Page 22

TWENTY-TWO

KAI

“ Y ou punch like a pussy,” I taunt Silas as he throws another crooked hook, the sound of his leather gloves thudding against my block. I can’t help but smirk. Getting under Silas’ skin has always been a twisted pleasure.

“Fuck.” Punch. “You.” Punch.

He rounds off the insult with a kick that buckles my leg slightly, the sharp sting radiating up my thigh. Sweat beads down my neck, mixing with the scent of sweat and rubber that permeates the air. My grin widens, even as pain shoots through me.

I counter his moves with calculated precision until I’ve got him backed up against the ropes, the creak of the elastic cords underscoring his mounting frustration. Silas is usually an open book, but lately, everything about him is twisted up inside, like the guy’s ready to snap. And I know exactly why.

Join the fucking club.

“Why is it called a ring when it’s square?” I ask, wiping my cheek against my shoulder. The gym’s flickering fluorescent light buzzes overhead.

Silas squints at me, then slowly breaks into a smile. “You’re a dumbass, you know that.”

Jeremy, a sophomore in the frat, offers Silas a sports bottle. He gulps it down like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. “You’re still tight, Si. Kai’s right,” Jeremy adds, nodding toward the other guys who’ve paused their own training to watch us spar. Their eyes are glued to the spectacle, waiting for the next hit. Silas Morgan on edge is like watching a storm rolling in—you don’t know when it’ll break, but you know it’s going to be destructive.

Silas wipes his mouth, nodding in acknowledgment. “Yeah, I know. But fuck.” He slaps his gloves together, the sound sharp and decisive. “I’m just fucking tired.”

Tired doesn’t even begin to cover it. He’s been obsessing over Sable’s safety, tracking down leads, trying to figure out who broke into her dorm and why. It’s driving him mad and dragging the rest of us along for the ride.

“Who’s pussy you sinking into lately that’s got you fucked up?” Jeremy’s mouth tilts into a smirk. I suppress a laugh as Silas glares at him, his eyes narrowing with a fury that’s barely restrained. Jeremy’s lucky he’s not the one in the ring.

“Yeah, Si, who’s got you all wound up?” I taunt, enjoying the way Silas’ jaw clenches, his muscles tensing.

Silas spits out his mouth guard, letting it land on the mat with a wet thud. His lips curl into a slow, mocking grin. “Are you ready for another round, or are you just gonna keep running your mouth?”

“Bring it on, Si.”

He comes at me harder this time, his footwork fast, precise. His punches hit with more power, more frustration. I duck under one particularly vicious swing, feeling the air cut past my ear as his fist sails by. His gloves are a blur as he throws another hook, and this time, his fist slams into my ribs with a force that knocks the wind out of me. I stagger, gasping for breath.

“Who’s the pussy now?” he taunts, his breath ragged as sweat drips from his forehead.

I shake off the pain, gasping through the burn in my lungs. “Still you,” I rasp, my voice strained. “Because you’re making me train you twice as long just so you can avoid her.”

I see the crack in his composure the second my words hit. The rage that’s been simmering inside him rises to the surface. He spits on the mat and steps closer, his breath hot against my face.

“That’s your problem, Kai,” he sneers, his voice low. “You and Dayton are so wrapped around her finger you can’t see straight. She’s not worth it.”

“That wasn’t our idea. You dragged her into this. You allowed her to slither her way into our fucking lives.”

He moves in closer, his chest rising and falling, each breath heavy and strained, as sweat drips down his face and pecs. I watch a bead of sweat as it trails down his neck, over his chest, and onto his abs, the sight almost hypnotic. But when I look up to meet his predatory gaze, there’s a hint of weakness there’s not as invincible as he likes to think.

“Her pussy is delicious,” I purr, the words dripping with venom as I flash a wicked grin, running my tongue slowly along the edge of my teeth, savoring the taste of his impending fury. I can see the brewing in Silas’ eyes, his jaw tightening, a vein pulsing at his temple. He wants to hit me, I can tell, but he’s too stunned to move, too caught up in the imagery I’ve just painted.

