Page 80 of Villainous Kingpin

“You’re not fine,” my cousin protested. “We grew up together. I know when you’re hurting and one look at you and I know you’re hurt.”

The lump in my throat grew bigger and bigger, and tears burned in the back of my eyes, while my heart and my soul shuddered. Juliette stilled and our eyes connected. She had never seen me like this. After all, it wasn’t every day you fell for your enemy.

My villain.

I still thought of him as mine.

A lone tear rolled down my cheek and my lip trembled. Before I saw her take a step, Jules wrapped me into her arms. I wouldn’t cry. I couldn’t cry. If I started, I wouldn’t stop.

“It’s okay,” she murmured. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s okay,” I croaked, barely finding my voice.

“No, it’s not.”

The next moment, Davina and Ivy joined in, attempting to smother me with love, I guess.

“You know we’re here for you,” Davina whispered. “Whenever. Wherever. You don’t have to hide here. I can keep Liam at bay and warn him to give you space.” I nodded. “Just come home with us. We miss you.”

I bit into my lip, tasting copper on my tongue. She was right, maybe it was time I stopped hiding. I was running out of training time with Derek too.

“Tell me what I’ve missed,” I asked instead.

“Ah, no, no, no,” Ivy protested. “You tell us what we’ve missed.”

“Are you and Sasha a thing?” Juliette reverted to her mouth without filter mode. “Is that the reason you want to stay here? Because Brennan hates the Russians?”

I sighed. In the group chat we’ve had she kept complaining about me staying here. With Russians of all people. I almost regretted that Sasha got me a new phone. Juliette needed a filter.

“I already told you, Jules,” I muttered. “We’re not a thing. He’s just helping me through some stuff.”

“We help each other through stuff,” she protested. “He’s an outsider.”

Ivy rolled her eyes. “So are Davina and I.”

Juliette shook her head. “No, we are a quad squad and no new applicants are accepted. Sasha has to go.”

Davina rolled her eyes. “And what do you want me to do with my husband?” she asked Jules dryly. “Want me to get rid of him too?”

“Well since you asked-” Juliette started and the three of us groaned.

“We should findyoua fucking guy, so we can make you get rid of him,” Ivy mumbled annoyed.

My cousin just shrugged. “And I would. Men are an unnecessary distraction.” Jesus, maybe my mother’s words actually rubbed off on Juliette. “Besides, we have bigger problems.”

You never knew what’d come out of Juliette’s mouth.

“Like what?” I asked, when it became apparent neither Davina or Ivy wanted to ask her. They probably worried what kind of crazy trouble she’d get us into. Rightly so.

“Well, we’re all out of money we stole,” Juliette announced and all our eyes snapped to her.

“That was almost fifty million, Jules,” I said, appalled that she’d spend so much in just a matter of weeks.

“Well, we bought that extra piece of land and paid all cash,” she muttered. “Then there were taxes, architects for the buildings and design, how to lay it out, permits, material. It's all gone. Boom.” She waved her hands in the air, as if mimicking an explosion.

“How much are we short to finish?” I asked in an exasperated tone.

She shrugged. “We still need three buildings and one extra dormitory. Then I think we’ll be done.”