Page 204 of Kiss the Villain

Dad, who’s been quietly observing the whole exchange, leans back, his expression unreadable. “Can someone fill me in?”

Grandpa scoffs. “Well, your dear son thought it was afantasticidea to go out with Kayden Davenport.”

“TheKayden Davenport?” Dad’s brows shoot up.

“The one and only,” Grandpa mutters darkly.

“I didn’t even know his last name was Davenport,” I add with an awkward shrug. “Does that help?”

“Age aside, he obviously played you to try to get to me.” Grandpa sits back down. “Fucking bastard. I will send people to kill him. Don’t worry, Gareth. It’s not your fault for falling for that snake’s tricks.”

“So let me get this straight,” Dad says slowly, his voice even. “Kayden Davenport, whose wife was raped and murdered by Senator Baltimore and his friends, and who definitely killed or had them killed over the past couple years, is the same person you’ve been…in love with?”

“I haven’t been in love!” I shout, my face heating.

“He hasn’t been in love with him,” Grandpa yells simultaneously, his voice laced with denial.

Dad’s lips twitch, but his gaze sharpens. “All right. Idefinitelybelieve you. Was he the one who kidnapped you?”

“No,” I mumble. “He saved me. It was his wife’s brother.”

“Is the brother dead?” Dad’s tone hardens.

“I…don’t know.”

“Probably not,” Grandpa interjects, crossing his arms. “Considering the two guards stationed outside since you were dropped off.”

My brows knit. “Two guards?”

“Yes,” Dad confirms. “The woman who drove you here and another guy built like a brick wall.”

Nadine didn’t leave? Or Simone—whatever her name is. Not my fault she has two identities.

“Don’t send people to kill him, Grandpa,” I say, flicking my thumb on the corner of my lip. “We’re nothing to each other now, and he promised not to hurt you. We don’t owe each other anything.”

“Like hell we don’t!” Grandpa snarls. “He used you. Lied to you. Asher, we need to do something about this.”

“He did it for his wife,” I argue softly, my chest tightening. “I think you’d do the same, Dad.”

Dad’s gaze hardens, but his voice is calm. “Gareth, you’re far from okay if you’re hurting yourself instead of him.”

“I’ll blow his head off if he comes near you again,” Grandpa adds with a growl.

A bitter smile tugs at my lips. I guess we’re safe since I’ll never see Kayden again.

Even if he’s still in my blood. Even if I can’t remove him unless I rip myself apart.

But I won’t do that—not when it’ll make Dad and Grandpa look like this. Distraught. Torn.

Grandpa feels guilty for involving Baltimore, but he shouldn’t. He had nothing to do with Cassandra’s death. Nothing to feel guilty about.

Dad, though, is another story. He’s regretting not handling Baltimore himself. In his mind, if he had, none of this would’ve happened.

But that means I wouldn’t have met Kayden.

And that’s a reality I hate more than this feeling.

An hour later,the door to my room bangs open, and my brother strolls in with Glyn trailing behind him. He looks slightly disheveled, like he just rolled out of bed, which is rare for Killian.

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