Page 112 of Crimson Tears

“I told you not to test her, brother. Now look at what she’s doing.”

I can’t see what’s on the screen, but the way Havoc’s jaw ticks makes me think my girl is in for a fun evening.

“Talk to her,” he says to me before he turns and jogs up the stairs, Arrow right on his heels.

Cillian is right behind me and I lean into him, feeling exhausted already. But I know I need to talk to my friend. In fact, I haven’t really told Evie much about everything that went down,but based on the way she’s smiling at Cillian and me, it’s clear he has kept her up to date on a few things.

“Sleepover at your place next week? I’ll tell you guys everything that happened.”

Cillian pulls me close, careful not to push on my ribs.

“Are you sure a week is enough time to heal?”

I can hear what he’s not saying. He is nervous about my recovery and has been ever since we arrived. It’s why I tried to put on a brave face and not act as shitty as I’m starting to feel. When most people are ten days out from recovering from severe dehydration as well as major blood loss and fractured ribs, they usually don’t venture out for a torture session on their first day back to work.

Although, come to think of it, maybe that is exactly what we do. We just hate ourselves for it afterwards.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, patting the arm he has wrapped around my lower stomach.

“Yeah,” he tsks in my ear, “keep telling yourself that, Love.”

“You guys are so adorable I could puke,” Evie says, and Boris makes a sound of agreement that has me narrowing my eyes at him.

“Don’t act like you’re any better,Daddy B.”

“For the love of fuck,” Boris says exasperatedly.

“I do love to fuck,” I agree.

“The only one you should be calling Daddy,” Alexi says walking down the stairs and grabbing Evie by the neck, “is me, Princess.”

He claims her mouth and Boris looks at the floor, making me laugh as he mutters, “Now I am the one wanting to puke.”

Alexi draws back, taking offense to that, but Evie places a hand on his chest, effectively silencing him.

“I think we’re going to head back home,” I say.

I think Evie is anxious to get to whatever is about to happen upstairs because her eyes keep darting around. I don’t plan to stay and enjoy the club tonight, although there is a room calling my name in the future, once I work up the courage to ask my men to try it out with me.

But I’ll save that for another time.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Evie says, making us pause. “Akio is staying with Laney and would probably want to come too. He is helping me with a few things as well as his official boyfriend Adrian. They could be an asset to have on our team.”

My first instinct is to laugh. Akio and Laney under one roof sounds like a nightmare and a party all wrapped into one. The way the two of them can rile each other up as well as cackle over almost anything is nothing short of hysterical.

Akio was a good friend to me on the island and was part of our study group in the library. He had this way of making the things we sucked at not feel so big while also encouraging us. Plus, he’s a hot Asian dude with some of the softest hair I have ever felt. If he weren’t so head over heels for his boyfriend, I probably would have tried to date him.

“I’m glad he’s here.” Although I am curious as to why, but I figure I’ll ask when we all get together. “I’ll send out a message tomorrow with details about a sleepover.”

“You’re not having a sleepover with another guy,” Cillian says. He sounds legitimately angry.

I look back at him with furrowed brows. “Do you not trust me?”

Cillian’s eyes go wide as Boris laughs to himself. Evie and Alexi start up the stairs, but I keep my gaze locked on him.

“Try to tell me what to do, Killer. I feckin’ dare you.”

His mouth opens and shuts, and then Boris leans in. “This is what you get for being petty.”

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