Page 92 of Wicked Empire (Knight's Ridge Empire 3)

“But in the background, you’re all killing each other?” I finish for him.

He laughs, but it’s empty, hollow. “Yeah, something like that.”

“So trust no one then?”

“Same as every other day of our lives, baby.”

I blow out a long breath. “And people think it’s glamorous?” I think of some of the people at school, Teagan and her bitches, who clearly just want to be a part of the action, to claim the status. They have no clue what it’s really like, and they never will because they couldn’t cope with the reality. I’m not sure many people could.

“People are idiots.”

“Amen,” I joke. Leaning over, I brush my lips over his cheek before pausing at his ear. “Let me go to the bathroom and then you can take me home.” His hand lands on mine that’s resting on his thigh, and he drags it higher until I’m cupping his already hard dick. “Seb,” I growl.

“You mention home and that’s what happens, baby.”

“You’re insatiable.”

“You’re complaining?”

“Hell no. Give me five.”

I drop a kiss on his lips and give his cock a teasing squeeze before taking off across the room.

Calli and Emmie’s eyes follow me, and I know that I’m about to have company.

“How’s he doing?” Calli asks the second we step through into the bathroom and find that—by some miracle—we’re alone.

“Yeah, you know.”

Calli shakes her head. “I can’t even imagine what it must be like for him. Losing one parent is bad, but two? So fucking cruel.”

Emmie remains quiet beside us.

“What about you?” I ask, turning to her. “Your dad know you’re here with the big bad bikers?”

She snorts a laugh. “Oh yeah, I totally fessed up.” She rolls her eyes. “He’d kill me for hanging out with them, let alone this.” She gestures to what’s happening out in the main bar.

“So why are you? Don’t you trust him that you should stay away?”

“Yeah, of course. My dad’s smart. Crazy fucking smart but—”

“You can’t help rebelling despite knowing it’s the wrong thing to do?” Calli finishes for her.

“Something like that. I’m not saying I want a part of all that. I just…” She lets out a long sigh. “It’s a part of my family, my history. Just like you two, I want to know about it, understand it.”

“You want to make your own decisions about it?” I guess. It’s exactly how I feel about the Family.

“Yeah. My pops and uncle, they’ve done some bad shit.”

I scoff a laugh. “Has anyone out there not?”

“True. I just… I dunno, I’m just curious, I guess.”

Calli’s eyes hold mine for a beat. I told her the basics on the way to the church earlier about us looking into the Reapers, so she’s aware that Theo at least is suspicious as fuck about Emmie and her current involvement with her family’s club, but I don’t need to ask her how she feels about it. I can sense her loyalty to Emmie from here.

I feel the same. I don’t think she’d cross us like that. But I can’t ignore the facts, either.

All of it is giving me a fucking headache.