Page 22 of The Games of Madmen

I can’t answer that.

So much. Everything.

And then I threw it all away to protect them.

“I wouldn’t exactly call enduring brutal beatings to prepare me for your father’s sadistic games a bonding retreat,” I bite out, stiffening my spine. “And it’s Vas who is the sole reason you’re standing here today. It cost him everything he had to secure your freedom.”

Pain engulfs her amber eyes, which are so much like her brothers’. I don’t tell her the twins wrote off the debt when Vas agreed to fight for them. The less she knows about that, the better.

“Freedom?” she huffs, eyes widening. “Vas sent me here to my estranged brother knowing I once tried to have him killed. I’m lucky Viktor let me live.”

And, in return for him letting you live, you stole his boyfriend.

“You’re right,” I agree, feigning indifference. “They won’t care if I’m here, and we probably won’t see them anyway. It’s a non-issue. I bet they forgot I even exist.” My heart begins shedding the hard shell I encased it in when I left them. Just thinking about them is shattering my carefully constructedfaçade. If I see them, though, my heart might implode and kill me on the spot. “I’m not feeling great. Will you let Jeremiah know I’ve gone home? I’ll see him there later.”

Vika’s gaze narrows and she presses her cherry-red lips together. “He won’t like that.”

“Just tell him,” I say with an exasperated huff. “Please.”

She doesn’t agree, but I know she will. Her fabricated life will always be in jeopardy just as much as mine. My cockroach friend will cover for me. I’d do the same for her and we both know it.

Once outside, I order an uber, but have no intention of going home.

“Where to?” the driver asks, scratching at his crotch, when I slide into the back seat.

“The Vault club across town. There’s a big tip for you if you hurry.”

I have to talk to Viktor and find out any information I can, and if he knows when the twins will arrive.

Oh God. They really are coming.

Chapter Six

Alyona

When I arrive at The Vault, Viktor is on the main floor talking to one of the security guys.

I remember when I first arrived here and nearly pissed my pants when I was sent to The Vault and Viktor, the club owner, greeted me. It was like seeing a ghost. For all anyone knew, he had perished years before in The V Games. In reality, he was in the US, building a life for himself and taking in rejects. He fucking hated Vika, she had plotted his death after all. He threatened her with a million different ways of punishing her, and followed through on none. I liken her to a cockroach in the apocalypse. Nasty and annoying, but has immaculate survival skills.

Upon seeing me, he saunters straight over to me, arms open. “You can’t walk in a place like this looking like that, beautiful. You’ll make me hungry.”

Viktor can make any woman’s cheeks blaze red when he turns his attention to you. He’s hot. That’s a given. He’s alsoweirder than shit. I love him like a brother, but I’ve never spread my legs for that boy. Not even once. I don’t care if he looks like a god in a suit. Not interested. Plus, the whole Jeremiah thing and all.

I’ve definitely thought about it, though…

“I’m never on the menu,” I tease back, distracted by a text Jeremiah sent twenty minutes ago.

Jeremiah: Amelia said you went home?

Viktor’s smile widens. Anyone else would eat up that wolfish grin. “It’s a shame you’ve never let me even sample the appetizers. We could have a lot of fun together, you and I.”

Quickly, I type back to Jeremiah.

Me: I wasn’t feeling great and didn’t want to ruin your night. Went home.

I turn my attention back to Viktor and say, “I’m too innocent for your perversions.”

He winks at me. “I like all kinds…even the sweet ones. Innocence is just a beacon calling the sinners to corrupt it. And who are you kidding, Alyona?” he whispers my real name and my heart jumps at the sound of it. “There’snothinginnocent about you.”