Page 26 of Wanted

“Do I look like I care about your material gifts? I have my own shit in Katantia. I grew up with every fucking wish granted.” Fylox flinched at the curse words. It pained me to see him like this. But I had to stand my ground. “All I wanted was to see my family. I saw them.” And I cried my eyes out that entire night. “I’m good. Let me know when Jordan sends a signal.”

I added, “Now, let me eat in peace, or I’ll just go into my room.”

Without dinner.

I had lost a bit of weight in the past three months that I’d been here. It was the dead winter, and we all wore thick clothes. The house was warm as fuck, hotter than I needed it, but Fylox was trying his best to suck it up to me for having me injured.

The boys didn’t speak for the rest of my dinner. They left me in peace. Their eyes were hard to avoid, so I kept my eyes on my full plate. Their gazes studied me closer than I wanted them to.

After their fight, Alex came to me, and he apologized. When he saw that I didn’t want to talk to him, he left. It took him nine days to return. Meanwhile, I didn’t speak a word to Fylox. I didn’t even tell him good morning. I was past the state of pleasantries as he put it.

When Alex came back bearing gifts, he made up with Fylox. They hugged it out. I saw them reconciling from the shadows of the doorframe that led to the living room. Then, they started their apology tour on my behalf.

With a heavy heart, I avoided them. I steered away from the sofa.

And now, here we were, a month later, and my grudge hadn’t faded.

I played with the idea of Fylox telling me what happened to him. But then I remembered that he made my head bleed because he couldn’t control himself over a simple conversation.

We were both damaged. We weren’t a good match.

Whenever my mind was freed from the boys, I remembered the images of my brothers on the television. The news on Katantia had simmered down. My absence was being reported by a gossip channel. There were rumors that suspects of treason were being sought after. People whose names I knew were being chased after. The palace wasn’t confirming or denying anything concerning my absence. My brothers were depicted going through the motions at work, photographed at social events. They weren’t the same. My youngest brother appeared broken, and I knew I was at fault. There was an emptiness in his eyes. Aris was staying strong for him. He had a poised expression that didn’t let anyone know his guards were down. They roared business as usual on the outside, but I knew better.

Feathers had been ruffled, and Aram was mixing his cards, ready to set a new deck.

I could feel it coming.

♥♠♥

“Who is that?” Alex asked after a knock on the front door left us all cold in our seats.

Fylox gestured for us to stay silent as he quietly pushed back his chair to stand up. His right hand reached the back of his pants, and when he pulled out a gun, I shivered. I didn’t know how to use one. I would be lost if they ever tried to shoot me like Jordan shot my guard.

Bowing his head in deep thought, Alex grabbed my hand, and I was tempted to pull away. I ended up holding his hand.

We didn’t hear a gunshot. I barely heard the door open or shut.

My heart raced, but I was used to it by now. If we died here or somewhere else, it didn’t matter. I was dead back home anyway. Aram was getting my grave ready for me.

When Jordan appeared at the doorframe, my eyes widened. I dropped the fork in my hand. My plate was still half full, but my appetite was suddenly only a secondary problem.

A girl was hiding behind him. I recognized her legs from a mile away. They weren’t as long as mine, but they were fuller. They looked gorgeous in the boots I loved to wear in Katantia.

Fuck.

“Mandy?”

KAMILA

Mandy’s eyes gleamed at me, welcoming me with warmth. The rest of her body told an entirely different story. She was paler than ever as if she had been the one locked up in a house with a man who didn’t exist.

I locked the door to my bedroom, and, for the first time in my stay here, I wished Fylox hadn’t bugged my room.

“How is he?” I asked. My fingers shook in anticipation of news of my family. “Why are you here? How’s everything in Katantia?”

Mandy’s eyes roamed my room, taking in the clean details with big eyes. Eventually, they landed on me. I cocked my head. “What is it? Do you want something to eat? Talk to me.”

A sad smile covered Mandy’s face. “I don’t know how he is because I haven’t spoken to anyone other than my father or Manuel in three months. I left Katantia the day after you disappeared.”