Page 79 of Villainous Kingpin

He probably has to kill someone, I thought wryly to myself. Did it bother me? No, not really. He swore to me he only killed bad people. So I guess that was okay. Fuck, maybe my moral compass has been skewed all along.

My sigh sounded loud in the spacious, empty penthouse decorated in white and black.

Three weeks since I walked away from DiLustros. I’d stayed with Sasha in his penthouse on the Jersey side overlooking New York City. It was almost torture because it reminded me of my first date with Bas.

And just like a fool that liked to open the wound and let it bleed all over again, I’d stare at the city every morning and night, and remember our first dance. His hot breath against my skin and his words in my ear.

The sound of the doorbell filled the penthouse and I jumped, startled. Glancing around, I stood unsure whether I should answer it or not.

Then banging on the door. Whoever it was, he or she wasn’t happy. They banged like maniacs.

“We know you’re in there.” Juliette’s voice was muffled, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Well, the maniacal banging on the door made sense now. “Open the goddamn door or I’m going to kick it in.”

“Always so dramatic,” I muttered under my breath, but I headed for the door and unlocked it, then came face-to-face with my three best girlfriends.

Three sets of blue, grey, and hazel eyes stared back at me. My three best friends regarded me with pity and sorrow. It gutted me and somewhere deep down a scream bubbled in my throat. I didn’t want pity. I wanted to scream at them that I had survived and I was stronger now. But instead, I just smiled and opened the door wider.

“Want to come in?” I asked, my voice raspy.

One moment they stared, the next all three threw themselves at me and wrapped their arms around me. It was like getting suffocated with love.

“I missed you, Wyn.” Juliette’s voice was slightly high-pitched with emotions.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I missed y’all, too.”

“Killian wanted to attack this building,” Ivy announced. A choked laugh escaped me. That sounded like my cousin. “It was so fucking tense without you,” she added. “Brennan screams into the phone at everyone and anyone, demanding you be brought home or he’ll wipe the Nikolaev men off the face of this planet.”

“Davina had to distract him by any means necessary,” Jules added, rolling her eyes. “Sex every day, all day long. In the bed, on the desk, in the bathroom… fucking everywhere. I’m trying hard to unhear those noises.”

Davina smacked her against her shoulder. “It worked, didn’t it?” Davina grumbled. “You wanted to plan the attack with Killian.”

Jules smiled guilty. “Well, we have to learn strategy of attack someday.”

And just like that, things were back to normal. Like nothing had happened, but a lot did.

“Come in,” I urged them in.

Once inside, Juliette whistled. “Wow, so this is how fucking Russians live, huh?”

I winced at the sound of her tone. Uncle Liam’s dislike for Russians was always evident, but now that I learned some of my heritage, I didn’t know how to take it. Ignoring her usual comments, I led them into the living room and instead of sitting on the couch, the four of us sat on the floor and crisscrossed our legs.

Just like we did in our small dorm room. It seemed ages ago, yet it was only last month.

“What the hell happened, Wyn?” Juliette wasted no time. “Why did you refuse to see us?”

I sighed.

“Damn it, Jules,” Davina scolded her. “We said we’d give her time.”

My cousin ignored her. “I was worried sick. Wondering if you are okay or what you’re hiding.” I swallowed hard. “I know you’re hiding something. Something happened and you don’t want us to know.”

I shook my head and tried to smile but I failed miserably.

“Damn it, Jules,” Ivy groaned. “Stop it. You’re upsetting her and she’ll kick us out. Let her tell us when she’s ready.”

Since when has Ivy come to her senses.

“I’m fine,” I waved my hand.