Chapter 30 Aniyah
ANIYAH
Aknock rapped against the metal container, followed by Alic’s voice. “Van says the clean-up’ll be done tonight. He thinks you should start planning the new opening ASAP.”
Maso tightened his grip on me, growling deep in his throat, but Alic was right. I couldn’t just lie here basking in post-fuck bliss, soaked in blood like it was some kind of spa treatment. I had a club to resurrect. Siblings to wrangle. A name to maintain.
This little hiccup with my only lead? Just that, a bump in the damn road. I couldn’t let it drag me down. I needed to focus on what I could fix, not waste time on what was out of my hands. And a vow of silence was definitely out of my hands.
Needing to come back to reality, I groaned before tapping Maso’s arm. He released me with a reluctant whine, but I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and sat up. Playtime was officially over.
One glance down and, yep, my bodysuit was toast. Blood everywhere, lace torn in places it really shouldn’t be, and to top it off, I was basically glowing with that freshly ruined look.
That was when I remembered my jacket was tossed somewhere nearby.
I stood, stripped off the remains of the bodysuit, and slipped the jacket on, going full commando.
Buttoning it up as far as it would go did nothing for my modesty.
My tits were still on proud display, nipples barely hidden.
I shrugged. I could always call it a fashion choice, and nobody in my world would blink.
The black fabric did a decent job hiding the blood, but my skin and hair were another story. With crimson streaks and smears everywhere, I looked like I’d been finger-painted by a murderer.
Arms wrapped around me from behind, and that gravel-soft voice brushed my ear. “Does this mean I get boyfriend status, too?”
I rolled my eyes but leaned back into him, letting the warmth of his body settle over me like a soft blanket.
“I don’t think that’s a wise idea, not with this group.” They were all sniffing around for a title, and the last thing I needed was infighting before the grand reopening.
“Then just make all five of us your boyfriends.”
He said it so casually as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
I turned in his arms and kissed his lips, a mere peck, even though I could feel him craving more. “Don’t you get jealous? Angry? With how I’m feeling right now, I’d gouge out a woman's eyes if she looked at you sideways.”
His smirk deepened. He loosened his hold just enough for us to face each other fully.
“Jealous? Yeah, but it’s not simple. I’m jealous of the time they get with you because I want that time, too. I want all of you. All the time. But more than that… I want you to be happy. Whole.”
He leaned down and kissed my forehead with the kind of reverence that made my chest ache.
“If it’s some random guy, yeah, I see red. But with the others? It’s a softer kind of jealousy. It’s not rip-their-heads-off rage. It’s more like... my wolf wants to tackle them away from you and claim his spot.”
He paused, searching my face like he was bracing for me to pull away. His hand brushed against the tattoo on my lower back, the one that heated up under his touch.
“You know why we feel this way. Why we all feel this way. You just have to accept it.”
I pulled back slightly, tongue pressed to the inside of my cheek, and his smile dimmed as he let me go.
“I—I still—”
He yanked me forward and kissed me again, this time slower, softer. His kiss silenced me, scattering all my half-formed words into the wind. His voice was low as he rested his head on mine, whispering like he was pulling the words out.
“You… you don’t have to figure it all out now. Just let me stay by your side. That’s all I want.”
His fingers laced with mine, those electric blue eyes staring like they could consume me.
All I could do was nod. It wasn’t a promise, but it was something, and he was right. I needed to figure out what I was going to do about all of them sooner rather than later.
He gestured toward the dead werewolf and blood-slicked floor. “What about this?”
I sighed and pulled out my phone, walking toward the container door as I texted Riot: Need clean-up crew. ASAP.
Opening the door, I found Alic checking the surrounding area. “You know the coordinates for this place?”
Without missing a beat, he nodded, pulling out his phone. “Want me to send them to Boss Devil?”
“Yes, please. I’ll tell her to look out for your message.”
As we finished our texts, Alic’s eyes scanned me from the floor up. He winced, and for a second, my chest tightened. Was he pissed? Jealous that I’d screwed Maso while he stood guard outside?
My emotions surged—shame, fear, frustration. I wanted to test Maso, to prove something to myself, to take out my frustrations, and maybe I’d let things spiral too far.
I braced myself for Alic’s disappointment, but instead, he dragged a hand down his face and groaned.
“Did you have to get so messy? We’re gonna have to get the car detailed again. That’s the third time this month. We only drive it, like, four times a month.”
