“Kai, get this bitch under control before I really do fucking kill her,” Killian says, voice vibrating with fury.
“You won’t fucking touch her,” Kai warns, his voice lethal.
“You act like I’ve given you a reason not to trust me or something, Killian,” Ava suddenly says shakily. Everyone’s eyes turn to her.
I hear the sadness in her voice and for a moment I think I see sadness flicker in Killian’s eyes as well. But then it's once again replaced with his stone cold rage. Kai places his arm against Killian’s chest when he acts like a feral dog about to attack. Ava’s eyes widen in horror.
“Don't ever act like you don’t know what you fucking did.” Killian's voice is so low and crazed that it feels like the room actually dropped in temperature.
But I’ve had enough.
“Fuck you!” I explode, making everyone in the room flinch. “My mom just fucking died and you have the audacity to tie me to a chair?”
Something flashes in Kai’s eyes before they turn cold and emotionless once more. He crosses his arms, his stance wide like he’s ready for a fight. “Why did Anderson send you here?” he asks.
“What?” I ask through gritted teeth. “I don’t even know a guy named Anderson, you idiot.”
Kai’s fists clench and I see his nostrils flare as if he’s counting in his head to stop from throttling me.
“Chad fucking Anderson,” Is all he says.
I pause, my insides turning to ice. “What the fuck does Chad have to do with this?” I say, my voice a low, angry rasp.
Kai growls and gets up in my face. “Everything,” he seethes.
“Let me fucking go, Kai.”
“Why are you here, Desiree?” He ignores me. “We just found your mom dead in her house. You better start talking now.”
My chest heaves with a red-hot all consuming anger. I feel tears burn in the back of my throat. “How dare you throw that in my face. You’re evil, Kai. Fucking evil.”
Our breaths fan each other's faces as we argue. Kai’s intense eyes are filled with fury, and I’m sure mine look the same.
“You’ll be next if you don’t let me go,” I whisper. “It’s my father. I’m a liability if I stay here. He will come for me.”
His eyes scan my face for any deceit, then he backs away from me with a heavy sigh. He turns his back on all of us and I watch his knuckles clench and unclench. It’s as if he’s angry with me, but he’s holding back. Which is ridiculous. Kai Pierce doesn’t tame himself down for anyone, especially not me.
And even if he were doing that, it wouldn’t matter. He’s nothing but an asshole. All he cares about is his gang and intimidating people. He needs control like an angry king sitting on top of his throne, and he leads with an iron fist.
For a moment, my anger simmers and I think of my mom.
I can’t believe she's dead. Tears fill my eyes as I think about her lifeless body lying on the floor. The saddest part is we were never really close, and now I’m left wondering what could have been. I’m mourning for the mother I never had.
A girl with dark hair walks in that I recognize. I think her name is River? She sits at Kai and Killian’s table with her boyfriend.
She’s holding a bottle of water. “Kai, relax, would ya? The girl's mom just died.”
She smiles at me showing a row of straight white teeth. “I thought you might want something to drink.”
“Fuck off, River,” Kai says, but not much heat is in his tone.
She ignores him. “Um, you’re going to have to untie her so she can take a drink.”
He glares at her, but clenches his jaw and starts untying me. Killian does the same with Ava, and then he grabs her arm and leads her up a massive staircase.
I wince when the belt leaves my skin, and grab the bottle of water. I unscrew the cap, taking a sip.
“Thank you,” I say grudgingly.
She smiles. “You’re welcome.”
“Leave us,” Kai says.
“What's the magic word?” she sing-songs.
“Now,” he growls.
She rolls her eyes but leaves.
Kai grabs my arm. “We’re going to my room,” he says gruffly.
“Oh, yippee. Just what I wanted to do,” I snip.
I stare around his gigantic house as we walk up the stairs. Everything is modern, neutral colors. There are no personal pictures at all.
“Where are your parents?” I ask.
“Dead,” is his answer.
Oooookay.
“I would say sorry for your loss, but considering my own mother just died and then you tied me to a chair, I think I’ll pass.”
Kai takes a sharp turn and pulls me into a bedroom—probably his if I had to guess—and shoves me against the wall.
“Do you ever stop talking?” he asks, raising his hand, and I flinch.
He pauses, cocking his head to the side. I feel my cheeks heat in mortification when he just runs his hand through his hair.
“I thought you wanted me to talk,” I tell him in a shaky voice, pretending that didn’t just happen.
“I want you to tell me everything you know about Chad,” he says.
“There’s not much to tell. We only dated briefly, and now he won’t leave me alone.”
His eyes scan my face again, and I feel my heartbeat quicken. Even though I’m telling the truth he'll think I’m lying, all because he makes me nervous. My emotions are all over the place right now.
His lip curls over his top lip. “Dated, huh? And he just let you go? I don’t believe that.”
“Surprise, surprise. The big, bad Kai Pierce doesn’t believe what I have to say. Shocking.” I roll my eyes.
“Why the fuck are you so mouthy?” he asks.
“Why the fuck are you such an idiot?” I mock right back.
I regret the words as soon as they’re out of my mouth. His hand is immediately at my throat, squeezing just enough that I feel that tell-tale panic creeping up
