Page 24 of These Sinful Kingdoms

If I was like Luca or Kingston, I would have stopped them. I would protect them at all costs. My heart ached, knowing what it was like to lose your mother for nothing other than greed and power.

Fabian was about to feel that pain and I had the ability to stop it. Or at least warn them. I didn’t trust the phones or my computer. I still thought I was being watched by the government. They knew who my father was, and you can never be too careful.

I had to go there. I had to warn them somehow but that would mean leaving the house. I knew her address, it was one of the first things I had found out when I investigated her.

It wasn’t far from here; I could make it and it was in a safe neighborhood. I looked at the clock, then at the door. Just suck it up. Be a man. Show her that you aren’t a scared little boy who plays games but someone who could help, someone who could be a protector in my own way.

I grabbed my headphones, put them on for a distraction, and steeled myself at the door. Gran would question me, and want to come too, and get involved which would put her at risk. Or she would try to stop me, and I couldn’t risk that.

So I snuck past the kitchen where she was cooking dinner, humming to herself at the stove. I quickly made it to the door, hand resting on the door handle as I took a long, deep breath, cranked up the music then turned the handle and stepped outside for the first time in ten years, praying I could make it to Aurora’s house in one piece.

Chapter thirteen

Aurora

Fabianhadbeenactingweird since we got home from school today. Something was wrong and he was closed off and cagey about it. I didn’t know what to do and when he slammed the door to his room, asking to be left alone, I turned desperately to Kingston and Luca for help.

“He will be okay. I’ll try to talk to him in a minute. Let him cool down first. It is probably just something from school that has him worked up.” Luca said as he hugged me, kissing my forehead.

The affection between us all had become simple, easy and like it was always a thing. We still hadn’t had sex again, Kingston and Luca both insisting that we needed to get used to being together first as a throuple before we went back there.

But sleeping between them both was starting to drive me crazy, my hormones were going wild, and I was ready to climb them both like a bitch in heat, demanding they give me release.

A knock on the door pulled our attention aside as Kingston frowned, unclicking the safety of his gun and holding it loosely at his side as he went to the door.

He slowly opened the door, Luca stepping in front of me and blocking my line of sight when I heard Kingston mutter. “What the fuck.”

I shoved Luca aside and froze at the sight of Kenji on our doorstep, he had headphones on, the hood of his jumper drawn up around his face tightly and he looked terrified as he kept looking around him, breath coming in short gasps.

His eyes met mine and for a moment his body relaxed, relief on his face before Luca shifted, bringing his awareness back to reality.

“Aurora. I…” He took a gasping breath, and I rushed over, recognizing a panic attack. He said he never left the house and hadn’t since his mother’s death which meant it had been a very long time and yet here, he was on my doorstep.

“Kenji. Come inside.” I said softly as Kingston holstered the gun and stepped back. Kenji hesitated and I held out my hand, letting him make the decision. He stared at it, his breath coming too quickly before he reached out, wrapping his fingers around mine.

His grip was firm as I gently guided him inside, Kingston closing the door quietly as I reached out to take Kenji’s other hand. His hands were smooth, soft, and in some ways delicate.

He was barely taller than me and as I looked into his eyes, I saw the ghosts of his past flickering there, the fear, and yet beneath that there was a determination that seemed to burn steadily.

His lips were full and his nose round and button-like. His features were soft and gentle and yet there was something about him, something that appealed to me when I knew I shouldn’t think that about someone who was eight years younger than me.

“I… I had to come. I had to warn you.” His voice was low, the sound of defeat as I looked at Luca and Kingston who were alert and concerned. Kenji took another gasping breath and Kingston stepped over, placing a soft hand on his shoulder making him flinch.

“Hey, kid. Take a nice deep breath for me, okay? Count in for five. That’s it. Nice and slow. Now let it out for five. Good. You’re doing great.” He coached, his huge hand rubbing small circles on Kenji’s shoulder. He watched Kingston, following his direction as they both took deep breaths together, but Kenji never let go of my hands.

“That’s it. You’re okay now. Trust that you are safe here. Nothing is going to happen to you when you’re in our home, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you.” My heart ached as I watched the struggle, watching Kingston talk to Kenji in a similar way to how he had with Fabian.

Kingston had his dark past and coming from the military, there was bound to be training on how to cope with PTSD from others.

“Now. How about you sit down with Aurora on the couch and tell us why you were brave enough to come here instead of just calling. I’ll get you something hot to drink while you talk.” He glanced at Luca who nodded, taking a step back to let me guide Kenji to the couch.

He sat next to me, reluctantly letting go of one of my hands, and leaned back in the chair, eyes closed. Luca sat at the table nearby, giving him space as Kingston walked into the kitchen.

“Why are you here, Kenji?” I said softly and he sighed, looking into my eyes in a way that felt like he was trying to search my soul.

“My dad. I saw him today. He said that he is still following through with the hit. He said it will be within the week. I came to warn you.” His shoulders slowly relaxed as if telling me had released the weight he was carrying. Luca swore softly and pulled out his phone to make some calls.

Kingston handed him a cup of tea, clearly raiding my herbal stash for the chamomile. He offered me one too with a soft smile.

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