I paused, just staring at his annoyed grimace, then laughed so hard tears stung my eyes. Gods, why were these men so perfect? Was it because they were my mates? And if so… why was I so terrified to let them in?
The laughter died in my throat as I looked back at the hanging corpse.
“One thing’s for sure, someone’s targeting us, and whoever it is? They’ve got ties to a high-level spirit mage. That wolf had a vow of silence on him.”
Alic tensed, his posture snapping into soldier-mode. Maso stepped up to my side, quiet and protective, the dark knight to Alic’s golden glow, and between them, I instantly felt invincible.
I bit down on a smile before it could rise to the surface. Time to get serious.
“I need to talk to the others. Any word on Glen?”
Alic shook his head, jaw tight. That silence was becoming damning. I hoped to bring him in, give him a chance to clear his name, but now it looked like he was a part of it.
“I’ll check on the club first, then we’ll figure out Glen.”
I turned toward the car, but before I could take a step, two massive tree trunk arms scooped me up like I weighed nothing.
“Alic, what the—”
He held me tighter, whispering, “Just let me hold you ‘til we get to the car. That’s all I ask.”
Pinching my lips, I looked at myself and grimaced. “I’m covered in blood.” I showed him my hand then dragged a sticky red finger down his chest. “You’re gonna ruin your clothes.”
He scoffed and smirked, a rare, real one. The kind that made me want to snatch it off his face and put it somewhere safe, somewhere I could pull it out and look at it when I needed a pick-me-up.
“Blood washes off. Clothes are replaceable. Plus, the car’s already going in for detailing.”
I tried not to smile. I really did. I bit the inside of my cheek and everything, but happiness bubbled up uncontrollably. I buried my face in his neck to hide the stupid grin spreading across my face.
I didn't want him to get a big head about it or anything.
Once the car came into view, Alic tossed the keys to Maso with a grunt over his shoulder. “Your fucking turn.”
I glanced past him just in time to catch Maso’s eyes locking with mine, a small, confident smile pointed at me before he slid around us to the driver’s side.
Maybe… just maybe, this might actually work.
“I missed you so much. Not having my eyes on you these past eight hours was torture,” Ras whispered in my ear, distracting me as his fingers traced lazy, hypnotic circles along my back. “You in red? A whole damn vision. My heart and dick are tingling with joy.”
Why does this man know just what to say?
If I closed my eyes, I could almost lose myself in the sensation and forget about the sibling war erupting across my office.
“Nov, you just don’t get it,” Calix said from the couch, sprawled out like he owned the place, his arms flung over the backrest. “Everything’s been restored and upgraded. We don’t need your extra men.”
His right knee bounced, the only tell that he was irritated.
Nova stood over him, finger in his face. “Are you lazy or just stupid? You can’t rely on magic alone. What would Mom say if she heard this crap coming out of your mouth?!”
That hit a nerve.
Calix snapped upright, glaring at her like she was dirt on his shoe. “Don’t you dare bring my mother into this!” I mean, she was our mom too, but I wasn't about to add that little tidbit to this fight.
On the other side of me, Van closed his eyes and sighed.
Yep, he regretted waking up today. Alic and Maso stayed by the door, stone-faced like they’d predicted this whole meltdown.
Lucus watched from the corner next to the bottle of booze, an amused smile splashed across his face, his eyes ping-ponging between them.
It made me glad, seeing all four of them unfazed by my siblings.
If they could handle them, then they could handle the rest of my family… hopefully.
With Calix and Nova’s voices rising, I decided I’d had enough of the drama.
“All right, all right! Let’s cut the foreplay. I’ve got actual work to do.”
Their heads snapped toward me, horror lining their faces like I’d just performed a satanic puppet show in front of Grandpa.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Why do you have to be so gross?”
I gave them a wide, toothy smile as Calix scrunched his face like he’d bitten a lemon.
“Why does everything you say have to go there?” he groaned. “Why do you have to take it to that level?”
Nova backed away from him, arms crossed. “Him? Of all the incest options available, you think I’d choose him? Come on, Aniyah. I thought you knew me better.”
Calix reeled back, eyes wide, offended on every level. “Incest?! Really, Nova?! And what the hell does that mean? I’m a fucking stud! You’d be lucky to have someone like me!”
She gave him a slow once-over, expression flat. “Eh.”