Chapter 42
Анучка
1 sit in the backseat beside Zum, who’s babbling happy and calling for her “Nee–koo” between bites of her teether. The familiar streets towards my childhood home are quiet, almost too peaceful for the boulder forming in my gut. King’s driving, and Niko’s riding shotgun, uninually quiet. The tensions in the car is suffocating, a silent prouse that nothing good is about to happen.
King hasn’t said a word since before we left the house, his grip on the steering wheel tight enough to make his knuckles white, I don’t like it. It’s like be’s shutting me out, going through the motions of delivering me 10 Gray without a fight.
“Clays, I’m not staying there, right? Like Gray but going to ander you to lock me in a rooms and fetch all our stuff!” I joke, but there’s a tremble in my voice that I’m sure they can hear
It sounds exactly like something this new Gray would do
King tenses, his eyes meeting nine in the rearview mirror. “Do you think I would let him take you away from me?” he asks, a malicious edge to his
VOICE
“I don’t know” I admit, chewing on my lip. I glance at Niko, who stays frustratingly silent. “It seems like you didn’t have a choice in bringing me here, so what’s stopping him from keeping me
King’s jaw flexes, the mascle twitching as he stares at me through the mirror, not saying a word. Niko’s silence speaks louder than any reassurance they could offer, and that’s when it hits me -I’m fucked. We’re about to walk into Gray’s house, and my daughter and Lare about to become
mom
King parks in front of the house that holds ton many memories. The place where I grew up, where I got married, where I last saw my m I can gather my thoughts. King s out of the car, yanking my door open with a speed that makes me flinch. “Nee–kon, get the baby,” he orders: mocking Zun’s new nickname for him
My heart stains against my chest as he reaches across me, unbuckling my seatbeh with a rough yank. He grabimy arm, pulling me out of the car and pressing the against in, exeing me between his body and the warm metal. In breath fans against my ear as has vosce drops to a low growl.
You underestimate me, kitten. I’m not afraid of your goddamn brother. Inald tell him all about how I fuck you every night, and I wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep. But I also know that would unleash bell, and you and Zum have seen enough violence‘ His lips limash acimst my car, sending a sliver through me. “It Gray’s goal is to trap you here inday. Il fight for you. Niko and I–ur bath will”
I sink my lip between my teeth, still unconvinced. “And if it doesn’t work?”
His eyes bore into mine. It will“–
I want to believe him, want to let his
his confidence erase the dread sing like lead in my stomach. But what if it’s not enough?
King’s eyes flicker down to my lips. I want to kiss hun so badly, in case it’s the last time, but he must read my mind because he says. “I promise. kitten. You’ll come back home with as, and we’ll take tims wrecking you for anyone else tonight, just like 1 promised we would if you behave like a good girl.”
Niko walks around the car, Zuri clinging to him as she gums her teether, blissfully oblivious of the tension wwirling around us. She’s teething–Tran tell by the way she’s guaning that thing like her life depends on it
“C’mon, let’s go. Niko says quietly as we head towards the house. “Gray’s already suspicious. We don’t need to give him any more reasons to keep you here. Not unless you want him to kill us first”
Td like to see him try.” King matters, his hand hovering near the small of my back, grounding me.
We enter the house, and I can feel the memories pressing down on me from every direction. Memories I wanted to keep suppressed, but Gray had the only men I trusted drag me back here
Gray greets us, his suit crisp and black, with the collar popped up. I famose my brows, wondering why he’s wearing that in the middle of the fucking day.
“Little six” Gray‘ says smoothly, pressing a kiss to the top of my head like we’re still kids, like he hasn’t dragged me back here against my will.
I snort. “What are you wearing? You look like you’re about to monologue about world domination
Niko lets out a snicker behand me, but Gray’s icy glare shuts him up quickly.
Gray leads us into the living room Nike sits down beside me with Zuri in his lap, while Gray takes the armchair across from us, putting his foot up on the coffee table. King leans against the wall, arms crossed, looking disinterested.
Fuck. This is going to be a long day.
I glance at King and Niko, hoping they can somehow convince Gray that I’m better off with them. It’s not just because I kinda dislike my own
12
2/2
Chapter 12
beather right now, or that I want to stay further way from my asshole of a husband. I need them–1 want thent. Waking up between them telc richt.
i though its the furthest thing from 11. I want to explore more with them, even if it’s just a purché plexical connection:
Plus. Zuri is already attached. She’s already never going to see her father again, I want her to have her “undes” in her lite. Does my brother even care that being here would destroy my mental health and every ounce of happiness. I’ve muniged to gun since escaping luar.
“Your henchmen brought me here. like you asked.
what do you want, big brother” Lask, my tone sickly–weet
Gray doesn’t look amused as he takes a slow sip of dark liquor. “Not really loving the tone you’ve been using with the, Alyssa Maybe you should
correct that
I hold his gare, my expression defiant. “Maybe you should stop speaking to me like I’m not a grown–20 woman.
Niko shifts beside me, tension rolling off him, but he keeps his mouth shut, Gray’s eyes, flicker to him and then to King, who’s standing like a dam bodyguard
“Niko, Bing leave us. I need to speak to my sister alone Gray orders, his tone final
“No.” I insist, my voice firm, even though my heart is racing for some reason
ason. They stay. Zur and I feel safer with them arwand
Gray raises a brow. “You don’t trust being alone with your own brother?”
I shrug crossing my legs. ” past don’t see a point in dismissing them. We’re all family, aren’t we?”
I have to
to fight the urge to vomit at my own words.
He doesnt respond, but anger flares in his eyes. His jaw is so tight. I half–expect to hear his teeth crack under the pressure. After a long, terse moment he uvi. “Look, you’ve had enough time to calm down from your tantrum, bi’s time to stop being a stubborn brat and come hour”
SEND GUT
