Page 48 of The Devil's Chaos

“Kai, we have to avoid bringing attention to each other. At least until I can see a way through this.”

The words I wanted to say were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t manage to articulate them. I wanted to tell him that Maddie was playing him, but then my brother would know I was playing both sides. I needed more time to find an exit plan, so I decided to keep certain things to myself—to protect Kai.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Kai asked, his eyes narrowing.

Apparently, my facial expressions gave me away. “After the speeches, my brother promised my services to one of Winston Grey’s friends from the club.”

“Absolutely not. That fat pig you were talking to is Gerald, the one from the night we met?”

I nodded, “Gerald Beckett.”

“I know that name. He’s one of Grey’s little accounting lackeys funneling money into his own pocket and trying to undercut every other businessman in the city. You’re not fucking him.”

“I have no choice.”

“You always have a choice,” he lamented.

“You still don’t get it, do you? If I don’t fuck him, my brother will have you killed tonight.”

“Let him fucking try.”

“Kai, you can’t intervene.”

“I can,” he replied flatly.

“Goddamn it. I can’t lose you. What don’t you understand? I’ve lost everything that matters to me. I can’t lose you too. You’re the only thing I have,” my chest heaved as truth poured out of me.

“Fuck,” Kai whispered, his eyes softening as he took my face into his hands. “I won’t let you lose me. I promise.”

He leaned in and kissed me again, harder this time, as if trying to imprint himself onto me.

“I need to get back out there before he comes looking for me.”

He nodded in agreement.

“Just wait a few minutes before you come out of here.”

I had never been one to show weakness, but my emotions were spilling out uncontrollably. I knew I couldn't let Kai see me like this. He was the only thing that had been able to penetrate my armor, the only thing that kept me grounded. I needed him more than I needed air.

Kai watched me, concern etched on his face. "Come here," he said, pulling me close to him. I let him hold me, needing the warmth of his body against mine. Forcing a smile, I looked up at him.

“I will find you after the event. Everything will work out, little lamb,” he tilted my chin up, searching my eyes. “It’s you and me, no one else matters. Don’t forget that.”

24

TWENTY-FOUR

HAVEN

With a final kiss, I broke away from him. I needed space and time to figure out how to navigate through all this. Kai seemed so unbothered by the fact that my brother knew about us, but he didn’t know my brother like I did. He didn’t see him as the abusive monster that he was. He didn’t experience my brother’s ‘punishments’ like I had. I made my way back to the party, and I had full intentions of drowning myself in champagne until I had to do the literal walk of shame up to the suite my brother reserved to torture me for all of my indiscretions. He promised he would continue my punishment later, and later had arrived.

As I walked into the dimly lit bar, I caught sight of my brother sitting at the counter next to Mila, her stoic smile belying the tension in the air. My heart sank as I knew things were about to take a turn for the worse. With a heavy sigh, I sat at the opposite end of the bar, surrounded by other patrons, and tried to keep an eye on the situation. But it was hard to ignore the heated exchange as Archer and Kai stood over my brother, their voices growing louder with each passing second. Fear pooled in my stomach as I saw a dangerous glint in Archer's eyes, andI prayed he wouldn't act on his murderous intent. Suddenly, my brother's men and several others I assumed were part of The Brotherhood began circling and shifting positions. When it seemed like violence was inevitable, Mila stepped in between my brother and Archer, her small frame surprisingly effective in diffusing the tension. I took another sip of my drink, thankful that the tense standoff they were engaging in was now resolved.

Until it wasn’t.

Mila stormed back toward my brother with a steak knife in her hand. I expected his guards to intervene, but they seemed preoccupied or didn’t think she would do anything in front of so many people. She moved gracefully, and I recognized the look on her face. She was a woman full of rage. When she plunged that knife into my brother’s hand, I giggled out of pure satisfaction. My brother cried out, and I closed my eyes, relishing the sounds he made.

“Serves you right, you sick bastard,” I muttered under my breath, taking a long sip of my drink.

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