Page 36 of These Sinful Kingdoms

“I’m not going to do that, Sebastian. All I wanted was to fade into the background. Nicolo and Rocco could have kept the seat. I didn’t want it. You pulled my son into this. You put hits out on me. You took everything from me so you can tell Rocco and Nicolo that I will take everything from them.” She grinned, her eyes wild, and fuck I loved this side of her.

It was a rare moment to see her like this, the calm demeanor gone when her savage side was unleashed. She aimed the gun at Sebastian and shot his leg before he could react.

“What the fuck, Ror!” He screamed, dropping to the ground.

“You shot at me first, Sebastian. I’m done backing down. Go back to my brother and tell him if it is a fight he wants, it’s a fight he will get.” She kicked Sebastian’s gun away when I heard the telltale click of a gun cocking behind me.

“Drop your gun.” The man said, and I glanced to see the second guy that had been in the car with Sebastian. He was young, someone I didn’t know, which meant they had been recruiting. Swearing to myself, I dropped the gun, raising my hands.

It was a rookie fucking mistake and my father would have beat me for letting my guard down like that.

“Aurora. Get in the car with Sebastian or I will shoot Gianluca in the head.” He called as he grinned at me.

“They said you were one of the best yet here you are, disarmed and waiting to die like a little boy. You must have lost your touch since you fucked her.” He sneered and I took a deep breath, careful not to let my anger get the better of me.

“Oh yeah. We know all about that. Seems she has taken both you and Kingston to bed and just last night, she added her priest to the collection. Don’t think we don’t know that Kenji Kobayashi is also staying in your home.” A sly grin formed over his face and before I could respond, I watched as his forehead exploded, blood and brains splattering over my face.

He collapsed to the ground, a look of surprise permanently etched on his face as Kaito came around the corner of the building, staring down at him with disgust.

His gun had a silencer on, explaining why I hadn’t heard the shot. Aurora ran to my side, glancing down at the body before she pulled me to her, kissing me hard.

“Gorgeous. I’m covered in blood and brains, and it is only a matter of time before cops start arriving. We have to go.” I said as I gently pried her from my body.

Kaito glanced up at the building and I saw Evelyn at the window with a few other staff.

“Go. I have already told Kenji and he will wipe all the security footage. I’ll deal with the staff here, but someone will eventually talk.” I wanted to ask him why he was here in the first place, but we had to go.

I pushed Aurora into the car, hurrying to my side, and paused as I watched Sebastian get into his own car.

“You picked the wrong side, Seb.” I said softly, wiping my face with my shirt sleeve and hating that someone I considered a friend was now an enemy.

“Perhaps. Be careful, G. The Thorn isn’t the only one out to get you. There is a bounty on your heads.” He slammed the car door and drove away, the sounds of sirens blaring in the distance as I got in and drove us home, knowing that the war truly had begun, and the line was drawn in the sand.

I just had to make sure we came out victorious.

Chapter eighteen

Aurora

KnockingonKenji’sdoor,I rubbed my arms nervously, waiting for him to answer. It had been five days since we moved. Five days of learning to work around each other in a new space and Agatha opening her home to strangers.

Kingston was still trying to convince Caleb to stay with us, the man was dealing with his crisis of faith after our time together like I expected and wasn’t ready.

So, we had security watching him to keep him safe. I knew he would come when ready. Kenji opened his bedroom door, smiling as he pushed off his headphones and stepped aside to let me in.

Since he came into our lives, I had watched in such a short time the changes that took him. He was working out with Luca now, insistent on building muscle, and had asked Kingston to teach him how to shoot.

He had left the house a few times, today was a trip to the gun range where he met Liam with Kingston, and they taught him the basics of weapons.

Kaito had been in and out of the house and this morning he hugged me, thanking me for bringing his son back to life.

I didn’t take the credit; this was all Kenji. Fabian loved him, idolized him really and Agatha doted on him like he was a prince.

My own emotions were all over the place after the encounter with Sebastian. It had proved I had no choice but to step up and I resented them for it.

“What can I do for you, starlight?” Kenji said, catching me off guard with the nickname.

He blushed as I stared at him, sitting on the edge of the bed.

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