Page 273 of Vile Boys

Caleb takes in a deep breath through his nose, then retracts his blade. “Fine.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Kai says. “All I know is that my father sometimes summons him after he’s done some shit.”

“Do you know what his father does to him?” I ask.

“He scolds him,” Kai says. “It’s not like they’re on good standing. Ares hasn’t exactly been … willing to live by the Torres rules.”

“Rules,” I scoff. “Your father hasn’t just been scolding him every time he makes him come to his office.” I don’t know if I’m the one who should be telling him this, but I feel like I have no choice. “He hurts him. Physically.”

Kai’s face contorts. “What?”

“He never told you?” Caleb asks, frowning.

“No.” Kai shakes his head. “My father woul—”

“Believe me, he would,” Caleb responds. “Every fucking time Ares makes a decision that doesn’t benefit his screwed-up vision.”

Slowly but surely, the anger begins to take over every inch of Kai’s face. “No. I don’t want to believe it. If that’s true, then …” His fist balls. “I need to see this for myself.”

Blaine snorts. “Good luck getting in.”

“I’m a Torres,” he says.

“You think your father will let you see what he does to Ares?” Blaine asks. “There’s no way any of us are getting in there quietly.”

Kai’s eye twitches. “Who says I’ll come quietly?”

He pulls out his phone and walks off to make a call, and I don’t know if this is going to go well, but maybe he’ll assist us. We can use every bit of help.

“Guess that’s it,” Caleb growls.

“Can’t we bring more Tartarus guys?” I ask Blaine.

He shakes his head. “I don’t want their deaths on our hands. We can do this. I have faith.”

“Faith won’t stop your head from rolling,” Caleb growls back.

“You think I’ll let them get close to me?” Blaine flashes his katana from the umbrella he always brings with him wherever he goes. “Noone touches this delicious body.”

“Gag,” Caleb says, making me chuckle.

“Hey!” Penelope’s voice in the distance makes me turn my head.

“You’re here!” I yell, but then my eyes widen when I see three familiar faces behind her; Felix, Dylan, and Alistair have all shown up too.

“Who summoned those sickos?” Blaine asks.

“I did,” I say, smirking.

“You rang?” Dylan says as he approaches, throwing a lighter up and down. “It’s been too long since our last barbecue.”

Caleb furrows his brows. “Barbecue? Are you for real?”

“Of course, I am,” he responds. “Calebsomething…”

“Preston,” Caleb grits, visibly annoyed. “How could you already forget—”

“Because I don’t care.” Dylan narrows his eyes.

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