Page 106 of The Kiss Of Death
“My father is going to Pantheon for the opening day,” Sylas dropped, and we all looked up at him. “It’s not for me, though. It’s a political thing. He’s giving a speech about his counterterrorism initiative since, you know, Pantheon’s attack ten years ago.”
My heart sank; I’d completely forgotten about this. Levi and I shared a glance. I hadn’t had another nightmare since last time, but at any mere shrieking sound or any silence too long,theywere back in my brain.
“And I guess a nice happy family post with his son on social media wouldn’t hurt,” Sylas continued, placing a hand on his forehead and sighing. “And you know my father is in deep acquaintance with yours, and both of them think we… have a special bond.”
“Oh no,” I muttered, sensing where this was headed.
“My father may have jumped the gun a bit and suggested he was looking forward to meeting my…” Sylas’s gaze landed on Levi. “Girlfriend or girlfriend to be—”
“Like fuck,” Levi interjected. “If you’re too much of a coward to tell your father the truth, then maybe I should do it for you.”
“You knew?” I screamed at Levi.
“Long before you.” Levi brushed me off.
“Okay, so everyone knows whatever is going on, but I’m lost here.” Yas’s gaze swept over each of us.
“Long story short, I like men, and my father is a jerk,” Sylas explained bluntly, his voice strained as he crumpled into a seat beside her.
Yas’s jaw dropped, and I sympathized with her with a smile.
“I don’t want this either,” Sylas said. “But I can’t tell him no. Maybe he’ll be easier to talk to after the re-elections, but if I do something wrong, he’ll never forgive me. It’s not the right time to come out to him. That speech is a reminder of his failure facing Los Calaveras, so he’s already super tense.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my heart leaping to my throat at the mention of their names.
“It’s been ten years since Pantheon’s attack. He was assigned to catch them and never could. My dad dislikes failure; he was a Pioneer back in the day. He’s obsessed with them.” Sylas’s stare drifted between Levi and me. “All I’m asking is for you to be there for me as a friend that day, please. After that, I’ll talk to him in private during the holidays. I’ll even plead your case to your father and say that Levi is the right man for you if that’s what you want. I’ll owe you both.”
Laughter erupted behind us.Kay. He swaggered toward Sylas, a grin plastered on his face.
“Still the same coward,” Kay taunted, leaning provocatively on the table. “Levi, let me help you with your tray.”
With a swift motion, he seized Levi’s tray and purposely hurled the plate of food at Sylas. “Oops, well, my bad. I didn’t see you there. Levi, come join us when you’re done entertaining this clown. Don’t forget where your allegiances lie.”
“I don’t get it,” Yasmine whispered to me.
“They love each other,” I whispered back.
Her jaw fell open again.
Sylas attempted to rid himself of the spaghetti on his lap and lifted his eyes to the ceiling, clenching his jaw. “He gave me a second chance, and I screwed up again.”
I exchanged a glance with Levi. Sylas didn’t deserve that. Kay may feel rejected, but he couldn’t understand the pressure Sylas was under. He was protecting Kay from his own father; he was no coward.
“I’m going to help Sylas,” I said. “This isn’t about me or you.”
“I know, you’ll be the type to save all the birds who fall from their nests,” Levi’s cruel tone chilled me to the bones. “Without even noticing you’re that same bird too.”
It was easy for him to say. He didn’t care about anything and was free with no family expectations. For us, it was different.
His narrowed eyes fell on me. “Speaking of which, isn’t it weird that your father isn’t coming too?”
“He couldn’t,” I confessed. He had been silent the past couple of days. Grandma said he was still busy with his contract and that was why he never replied to me.
“Fine, but if you think that would be enough to make me go away, you’re wrong.” The corners of his lips lifted slowly in one of his weaponized smiles. “I’ll be watching.”
“Thank you, Levi,” Sylas said, a hint of nervousness tainting his voice. “I promise it’s just a one-time thing.”
His choice of words hung awkwardly in the air, and he gulped while Yas bit down a chuckle.
