Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“Actually, I wouldn’t.” Her shoulder slams against mine in passing, but my fingers catch hers and we both pause at the fire that burns between us. She turns to face me. “What’s the matter?”
“Where are you going? Are you back for good?”
“Never.” She flashes a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. I see behind the words she speaks. “Always just for a little while.” She breaks our connection and I watch as she swings her leg over her KTM and shoots forward, heading toward the lake house, no doubt. After the recruit a year ago, she threw herself completely into a bratty phase. It fucking drove me crazy, but seeing her now seems different. She seems… off.
“Did she know anything?” Kyrin passes me, and I follow him to where our bikes are parked.
“I didn’t ask her about Eli.”
“I’m fucking frustrated and desperate to find out what the fuck is going on, and since they were so close for the entire three years, I’d bet that she knows something more than what she’s letting on.” He is right. Cartier definitely knows more about Eli.
I fire up my bike. “I got called out.”
Kyrin turns his head over his shoulder. “When?”
“Told her I’d be there tomorrow at noon.” I roll up to where he’s sitting, since the loud twang of our two-stroke engines is almost too much.
“You know who it is?”
“Do I care?” I ask, looking out to the distance.
Past
Twelve years old
The first thing I learned when I picked up a gun was realizing that I didn’t want to use one. I was ten, so that’s saying something.
My father moved behind King’s dad, as they both stared down at all four of us. “You are Kiznitch soldiers, but you’re more than that,” King’s father said, walking back and forth with his hands buried in his pockets. “You come from a line of Brothers. An even smaller family unit than Kiznitch. You will learn how to take a life, give a life, and fuck the life out of other women. You will perform, give people what they want, and learn how to master your skill. Killian, telepathy is your forte, but you can all practice. You are all gifted.” The office door opened, and he stopped talking as we spun around to see who it was. King’s mom walked in with Cartier dragging her feet behind her, her bright blue eyes peering up at King’s father. I’d always felt protective over her, but I was pretty sure we all felt that way. She was the only girl out of The Brothers’ line, we had to protect her. It was pure, natural instinct.
“What is it?” King’s father said, looking between Cartier and his wife.
“I’ve got to take her,” she whispered into King’s father’s ear. She probably thought we couldn’t hear, but we did. We just didn’t care because it was Kiznitch, and everyone was safe in Kiznitch as long as you were. “They’re asking questions and I fear—” She stopped talking when she realized we were all watching her.
“Just go,” King’s father said, brushing the doorway. “She needs it.”
King’s mom nodded and then dragged Cartier out the door. Cartier spun around at the last minute and her eyes collided with mine. Her smile spread wide, her little cheeks turning cherry red. She made my body feel weird, and I kind of hated her for it.
“There’s an organization that operates behind Midnight Mayhem. We don’t get the show without them. They’re all Kiznitch, and they’re all loyal, but what they want goes, and their personal soldiers?” He made a point to stare directly at all of us. His office was vast, filled with modern furnishings and a large chandelier, but right now it felt small. As if there wasn’t enough air for us all to be here. “Are you four.”
Present
The music is loud, and I cut the bike off, saddling her near the lake house. People are coming in and out carrying drinks and food. Cartier has been back for less than thirty minutes, and she is already throwing a party.
I step through the front door and instantly see Kohen and a couple of other girls in the lounge, playing on the Xbox. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows give a direct view to the bed of the lake out the back, but the sliding doors are opened out to the patio, where people are surrounding a fire pit that’s lit inside an old barrel. Cartier isn’t stupid, and she’s not thirsty. She’s Kiznitch, but she’s smart, so she knows not to throw any of the parties that are usually hosted on Village grounds.
“She’s outside.” Maya steps up beside me, handing me a full glass of whiskey. “You may need this.”
“Why?” I swirl the liquid around in the glass, watching as it creates a small tornado in the center.