Page 105 of Kings & Corruption

“Morning,” I said, stepping off the stairs and into the kitchen. Rock was cooking while Oscar sat at the island with a plate of bacon and eggs and a pile of toast.

Rock turned around, flipping the dish towel he’d been holding over his shoulder. “Morning, sunshine.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Nokitten?”

“I’ve decided to save that for when I’m making you come.” He furrowed his brow. “Want me to make you come?”

Yes, please.

I rolled my eyes. “No, thank you.”

“Okay, how about some coffee and bacon?” he asked.

“I will definitely take coffee and bacon.” I slid onto the stool next to Oscar. “Hey.”

He leaned over to kiss my temple. “Hey. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

He looked into my eyes. “Really? Because it’s okay if you’re not.”

“Really,” I said. “But thanks.”

I didn’t love the fact that I was starting to be less surprised when Oscar and Rock were nice. The lines were blurring between us, my suspicion thawing even though I didn’t have any proof that they weren’t involved in Emma’s disappearance. I was forgetting who they were for one reason: they were nice to me.

How pathetic.

Rock set a hot cup of coffee in front of me and I sighed as I lifted it to my mouth. It was nice, being taken care of like this, having people to look out for me. Sure, Icoulddo it myself. The incident with Enzo aside, I’d proven that when my dad became an enemy of the family, when Emma disappeared, when I traveled alone for a year.

But it was a relief to let my guard down a little. It was dangerous, but I couldn’t deny that it felt good.

Rock set a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of me.

My stomach growled, and I reached for a piece of perfectly cooked bacon and bit into it with a sigh.

“What did you guys do with Enzo?” I asked, reaching for the fork Rock had set on my plate.

“Don’t worry about that,” Oscar said. “He won’t bother you anymore.”

He sounded so menacing, the words so final that a shiver ran up my spine. “You didn’t… kill him?” I lowered my voice on the last two words, just in case any of the other guys walked in.

“You told us not to.” Disappointment shaded Rock’s words.

“I know,” I said. “Just checking.”

“We didn’t kill him,” Oscar said, finishing his coffee and taking his mug to the sink.

It was obvious he didn’t want to say more, so I left it alone and took a bite of perfectly toasted bread with melted butter and the best strawberry jam I’d ever tasted.

“Oh my god,” I said around the bite of toast. “Where did you get this jam?”

“I made it,” Rock said, like it was obvious.

I almost choked on the toast in my mouth. “You… made it?”

He grimaced at me like it was obvious. “Dumb to buy jam when strawberries are in season in the spring and it’s so easy to make.”

“Right,” I said, making it clear it was not, in fact, obvious to me.

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