“You know it, too,” I continue. “That perfect, wet heat that wraps around you, so tight around your cock it almost hurts. The way she moans my name, clinging to me. The sweet fucking candy tasting pussy that she let both me and Dayton bury our faces in.” I’m completely exaggerating, but he can’t tell. “You thought driving her away would make her any less desirable? She sunk her claws deep and now you’re drowning.”

Before he can process the full weight of my words, I drive a punch into his core, my fist connecting with a solid, satisfying thud. The impact is brutal, tearing the breath from his lungs in a sharp, wheezing exhale. His eyes widen, shock replacing the rage as he doubles over, knees hitting the mat with a dull thud.

I savor it, the way the power has shifted, the way I’ve brought him to his knees—not just physically, but mentally. He’s broken, and everyone knows it.

“Our enemy comes when we least expect it, Silas Morgan,” I growl, standing up straight. “You either let her live her life, or squash whatever this fucked-up thing is between you two. Because this alpha-hole bullshit? It’s wearing thin.”

I throw both wrists over to Jeremy, who begins to unwrap me. “Now, I have to go do shit for my uncle.”

“For the Syndicate?”

“For whoever will deposit money in my fucking account.”

Silas struggles to his feet, wiping sweat and spit from his chin. He leans heavily against the ropes, his breath ragged, the fight drained out of him.

“I’m not avoiding her because of some petty shit. She’s... complicated. And it’s driving me fucking insane.”

“Well, quit making that everyone’s problem. You fucked up. You fix it.”

“I hate that she has that power over me.”

“Maybe you should talk to her, then. Instead of trying to beat the shit out of me and all of Ashen Grove.”

He snorts, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. “Or maybe I just need to punch something until I can’t think anymore.

“Well, I’m done being your punching bag for the day.”

Silas decides to stay behind at the gym, probably to vent his frustrations on the heavy bag. I leave him to it and walk myself back to The Manor.

When I enter The Manor, the place is mainly dark. The soft dim of the oven hood light spills into the hallway, casting long shadows that dance with every movement. From the den, the soft flickers of TV light emanate, creating a cozy glow. Sable’s giggles fill the hallway, light and carefree, and my cock twitches at the sound. It’s a visceral reaction I can’t control, no matter how much I will it to behave. Her laughter is like a siren’s call, drawing me in without mercy.

“Calm the fuck down,” I mutter, pressing on my cock and willing it to back off as I jog up the stairs.

I toss my gym bag at the entrance of my room and collapse into my desk chair, running a hand through my freshly showered hair. My fingers absently click open the security feed on my computer, hoping for a distraction.

The cameras show Sable wrapped up in Dayton’s arms, her legs draped across his lap as he rubs her calf, drawing circles on her skin. Affection comes so easily to Dayton, it’s like breathing to him. He makes it look effortless, and Sable responds to it in kind, her laughter dissolving any tension.

My phone buzzes on my desk, pulling me from my thoughts. I flip it over and see a message from my uncle.

Uncle

Call me

I groan, hesitating for a moment before dialing the number. He answers on the last ring.

“Hello, Malachi,” my uncle’s toneless voice comes through the receiver.

Growing up, my foster father had high expectations for me. He was a legend in the business world, known for his ruthless efficiency and strategic mind. Following in his footsteps was a path I felt destined to take, but it also felt like walking a tightrope with no safety net. Every failure, every misstep was magnified under his critical gaze. It’s why when I began hacking, it killed him a little inside. But my Uncle Allistair ate it up.

I clear my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. “Hi, Ali. How are y?—”

“What did I tell you about trying to hack into my systems?”

Earlier today, I had tried to hack into his computer remotely to try to see if he had any old college files hidden in the cloud somewhere. Or anything that could lead us closer to the symbol. “Well, if you had answered any of my dozen phone calls this past week.”

“Did you really think I was that stupid not to realize? It took me twenty minutes to reveal your entire footprint on my computer. Pathetic.”

“I just needed?—”

“You needed to follow my instructions and stay out of it,” he cuts me off.

