Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Nyx
Anarchist – YUNGBLUD
Achilles is a dangerous man. Yet, somehow, over the course of just over two months, I’ve turned him into a puppy that couldn't hurt me if he tried.
I don't know if it was entirely me, or if he was subconsciously waiting for someone to give him a safe space to truly experience life. The result is the same.
"So?"
His monosyllable makes me jerk in surprise.
"Can I come?" he insists.
I blink up at him as I take a sip of my coffee.
We're at The Basement because we can't take two steps on the SFU campus without people whispering.
Music students say I've got my spot as first chair because of Achilles.
The rest of the campus says that I'm a gold digger in general.
Women Achilles fucked and never called back throw glares my way.
Peach has been distant, and I don't understand why.
Yeah, campus is a nightmare, and as much as I hate the North Shore, at least I'm not the one getting the deadly stares here because Achilles is the one they hate. But he couldn't care less.
He's safe. That's what I keep telling myself. He's the kind of man who risks nothing.
"Nyx?"
"Yeah. Yeah, come. I just need to let Kay know."
I put the cup down, and Achilles doesn't miss the way I bite my tongue. He pulls a pack of bubblegum out of his pocket, drops a ball in his palm, and offers it to me. I don't even pretend not to be stressed out of my mind and shove it in my mouth.
He gives me a minute, lets me chew until the ache makes me feel better, and then he goes for it.
"What's so stressful about me meeting Kayla King?" he asks. "I've been to her house once before. When Wren was in trouble, Nathan White helped us. You were there that day."
My heart stops.
"You remember me there?"
"The cute girl with half-bleached, half-black hair, who couldn't string a sentence together when she tried to tell me she was a huge fan? Yeah. I remember."
"Achilles," I say pointedly.
"Well, I remembered as soon as Wren reminded me."
"You're really an asshole," I say through a laugh. "Don’t you love your fans?"
"No," he admits. "I love you."
The shovel that digs a deeper hole of guilt into my stomach every day just keeps on digging.
"I love you too," I say quietly.
"Then what's the big problem about me meeting people you consider your family?"
"Nothing." I smile. "Well, actually, I did mention to Kayla something about a guy who was horrible to me when I started at SFU. I didn't really say I was with him now, but I think she put two and two together."
His arrogant smile is a reassurance. Achilles knows what he's doing, always.
"I can take her anger."
"Ha. Don't be so sure."
"Lena was easy," he says proudly.
When I introduced him to Lena, she was cold at first, especially since she spent a lot of time reminding me Achilles was bad news. But she's got a kind heart, and she never stays mad at people. It’s when I told her that he put my dad in rehab that she let down the walls completely.
"Lena and I are a rare breed of good girl on the North Shore. Kayla…she's as tough as they come."
He takes my hand resting on the table, caressing my knuckles. "Bring it on."
We're standing in front of Nate and Kayla's door when Achilles asks, "Whose birthday is it again?"
I roll my eyes. "Kay's brother, Caden. I told you earlier."
"I know, but you were cold and not wearing a bra, mon trésor. I'm just a man."
I huff, but I weirdly like the moments when Achilles Duval acts like just another mortal. "Really fucking are just a man."
The door opens, and there stands Kay's husband, the notorious Nathan White.
Mafia man, ruthless killer, and Kay's biggest worshipper.
Which is not to be taken lightly, since the woman used to lead a gang.
He's wearing a suit, as he always does. Simple dark gray today, which makes his midnight-blue eyes look a little darker.
Kay and Nate have a lot of security around the property.
They screen people from down the street, check who's here at the gate, and there are two guards standing on either side of the door, on top of the ones roaming around their yard.
But no one else ever opens this door other than Nathan White.
He must see every single person who steps foot in the house.
His daughters and wife live here, and he never takes any risks.
"Hey," I say shyly.
Kay loves Nate, so I have no choice but to technically love Nate. But fuck, I’ll never not be terrified of him, and he makes sure to keep terrifying me in case I forget to be.
"Plus one?" he asks in his flat voice.
"I told Kay?" Why did I turn that into a question? I did tell Kay. She said it was fine, as long as Achilles knew how to behave. He knows…kinda.
"She must have forgotten to tell me. It's been a busy week." He steps to the side. "Come in, Nyx."
I do, and when Achilles is about to follow, he gets back in the way, putting himself between us the second I'm in the entrance hall.
"I said Nyx." There's no threat, no change in his voice. It's a simple statement.
