Page 92 of Twisted Kings

“Yes, it dates back to pagan times,” Milo agreed.

I looked around. “Where’s Thea? Is she not back yet?” It had been hours since she disappeared to talk to Declan. My pulse kicked up a notch.

“She’s with Eden. They’re getting ready in Eden’s room,” Landon said. “Eden texted me.”

“You banging Eden too?” Dario asked, always happy to wind Landon up.

“Eww, no.” Landon grimaced. “She’s like my sister. A really annoying sister.”

Having failed to provoke Landon, Dario picked up the bottle of whiskey sitting on the bar cart and poured himself a drink. He caught me watching him and lifted the bottle, but I shook my head.

Maintaining a clear head was essential. Until I’d reassured myself that Declan had plenty of security in place in the basement club, I couldn’t afford to relax. Not with Thea’s father out there somewhere.

From what Dario had told me, her father was becoming increasingly desperate. If he didn’t produce Thea soon, Marku would demand a refund. And unfortunately for di Luca, he had cash flow problems.

The door opened from the hallway, and we all turned around. For a moment, the world stopped spinning as I clapped eyes on the woman of my dreams.

She’d pinned her dark hair up, but a few loose curls escaped, framing her face. The dress she’d worn at the Christmas Ball had been spectacular, but this one stole my breath away.

Red silk with a thigh-high split. Tasteful yet sexy. Ruby red lips, smoky eyes, and towering heels completed the look.

Nobody spoke. Thea scanned each of our faces while looking nervous. “Too much?” she asked, a small hitch in her voice. Nobody spoke and her face fell. “I can change.” She half-turned toward the room she’d chosen, but Cassian grabbed her wrist.

“You look perfect,” he reassured her, saying what we were all thinking.

“Damn, I have a fucking hard-on now,” Landon grumbled.

“What are you, like 12?” Dario scoffed, but I noticed he could barely tear his eyes away from Thea.

“So it’s not too much, then?” Thea’s gaze found mine, her pretty eyes full of anxiety. For someone so confident in violent situations, she had very little confidence in her appearance.

It made me mad that she couldn’t see what we all saw: a beautiful, sexy woman.

“Malyshka, I promise you will be the most beautiful woman here tonight,” I told her before taking her in my arms. “And if I have to spend the rest of my life telling you how beautiful you are every single day, then I consider it my duty.”

I curled my fingers around her slim neck and pulled her in for a kiss. For a moment, she tensed in my arms, but as the kiss deepened, she melted against me.

Dammit. Now Lan wasn’t the only fucker with a hard-on.

42

Thea

Eden had described this place as a nightclub, but it looked more like a prohibition speakeasy. Cozy leather sofas and club chairs tucked into dark corners, exposed brick walls, and faux gas lights all added to the vintage feel of the club.

I relaxed on a squishy sofa, Kyril’s hand glued to my thigh. He’d barely let me out of his sight all evening. None of them had. It was almost as if they knew I planned to leave.

When I’d walked into our guest apartment earlier, the atmosphere had been thick with tension, but I decided not to get involved.

They were adults. If they had issues, it was on them to sort their shit out.

Dario had disappeared shortly after I showed up dressed to the nines, all thanks to Eden’s makeover, and so far, he hadn’t shown his face down here.

“I’m going to get a drink,” I said in Kyril’s ear.

“Let me,kotenok. Champagne?” He went to stand, but I pressed a hand against his chest.

“No, stay. I need to visit the bathroom.” It was a lie. Mostly, I needed a break from his suffocating presence. Landon sidled over with another drink in his hand, drunk as a skunk. He’d been doing shots all evening.

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