Page 142 of Dukes of Peril

Killian deflates, grabbing for the bottle of liquor. “Then I think we can consider this a new, mutually beneficial slate.”

He holds up his glass and raises it, saying, “May you keep what’s yours.”

Our glasses clink, and an emotion unfurls in my chest. Getting the guys’ vote was one thing, killing Saul another, but the approval of my peer locks this all in place. For the first time in months, I realize that what I feel is hope.

They’ve waitedup for me.

I know it the second I see the glowing clock face visible in the skyscape to the west, but I feel it like a hum when I take the elevator up to the top, wrung out and buzzing.

When the doors slide open, the first thing I hone in on are her wide, worried eyes. The second thing is Remy’s arm, hooked around her chest, chin resting on the top of her head. Last, but never least, is my brother, who’s yanking the gate open with a grunt.

“Well?” Nick asks, giving me that patented devil-may-care stare down.

I step toward them–my brothers, my girl, my family. “It’s done.”

Lavinia springs into my arms with a relieved gasp, her lips pressing into my neck. “Are you okay? Did he–”

“I’m fine.” Cupping her cheeks in my palms, I pull her back, unable to restrain my smile. “Everything went as planned. Nick’s not the only one here with good aim, you know.”

Remy jumps on me next, pulling me into a full-bodied hug. Partway through it, he catches the insult, burying a fist into my shoulder. “Hey, I have fucking fantastic aim.”

Lavinia and I share a look. “Might want to say that to the only person in this place who hasn’t cleaned the toilet.”

Nick, who’s standing off to the side, raises a hand. “That’d be me.”

My stomach sinks at the distance between us, dimming the pride in my chest. I only just got my brother back. The thought of losing him again is unbearable. “Are you pissed?” I asked, wishing he’d just hit me and get it over with.

He pins me with a scowl. “Goddamn right, I’m pissed. I spent months trying to be all reasonable and responsible for nothing.” When I just stand there, trying to find the right words to say, he rolls his eyes, stomping forward to pull me into a tight, aggressive hug. He speaks gruffly into my ear. “I was trying to avoid saying this in front of Lavinia, shithead, but fine. The second those pins started dropping in front of you, I was trying so hard not to laugh, I think I pulled a muscle. It’s such a fucking relief.” Pulling back, he glances at Lav. “I would have done it for you, Little Bird.” He looks at Remy, then at me. “For all of you. Maybe I even would have been good at it eventually, but if you want the truth? I would have been fucking miserable.”

Lavinia’s face falls, hands digging into her back pockets. “I’m sorry.”

Nick gives my arm a slap, snorting. “Yeah, how dare you think so highly of me that you’d suggest I be ambitious.” He pushes his tattooed knuckles beneath her chin, forcing her gaze up. “You thinking I should be King was worth more to me than actually being King.”

I grip my brother affectionately on the neck, understanding that completely.

Remy brings his hands together. “So? How are we going to celebrate?”

“We’ll celebrate,” I promise, taking the gun from my waistband. This was always going to be the hard part, and I find the excitement and thrill leaving me in a staggering wave. “But first I need to tell you something. All of you.”

Apprehension shutters in their eyes, and I wonder how long it’ll be like this, jumping from one crisis to another, always anticipating the next shoe drop.

I know it won’t stop yet.

Not until they know the truth.

“Before I killed him, Saul told me what happened that night.” Meeting their gazes, I set the gun down. “I know how Tate and Leticia died.”

25

Lavinia

“Give us a minute?”I hear Sy ask from the outer room. He’s not talking to me, but his brother and Remy. His voice sounds as tired as I feel.

I’d walked away at some point, mid-detail. Now I’m staring out the small window in Sy’s room that overlooks the city, wondering how I could have been so close, yet so far. Saul wasright there. I looked him in the eye. I agreed to his terms. I’ve been in his town, under his command, stripping my clothes off onhisstage, beneath his stare.

The thought makes me fucking sick.

Worse than that is how obvious it should have been. All this time, Story and Sarah were warning me about Saul. About what he wanted. About what he’d do to get it.

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