, I struggle to see what she defines is valuable in me.”

“You struggle because you’re so used to putting yourself down that when others lift you up, it feels nothing but foreign.”

“It frightens me when you talk sense.”

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