“DSN members are being murdered, uncle,” I spit out. “And you expect me to just ignore it? I sent you several documents. Did you even read them?”

“The syndicate is taking care of it.”

“People are dying!?”

“I’m telling you to let them do their job.”

I shake my head’s something he’s not telling me. There’s something in his voice that one could almost suspect as worry.

“Your mother is calling. I have to go.”

The line goes dead, and I’m left staring at the phone, anger blooming in my chest. I slam my phone down on the desk. “Fucking asshole,” I mutter.

There’s a knock at the door, and my eyes snap up toward Sable. She leans against the door frame, her presence immediately softening the atmosphere. She’s wearing an oversized hoodie that barely covers the tops of her thighs, her creamy legs exposed. Her hair is in a soft braid down the back of her head. Her smile is soft as our eyes meet.

“Hey,” she says quietly, stepping into my room. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.”

She walks over to me, her movements graceful and fluid, and perches herself on my thigh. Her warmth immediately calms the storm inside me. I shift her so she’s sitting sideways, her arms wrapping around my neck as she looks at me with those deep, piercing eyes. “Was that your dad?”

I nod, my fingers twirling with the cord of her hoodie. “My uncle, but basically, yeah.”

Allistair may be my uncle to anyone outside my inner circle, but my parents have never hidden their love for him. The three of them have been in love for years, and it’s their relationship that gave me the courage to admit my feelings for Levi. The three of them raised me and my other foster siblings as a unit.

“Sounds like a dick.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. It’s just complicated.”

She nods, understanding without needing more details. Then, her eyes drift to the computer screens. When she realizes what’s on the monitors, her eyes widen in surprise. “Are these cameras?”

“Yeah.”

“Of the whole university!?” Her eyebrows shoot up as she leans forward, her gaze jumping from one screen to another, taking in the various angles and locations displayed in real time.

“More or less.”

She pulls back slightly, her hands pressing against my chest, widening the space between us just enough to look me in the eye. Her gaze darts to one particular screen, her face paling as recognition sets in. “Is that... my dorm?” she whispers, pointing at the live feed of her room

“Yes.”

“So, you saw Dayton and me?”

“And Silas.”

“Oh...”

I watch her, waiting for the questions I know are coming, but instead, she shifts the conversation, trying to focus on something else. “So, do you know who came into the room and left the carving?”

“It was one individual. They were in a cloak with a hood.”

She grows softer in my touch after that, her body relaxing slightly. My finger grazes under her chin as I bring her gaze back to mine. “What’s on your mind, Sable?”

Her teeth pull her bottom lip in, and she bites softly, a gesture that makes my cock harden. “You watched me…”

“And I’ll continue to watch you,” I say, my voice darkening. There’s no shame in it, no regret. Watching her has been my silent obsession since the moment she entered our lives.

Her breath hitches, her lips parting slightly as she struggles with the next question. “Did you like... to watch us?”

I don’t hesitate. I lean in, my lips brushing against hers, teasing her, making her wait. “You’ve got my best friends wrapped so tightly around your pussy, mahal,” I murmur, my breath hot against her skin, my words soaked in hunger.

Her breath quickens, her pulse racing beneath my fingertips as I lower my hand to her neck, feeling the rapid throb of her heartbeat. “And what about you?” she asks, her voice trembling, her body betraying her need as she presses closer to me.

I smirk, my lips grazing her jawline, moving to her ear. “Mahal, I was claimed by you the moment I saw you through my computer screen. Watching you, wanting you... it’s been torture.”

Her eyes widen, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps, her chest rising and falling in sync with mine. “Kai...”

I tighten my grip slightly on her neck. Not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her of who’s in control here. “Do you have any idea what you do to me, Sable?”

Her body presses against mine, her skin hot, searing through the fabric between us. Her breath ghosts over my lips, teasing me, taunting me. “Then stop torturing yourself,” she murmurs, her words a soft plea, her eyes locking onto mine with a hunger that mirrors my own. “I’m right here.”

And holy fuck, she’s going to regret saying those words.