Page 81 of Vicious Games

“Hey, Remus. Past your bedtime, isn’t it?” I tease after answering the call. It’s nine p.m. here, which means it’s around three a.m. in London.

“Stop being a littleshite,” he grumbles, his thick, British accent distorting the word shit. “Just checking in since you’ve been radio silent for a week.”

I snort, putting him on speaker while I finish cleaning up. “Has it been that long?” I arch a brow. “Huh. Didn’t notice. But apparently, you did. Miss me that much, huh, fucker?”

“Bugger off. Your brother’s the one hassling me for updates. No idea why he won’t just pick up the phone and call you himself.”

“Jude calls,” I mutter, tossing the towel into the hamper. “Just at the most inconvenient fucking times.”

By inconvenient, I mean when I’m sneaking into his apartment to corrupt Frankie.

“Let me guess,” Remus drawls. “You and the would-be nun are fucking.”

“Not yet,” I smirk. “But all in good time, my English friend. All in good time.”

“Didn’t you tell me she’s an orphan? Sounds like she’ll be a clinger for sure. You sure you want to get yourself in that kind of mess?”

“First, sensitive much?” I chuckle. “And second, we’ve established rules. Not that it matters since she hates my guts on principle alone. No need to fear any clingers here.”

“Better be damn sure about that. And wrap your shit up. You don’t want to knock up a nun.”

A cold shiver runs through me.

“Don’t say shit like that. The universe might hear you.”

“Universe, schmuniverse,” he retorts. “We make our own destiny.”

“I hear that.” I laugh just as I hear my brother’s bedroom window creak open. “Gotta bounce. Tell Jude all’s good at the home front and give Mina a hug for me. You all still coming for Thanksgiving at the end of the month, right?”

“Do we have a choice?” Remus grumbles. “Bloody sacrilege, celebrating such a shitty holiday.”

“Can’t wait to see you again, sunshine,” I tease. “Miss your grumbling commentary.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, you littleshite.” He hangs up without so much as a goodbye, which is customary Remus’s behavior. I smile at my reflection before heading into Enzo’s room.

I find him already at his desk, screens filled with code.

“Had fun?”

He spins in his chair, scowling. “It’s nine o’clock, and I’m home. What do you think?”

I drop onto his bed, hands behind my head, legs crossed at the ankles. “Looks like you’re suffering from a major case of blue balls. Not getting any? Father Torres giving you a hard time?” I laugh. “Not as easy as you thought, huh?”

“Motherfucker thinks he’s asexual when I know for a fact he fucking feels something for me.”

“Feels?” I arch a brow. “When did ‘fucking’ start involving feelings?”

He turns back to his computer, fingers flying over the keyboard. “Forget it.”

“Wait… hold on… you’re not actually starting tolikethis guy, are you?”

“I said forget it, Lucky.”

I jump off his bed and swing his chair around to face me, gripping the armrests.

“Enzo, he’s a fucking priest,” I remind him.

“And Frankie’s going to be a nun. Your point?”

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