Achilles cocks an eyebrow at Nate, not bothered in the slightest.
"We come as a pair," he answers casually.
"Not in this house, you don't. I've seen you before. I've heard of you—way more than I want to, believe me—and I haven't yet decided if I want another psychopath in my house."
"Do you think you can decide before cake?" Achilles deadpans.
"Achilles," I hiss. "I'm sorry," I tell Nate with a wince.
My boyfriend smiles innocently. "I'm not. And I'm not a psychopath, by the way. Not clinically." He leans forward. "Unlike you," he whispers before winking.
With a huff, I look at the ceiling. This is going to be an incredibly long lunch.
Nate turns to me. "Of course the new boyfriend would be fucked up. You have a type, Nyx. And I don't love it."
"Yeah, the same type as Kay, apparently. I don't love it either," I retort.
Achilles snorts, but Nate ignores him. "Kay said he studies psychiatry."
"Technically, it's his first year of med school. He's not specialized in anything yet," I answer.
Nate turns back to Achilles, narrowing his eyes at him. "If you make a case out of me, I'll make sure you suffer," he explains as he steps to the side to let him in. Because why threaten death when you can do worse.
Achilles smiles, looking too smug, probably fully aware that it's getting on Nate's nerves. "You're not that interesting."
"Oookaaay. Enough chit-chat," I say in a panic as I take his hand.
It's always a mission to survive an afternoon with Kay's entourage. Her twin baby girls jump me as we walk into the dining room. Livie’s quiet as usual, and Lia’s already pointing at Achilles as she pulls at my skater skirt.
"Who are you? Who is it, Auntie Nyx? Is he bad? Who is he? Daddy!"
These girls calling for their dad every time a stranger gets near them is great survival instincts.
Livie giggles in my ear as her feet tap my thigh while I hold her, and Lia laughs right away. Apparently, she can still read her mute sister's mind.
"Livie thinks Daddy hates him. Daddy, do we hate the mister? Do we?"
"Of course not," I jump in. "His name is Achilles, and he's my friend."
Achilles cocks his head to the side, observing me and ignoring the threats from the girls.
"Friend? Try again."
"Really?" I roll my eyes. "That's your issue here?"
"Just try again, and there'll be no issue. Why make a big deal?" he insists, obviously making it a big deal.
"Boyfriend. He's my boyfriend," I tell the girls, which makes them both cackle.
Our short interaction is cut off by a stern voice behind us.
"We don't know if we hate him or not yet, girls. Let's keep an open mind."
Livie hops out of my arms, and I turn around, finally feeling relief in this crazy house.
"Hey, kiddo," Kay says as I fall into her embrace, holding her tight.
Suddenly, I'm just like Lia and Livie, needing reassurance that I'm doing the right thing and everything is going to be okay.
"Long time no see," she chuckles into my hair.
I separate from her and scratch my throat, feeling emotional.
I might not have had my mom, but Kay was the mother figure I always needed.
Not only that, but the big sister who protected me and told me off when necessary.
Mainly, she kept me on the right track when she herself couldn't stay there. The sacrifices are endless.
"Kay, this is Achilles. Achilles, Kayla."
He moves to shake her hand, but she crosses her arms over her chest. Awesome. Everybody hates my boyfriend. Thank God, he doesn't seem to be bothered by it.
"Food’s coming in a few minutes," she announces to the room, her eyes not leaving Achilles. "Let's sit down."
Caden, our birthday boy, and his wife, Billie, are already sitting. I end up across from her, and Achilles sits across from him.
Billie looks as tiny as she always has, but I'm not fooled by her appearance anymore, especially since once a year, I see her destroy someone in a UFC fight on TV.
"If it's any consolation," she says with a knowing smile on her face after she introduced herself to Achilles, "my family hated Cade when they met him. Actually, before they met him." She pauses, thinking. "So did I. And Kay and I…" She whistles. "Not pretty."
"Oh yeah?" Achilles asks. "Why's that?"
Caden observes him silently with his piercing green eyes, the same as Kay’s, and I realize I haven't warned Achilles about him. The insanity running through Caden's veins should be announced before every meal.
"Opposite gangs," Billie answers casually as she pours herself water. "And he's a dick. Arrogant. Doesn't take no for an answ—"
Achilles's smile practically reaches his ears when Caden puts a hand on Billie's shoulder.
"Don't."
Billie turns surprised eyes to her husband. "What? Everybody knows that."
"Don't over share with him," Caden says coldly, his eyes on my boyfriend.