Page 18

“They like her,” Viggo said once he stopped beside me, his eyes staying on Kali. “Dad was right.”

“He was,” I agreed warily.

Pax frowned, giving me a knowing stare. He didn’t have to say anything because I was thinking the same. Kali wasn’t doing this for Amaros. She had a plan of her own. One she wouldn’t share with me.

“Yeah, well the training might be put on hold.” Viggo pulled out a cigarette and lit it. “We can’t get into Project Hope without help. And seeing as Kali knows the city, we need her to get us in.”

“Amaros won’t let her leave,” I muttered under my breath.

Viggo nudged my shoulder. “Doesn’t hurt to try.”

I appreciated what they were trying to do. Attempting to get Kali off the property. It wouldn’t happen.

“How’d she do it?” Viggo mumbled, staring at Kali with a perplexed expression. “You’ve been at this for years and never got close to them listening. She’s sitting there as if she’s known them her entire life.”

Before I could reply, Kali’s eyes wandered our way. She must have heard my brothers because there wasn’t a speck of surprise on her face at seeing them. Viggo gave her a little wave before sauntering closer to her as she stood.

“Viggo, careful,” I ground out, noticing most of the Shadows were now watching him. With a curse, I pushed off the wall and followed him.

“Kali,” he greeted her. “Did you miss us?”

“That depends,” she replied, her eyes gleaming with danger. “Did you get my so-called twin sister out of Project Hope?”

He let out a chuckle. “Can’t tell you that.”

I had a feeling she’d already heard our conversation when my brothers arrived. But Viggo hadn’t seen her in over a week; he had no idea how fast she was transitioning. Pax was walking beside me, his body stiff as the tension in the room escalated. As Viggo got closer to Kali, the Shadows grew more on edge.

“Can’t tell me?” she questioned, cocking her head to the side. “Or won’t?”

My pulse thudded unevenly when the blonde stepped to Kali’s side, staring at Viggo with loathing in her eyes. The power in Kali’s voice even had Viggo hesitating for a moment. Physically, she’d been getting stronger every day. But it was more than that. Her confidence and demeanor were changing too. Growing. She was built to lead the Shadows, and even in the short time we’d been in the Pen the last few days, it was obvious. When her transition was complete, I wondered how powerful she’d be.

Viggo halted a couple feet from Kali, jerking a nod toward the Shadows. “Do they obey you better than they do my brother?”

“Viggo,” I warned in a low voice. “A lot has changed in a week.”

“You should listen to Zan,” Kali taunted, her curious gaze staying on my brother. “You don’t want to get hurt.”

I let out a groan when Viggo’s shoulders straightened. She threw down a challenge that he would never back down from. It wasn’t in our nature. Especially when we never fucking lost. But this time was different.

“Viggo,” Pax hissed, his eyes darting around as the Shadows crept closer. “Don’t be stupid.”

“They won’t do anything.” Viggo flicked his cigarette on to the floor. “Kali wouldn’t want anything to happen to her friend.”

I bit my tongue, watching Kali’s eyes darken. Viggo just didn’t know when to fucking stop. He wouldn’t hurt Warner or tell Amaros anything that happened here, but he was trying to get under her skin.

“Back off,” the blonde snapped when Viggo took a step closer.

Kali opened her mouth, but before she said a word, her gaze cut behind me toward the entrance of the pen. The hatred sweeping across her features proved who’d just walked in. The click of the door closing had both Pax and Viggo looking over their shoulders.

“Is there a reason my sons came home and didn’t bother to find me first?” Amaros asked, his voice growing louder as he crossed the room.

“We were looking for you,” Viggo said with a forced grin. “Thought you’d be out here with Zan and Kali.”

All the Shadows were shifting on their feet, their eyes staying locked on my father as he stepped beside me. In the last few days, I’d learned they hated Amaros. But they also feared him. Shadows were strong, but Amaros had decades on them. He could overpower everyone in the room.

Amaros gazed around the room, no doubt noticing how the Shadows circled Kali. They were already naturally protecting her.

“Impressive,” my father murmured, a small smirk on his lips.