Page 46 of Brazen King

“You’re lucky, little minx,” he murmurs, his green eyes dancing. “If I didn’t have more pressing matters to attend to, I’d have to spank you for thinking you could leave before the night’s over.”

“Promises, promises,” I breathe, though my stomach quivers at the suggestion.

Again, Killian chuckles, the vibration rumbling through my chest and making my breath catch. “I suppose I’ll let it slide this time,” he says, “but don’t expect me to let you off easy again.”

It’s you who got off easy, I think, though I bite my lip to keep my cheeky response in check. He doesn’t know how close he came to waking up with his throat slit. And I’m not about to tell him.

“I’ll see you soon, love,” he promises, and he brushes one last tantalizing kiss across my lips before he releases me.

Heart racing, I slink silently across the room to slip out onto his balcony.

And only after I’ve made it over the wall of his gated community do I allow myself to fully face how close I came to getting caught. If Killian had found out I was trying to kill him once again, it would have completely destroyed my advantage.

My skin tingles as an intense wave of relief washes through me—relief that I didn’t get caught, of course. It has nothing to do with the fact that, once more, I was unable to end Killian.

Because if I felt relief about that, it would mean I have feelings for him.

And I most definitely do not.

Not even a little bit.

I would have gone through with it, I assure myself as my feet carry me back toward the spot where I parked my Ducati.Next time, I’ll succeed.

19

KILLIAN

“It’s the middle of the night,” I state coldly as I stalk into the warehouse where Lance and my men have detained the yakuza men.

Twelve of them kneel before me, gagged and bound, several of them bleeding from the ears, nose, or mouth based on how much of a fight they put up. All of them follow me with wary gazes. The subtle tremor that ripples through them tells me they know what’s coming for them now that I’m here.

“You woke me from averygood sleep to start this?” Stopping in front of the center man, the one glaring up at me defiantly, I study his face for a moment.

Then I backhand him, striking him so hard it sends him toppling backward. His companions flinch but keep their gazes focused forward and averted from mine.

“Which of you smart-asses thought it would be a good plan to steal from the Kings?”

I know the answer. Like Natasha said, their leader, Saturo Takumi, is a slimy little worm. Still, he needs to learn a lesson, and since he’s not here to receive it directly, I’ll have to teach him through his men.

Another man down the line flinches, his shoulders jumping up near his ears as I approach, and I point to him. “Let’s start with him.”

Lance and Justin—one of my captains—hauls the man forward by his elbows, and the prisoner’s eyes widen with fear. He says something around the cloth tied between his teeth, a plea for help, or mercy, I imagine.

But I’m not feeling generous tonight. In fact, I spent all my generosity on leaving Boris’s men alive. Which means the yakuza in my care tonight will face the full force of my wrath.

My men strap him down to a metal chair—one that makes chopping limbs off easier. And as Lance yanks the gag out from the man’s mouth, I head to the table full of tools to choose my weapon.

“What do you think, Lance?” I ask playfully. “The axe?” I pick it up, letting the warehouse light glint coldly along the edge of the steel. “Or maybe the butcher knife?” I supply, raising it as well to compare.

“Not messing around tonight, are you, boss?” Lance asks, his blue eyes dark with bloodlust.

“Looks to me like we have more men than we need, so I thought we’d chop them down to size…”

Justin and Luther chuckle darkly, and my first victim starts to hyperventilate as he leans as far away from me as the chair will allow.

“Please, I’ll do anything—tell you anything!” he begs, his eyes rolling wildly, as if in search of an escape. But he’ll find none.

“Will you deliver a message for me?” I ask, setting down the axe.

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