“I’d love nothing more than to cut him to pieces and use his body as my forensic practice, but there’s a small problem.” Kill slams the first aid box shut. “He’s Glyn’s brother, and no matter how much she says she doesn’t get along with him, she worries about him and never stopped seeing him as her brother. I’d rather the mosquito stays alive, as annoying as he is, instead of risking losing her. Besides, he’s never satisfied with the lengths he goes to or the chaos he inflicts. In order to keep the same level of entertainment, he has no choice but to increase his diabolical plans. He can’t possibly get away with it for eternity and will eventually self-destruct. When that happens, I’ll make sure to offer Glyn a shoulder to cry on.”
“Kill is right.” Jeremy runs a hand over his face. “I’d love to punch him to death, but the better choice is to watch him dig his own grave. Maybe even help him dig faster without being directly involved in his demise.”
I stare between them as the ache in my heart blossoms and spreads throughout my chest. What is this all about?
Why am I completely taken aback by their animosity toward Lan, when I shared it until recently?
My lips part as the weight of my own words crashes against my chest.
The keyword being shared. Past tense.
Not too long ago, I hated Lan with a passion and personally orchestrated his downfall. Hell, I went on that spying mission for Jeremy so I could participate in Landon’s destruction.
And yet that plan has morphed into something carnal and utterly unrecognizable. It’s a haze of dangerous lust and intense desire. A red mist that I can only see him through.
I still hate the bastard’s guts, but I can’t seem to come down from the high he knows how to drag out of me so well.
What am I supposed to do in this situation? It’s only a matter of time before he targets my family or they target him. There’s just too much bad blood to ignore.
When that happens, I’ll be stuck in the middle and will be forced to break this new version of myself into irreparable pieces.
“Fuck that.” Nikolai kills his cigarette on one of the dirty gauzes. A black and orange hole forms in the middle before it’s smothered by the blood. “I’m going to kill that bastard. I don’t care how, but his life is mine.”
No, it’s mine.
I catch myself before I sign that. Thankfully, Nikolai goes up the stairs, not bothering to say good night.
He’s in a foul mood, worse than when he’s on one of his usual bursts of violence.
“You’re welcome,” Kill shouts at his back and gets a half-hearted wave from my brother.
“You need to keep him in check,” I sign to Jeremy. “No one knows what he’ll do when he’s in that state.”
“I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything.” He pauses as if trying to weigh his words. “How should I put it…？ On the way back, he crashed his bike against a tree.”
My lips part.
Kill circles his index finger near his temple. “He’s going whacko.”
“And it’ll only get worse,” Jeremy supplies.
After years of constant observation, he, of all people, recognizes Niko’s off mode more than anyone else. Usually, he’s able to put the brakes on it or propel Niko into diluting his intense mania.
It helps to present him with fights and people to punch. However, not even Jeremy’s methods work when Niko slides down into the black hole of his brain.
I don’t like it when my brother loses grip on his mind and falls into the mindless, animal instinct side of himself.
“It’s all because of that waste of space Landon.” Killian clicks his tongue again. “If that asshole is out of the picture, I’m sure Niko will return to being himself.”
He’s right. It’s all because of Landon and his stupid provocations and tendencies to cause trouble with every breath he takes.
It’s also because I chose the normal option of having dinner with my family. If I hadn’t pushed him aside, he probably wouldn’t have challenged Niko and yanked out this side of my brother.
My phone vibrates and I flinch and then cautiously check it. If it’s Landon, I’ll kill him—
My murderous thoughts pause when I see the name on the screen.
Bran: Can I see you for a minute?
I reply in the affirmative and agree to meet him at the beach. Kill goes upstairs, but Jeremy stays behind.
“What?” I sign as I slide my phone back into my pocket.
“The mission about spying on Landon is terminated. Effective immediately.”