Chapter 15
“And you guys kicked Demi out?” I leaned forward on the edge of the coffee table to touch Kyan’s knee.
He sat on the couch, reclining with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Demi, the woman that had been knocking on the door.
Her name soured on my tongue, but I held steady.
After all, it was my fault, he’d tried to avoid every single question like it was a plague, but I wasn’t one to give up.
“Yes. She became too much.” His nose twitched up, wrinkling the base of it. I didn’t know Demi, but they weren’t easy Alphas. I didn’t doubt they had a huge part in making her “too much.”
I hummed, studying the discomfort beginning to line the furrow of his eyebrows. He kept looking to the side, like he couldn’t wait to escape.
Prying information out of Kyan was like pulling teeth.
But I had plenty of experience getting people to talk.
Determined was one of the key words my bosses always tossed around in my yearly reviews .
. . Plus, I found that flirting got me leeway, as opposed to the more aggressive stance I’d taken when I’d first started asking questions.
“We’ve been avoiding her, but she must have gotten into Sin’s cell phone. The idiot refuses to put a passcode. Now I have to update all our passwords.” His jaw ticked. “I’ve answered enough—”
I squeezed his knee, not letting him go. “Kyan.” I kept my voice low, verging on whiny.
“You’re relentless,” he said with a breathy laugh.
“It’s not avoidance. She just won’t let things be.
I should have remembered to close the gate behind us.
Now that the guards have been dismissed for a few weeks, it’ll be easier for people to sneak in.
” His lips flattened. “Don’t open the door. Ever.”
“And Alice Lane was another ex?”
“Ex?” For the first time since I’d gotten him to answer my questions, Kyan seemed animated with irritation. “We don’t have exes. We don’t do relationships. If Demi, Alice, and all the rest don’t stick to the program, that’s not our fault.”
I scoffed. That gave me the answer I needed. Alice had been another spurned woman they’d left in their wake.
He frowned deeper. “We fuck them for a bit and then send them on their way. Demi hung around the longest, but it wasn’t because of any care for her. It was convenient. The auctions were sucking up a lot of our time—”
“Auctions?” I bit out. What were they auctioning? What did that mean? They weren’t involved in only gambling and the strip club; there was more?
“That’s enough questions.” Kyan stood.
Surrounded by all the women, excess, and debauchery, they must have tons of flings. Before I could stop myself, I swatted his pant leg.
He stopped, head tilted down as he studied me. His hair fell forward, shadowing his already black irises.
“That’s why Alice wanted to expose you. Out of revenge.” The sharp words came with more anger than I meant. “You guys just use and discard women.”
Kyan looked at me and crouched down, cupping the side of my face. He didn’t seem annoyed with my attitude, only . . . sad?
“We don’t have time to care for anyone else. But I promise you.” His thumb swiped across my lower lip. “I’ve never been more tempted to claim a woman than I am with you.” He had no right to sound so forlorn.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but I was stunned silent. “We’re always busy, Briar. Elias handles social aspects while I take care of the financial part. Or anything involving a modicum of paperwork.”
My stomach wouldn’t stop flipping. Why was he talking to me like he was begging me to understand?
“What does Sinclair do?” I croaked.
He scoffed. “Fuck things.”
I flinched, the visceral reaction slapping me. Kyan breathed in, hand falling away from my cheek, and looked away, offering me his profile.
“And handles anything . . . physical we need done.”
After watching him direct the bouncers on the floor, it wasn’t surprising.
“Hmph.”
Kyan turned to the side, and his jaw moved. “You ask me these questions, and you get angry at the answers. Would you rather I lie?”
The sudden turn in his behavior took me by surprise.
“No,” I bit out.
We stayed still, watching each other with intense focus. His cheek kept twitching and eyebrows furrowing like he was battling an internal demon.
Suddenly, as if making a decision, he sighed, clasping my face between both palms.
“Don’t be upset.”
I set my jaw. “I’m not.”
A complete lie, but I had a great poker face. He loomed over me, so close his nose almost grazed mine. I couldn’t look away from him, allowing me to see the gradual change in his eyes. They softened, a quiet yearning sheening them. He dipped and caught my lips.
His tongue flicked against mine, his touch careful . . . almost loving in the way he cradled my jaw. He kissed me gently, claiming my mouth with his. I placed my trembling hands on top of his, caressing the indents of his knuckles and veins.
I wanted to grind on him, claim him, fuck him.
“Kyan.” The aggressive snarl shattered the fog of lust.
Kyan pulled back, breathing raggedly as he stood.
Elias stood at the entrance to the living room, his shoulders heaving.
Sinclair stopped beside him; he gawked, inhaling. “Bloody Omega pheromones,” he mumbled. He closed his eyes with a moan.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” Kyan bit out.
“Thought you could have her to yourself before she buggers off, eh?” Sinclair drawled. He tossed himself onto the couch, stretching his tatted arms over the back of the couch.
Until I bugger off. How pleasant.
“Look at how she glares at me.” Sinclair clicked his tongue. “I’m lucky you can’t burn me with a look.”
Nothing of the lust-riddled man from the club sat beside me.
“What are you doing, Kyan? This isn’t—” Elias cut off with a growl.
“Should we have this conversation right now?” Kyan raised an eyebrow. I stood, but neither turned away from glaring at each other. Sinclair’s gaze was fastened on me, his lips curled into that sexy twitch.
I clenched my fist hard enough for my fingernails to pinch my palm. Kyan’s effect was still too present.
“I’m going to go,” I mumbled and slid past Elias, meeting his angry gaze. It didn’t depart from mine as I went, my feet disconnected from my brain. I crossed the large foyer area and was in my room faster than I could think.
The thud of the door shutting rang in my ears. I stood in the aftermath of silence, my brain catching up with how panic made my body react.
I caught my breath with a bit of effort, my rapid pulse ebbing.
“Why did I run?” I muttered to the empty room. I tilted my head forward and rubbed my eyes. Running wasn’t getting me anywhere with these guys. And they still hadn’t given me an update on when I would be leaving the country.
I rolled my shoulders and exhaled. They didn’t scare me. I shoved open the door and marched out. My nose smashed into a hard chest. I yelped, clasping my face as the sting radiated across my septum.
“Fuck,” Elias snarled. A hand landed on my shoulder.
Tears blinded my sight, so I had no choice but to follow as his grip guided me forward.