“Fine, send me your flight schedule when it’s booked so I can pick you up.”
After a few more stern words from Xana, she hangs up and I drop my phone. My head falls back onto the headrest as I enjoy the heat blowing through the vents on the dash. I close my eyes, letting myself feel the ache in my hand while remembering how good it felt to break Bastian’s nose, and the sound of the crunch as I kept pummeling.
Violence always seems to be what grounds me. I like putting my fists to use. Maybe I’m no better than The Omen and his depraved spawn. Perhaps in a situation where there was no one to stop me, I would kill someone. Or I would take one of their loved ones from this earth so they’re left to live their life alone and full of revenge.
Deciding it is time to stop feeling sorry for myself, I gather my things from my car and make my way inside. These broken pieces have always been here, cutting me deep from the inside out. Even without the balm Malia created that I became addicted to, I can handle this.
I need fucking answers and, with my sister coming home, I need to make sure I leave that house alive so she’s safe. I have nothing left without her, and she has no one other than me.
Five
Malia
ASCREAMERUPTSFROMthe man strapped to a chair in front of me. I sit on my own chair, facing him with a handful of darts. Blood drips to the floor from the ones I’ve already landed all over his body.
I purse my lips, squinting one eye closed as I aim my next dart. Drawing my hand back, I send it through the air and watch as it sinks into his left eye. He unleashes another scream, then he sobs as snot runs down his face. Emotions are fucking gross.
Sitting up, I shift my weight to prepare to throw another dart when the basement door opens. The echo of the door slamming shut reverberates off the concrete walls, and the sound of footsteps soon follows, growing closer to where my new friend and I are hanging out. It’s big down here. Cold, empty, damp, and dark—the perfect place to release some pent-up rage on a motherfucker.
Another dart flies through the air, making itself a home in homeboy’s cheek. Lion comes to a stop behind me and snorts.
“Don’t be causing bullshit in my damn city and bringing randos in here to torture for no reason, Mal.” Lion takes the remaining darts from my hands and shoves them into his pocket.
“I hope they stick you in the dick.” I turn in my chair to face him properly. My neck strains at his height, the big bastard.
“Leave my dick out of your rage schemes.”
The man whimpers beside me, so I reach out and push the dart in his eye even further in. Lion narrows his fiery eyes on the man, but I don’t miss the amusement he’s trying to hide.
“Who said he was a rando anyway?” I ask, standing from my previous position since I no longer like how small I feel sitting. He still dwarfs me in size, but it makes me feel more at ease. “He was getting a little too friendly with your girl. So, I thought he and I could play.”
Lion hums before pulling his pistol from his waistband and sending a shot through the man’s eye, splitting my dart straight down the center.
I groan. “Such a fucking showoff,” I mumble.
“Thanks for taking care of Akila,” he grunts. “I have something for you.”
“Presents?” I perk up.
“You’re like a goddamn child.” Lion scoffs. “Go get cleaned up, and then meet me in my office. I’ll send someone in to clean this shit up.”
Lion turns on his heel to leave the basement. I look at the now-dead man slumped in the chair and purse my lips, the frustration and anger I’ve felt since leaving home still coursing through my body. Not even murder is settling the turmoil roiling inside.
My bloodlust has grown to a point where it’s become insatiable.
“Mal?” Lion’s voice snaps me out of my head, and he catches my eye, locking me in his cage of fire. “You’re covered in blood, so don’t let Akila see you.”
I roll my eyes. He and I both know his new pet has more balls than most—she may raise an eyebrow at my appearance and have questions, but it wouldn’t run her off. Since being here with them, something tells me that Lion’s bombshell is going to be staying around.
“Yeah, yeah.” I wave him off. “Hide from the girlfriend.”
I smile at Lion when he narrows his eyes at me. Lover boy is still struggling to come to terms with everything between them. As much as I wish I could help him, I can’t even sort my own shit out. Caine nearly ruined me, and Liam finished the job.
And the fucked-up thing is that I have to face them both at the ball.
I shrug, then follow Lion out of the basement and up to the penthouse. We stand in silence in the elevator, neither of us knowing how to help the other but wanting to so badly. His long legs eat up the ground at a fast pace once the doors open when we hit our floor. No doubt he’s going to distract Akila so she doesn’t run into me.
Showering and dressing quickly to appease the mighty king of the penthouse, I make my way toward Lion’s office. I should make sure he isn’t balls deep in Lorenzo pussy before heading that way, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve caught the fucker with his pants down.