Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
“You wanted Killian to come there that night?” I ask skeptically.
“Why else would I have tipped Sloane off that it was happening? Killian likes to handle things himself, so I figured he’d come alone. I planned for him to die an unlikely hero, but Kyle couldn’t fucking aim his weapon. He was a nearly useless pawn. I liked you much more.”
I stare at him.
“It worked out, though. I only needed to take Killian out because he was engaged to Sloane and who would ever give up a loot like that? But then you caught his interest, and a better plan emerged. I didn’t have to risk killing a Blue Blood. I only needed to let you work your magic and help clear the way, so I did. Now you have what you wanted, and I have what I wanted. I think we made a pretty good team—even if you didn’t know the game we were playing.”
I shake my head. “Kyle… it was Kyle’s idea to… copy the Blue Bloods.”
“Was it? You really think Kyle Roarke did his research into the Blue Bloods’ founding ritual?”
That’s what Killian said…
But I guess Killian only knew what his “source” told him.
And if his source was Sloane, and her source was Aiden…
And if Kyle was a known copycat, and Aiden made the suggestion…
“You planned it and let Kyle… do what Kyle did and pretend it was his idea.”
“Now you’re getting it,” he says with a nod.
My gaze snaps to his. “I texted Kyle for help picking my costume for that night, but then when I got there, he didn’t know who I was.”
He nods once. “You texted me about the costume.”
My stomach drops because not for the first time, I’m reminded every interaction I had with Kyle where I actually liked him…
He was just trying to be—or actually was—Aiden.
Pressing my lips together grimly, I look up at him. “I think you’re right, Aiden. I don’t think friendship is in our future.”
“It was nice while it lasted, right?” He leans over, bumping my shoulder. “And hey, now that I’m a Blue Blood and you’re marrying one, we’re practically family.”
“The fucked-up family thing you said to make me feel bad for you…”
“Bullshit.”
I nod grimly. “Killian was right. Dammit.”
“It’s okay. There are worse things you could be than easily duped, and to be fair, I was pretty masterful.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay.”
“Pulling on all those strings. Watching the little puppets dance.” He nods in Killian’s direction. “The shoulder bump was too far. Your hubby’s coming.”
Since he warned me, I turn just in time for Killian to approach. I place a gentle hand on his stomach and slide the other around his back to give him a little sideways hug.
“Remember that time I stabbed you?” he asks Aiden. “Touch my wife again, and we might have to revisit that.”
Aiden smirks. “We’re not allowed to fight anymore, remember?”
“No one needs to fight,” I say, absently rubbing Killian’s back. “We’re all on the same side.”
I guess.
“Now we are,” Aiden agrees, his gaze briefly meeting mine before drifting back to Killian. “Anyway, I was just offering my congratulations. I hear you’re gonna be a daddy. If you’re ever looking for a godfather…”
“You’d be last on the list,” Killian says with a nod.
“Hey, at least I’m on the list now. Progress.”
The dressing room door opens, and I expect Sloane to come out in her bridesmaid dress, but she comes out wearing her regular clothes with the gown draped over her arm.
Aiden scowls. “What are you doing?”
She shrugs. “It fit fine. I don’t need any alterations.”
“And you didn’t think I might want to see you in it?”
She smiles at him sweetly. “I knew you would. That’s why I didn’t come out.” Looking away from her intended groom, her cool gaze flits to Killian, then to me.
Without acknowledging either of us, she steps down from the platform and starts toward the register to pay for her dress.
“I should probably go,” Aiden says.
“Probably,” I agree, trying and failing to bite back a smile.
Aiden leaves to go after Sloane without another word, and I look up at Killian. “I was going to wish her good luck with him, but maybe I should have wished him good luck with her.”
“I’m pretty sure he can handle her.”
I am, too.
I feel a little better about everything now that I’ve talked to him, honestly. It’s been a while since I talked to Aiden myself, and only hearing what other people were saying about him made me forget some of what I remember when I’m actually in his presence.
Sloane may hate him right now, but I hated him on Halloween night when I thought he was going to murder me, and he still managed to convince me to go to a ball with him a couple of months later.
And I don’t think he ever gave more than half-effort to move me around the board.