Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
J
My mouth goes completely dry, and I edge away from the door, searching for a weapon.
Jinx has extracted a ton of money from Zane alone.
And Dutch…
Toying around with him and Cadence was the catalyst that inspired the creation of the Jinx app. If anyone has a beef to pick with Jinx, it’s these two.
“Nice room.” Zane strides to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stands in front of the view like a king looking over his kingdom. “And nice view. Must have cost a lot.”
I paste a smile on my face. “It’s beautiful, sure. But I’d trade that view for a shoebox and a decently working heart.”
Zane arches a brow.
Dutch sticks his hands into his pockets, measuring me up.
I shift my gaze away. Why isn’t there anything pointy in my room? “I’m assuming you didn’t drive all the way out here and got mobbed by your fans just to ask about the cost of a hospital room.”
Dutch looks down at me, his eyes narrowed. I can feel his disdain like a mushroom cloud from a bomb. Zane slinks to his twin’s side and rests an elbow on Dutch’s shoulder. He smiles down at me, and I swallow hard.
That smile is objectively dazzling. Everything about Zane Cross is beautiful—from his dark hair to those otherworldly blue eyes to the body wrapped in lean muscle and ink.
If I were anyone else, I’d be totally disarmed.
But I know too much.
As stunning as that grin is, Zane is the most impulsive, unpredictable member of The Kings. There’s no pattern to his behavior, no rules to his conduct. He does what he wants, and if it’s the wrong thing, the forbidden thing… even better.
“Is there something I can help you with?” I ask Dutch. He’s the more level-headed twin. If I can get him on my side, he’ll keep Zane in line.
“That depends. Have you ever heard of a gossip blogger named Jinx?”
My watch beeps.
I fight the urge to step back. They’re watching every bead of sweat drop down my face, every tremble of my lips, every flutter of my eyelashes.
And they say nothing. They’re letting me stew in my own discomfort.
Breathe, J.
I can’t give them any reason to think that I’m nervous.
“Of course I know Jinx.” I push out my bottom lip, pouting. “I loved reading about you guys on her app. I’m a huge fan of The Kings.”
“Is that so?” Zane steps forward.
I swallow hard. There isn’t anything I can use to defend myself, but at least I can toss my slippers at them and make a run for it. Slowly, I wiggle my toes out of my Crocs when I remember that I can’t run. I can’t even move briskly unless I want my heart exploding.
I stick my toes right back in and take a deep breath.
I’m The Kings’ best chance at finding their wives. All I have to do is remind them of that, and they won’t hurt me.
Hopefully.
“I’m glad you guys are here,” I say, turning to my computer. “I made a breakthrough with the encryption.”
Zane’s gaze snaps to my computer desk.
Dutch goes very still, but his throat bobs with a swallow.
I lead them to my computer and point to the message terminal. “The kidnappers, uh… the programmers working for your mom—they intentionally left this code for me to find. I decrypted it, but I can’t figure out what it means…”
Silence drops like a guillotine.
It’s so loud that I whirl around, wondering what has the boys’ attention.
They’re staring at the four words like they’re drops of gold.
“When did they send this?” Zane whispers, his eyes glistening.
“Um…”
I’m too shocked to respond. Like a flipped switch, their menacing expressions have become tender and wistful.
Zane, especially, can’t hide his tears.
“When?” Dutch growls, but his voice is thick and raspy. Is he about to cry too?
“An hour or two ago.”
“It’s her.” Zane’s mouth twitches, and he smiles.
I have to look away from how bright his face becomes. What’s going on right now?
Dutch sees me looking at them questioningly and says, “This message is from the girls.”
“It is?” I look at the monitor, stunned. “Do you know the place they’re referring to? Where is it?”
Neither of them answers.
Instead, Zane floats to the computer and puts his hand tenderly on the screen. I fumble to push my chair back and give him room while observing with my eyebrows squished together.
They’re cruel, ruthless boys.
Uncaring.
Unfeeling.
They have money, power, and fame. Redwood Prep—no, the entire world—is their kingdom.
And yet, with one message from their wives, they’re putty.
No wonder their mother took Cadence and Grey away to protect this family. If they’d fallen into the wrong hands, Dutch and Zane would do anything to get them back.
“They’re okay.” Dutch’s eyes are glistening, but he doesn’t let the tears fall. “They’re okay.”
Zane lifts the edge of his shirt, revealing rows and rows of abs as he uses the hem to wipe his eyes. It’s a perfect dichotomy. Raw strength and vulnerability. Power and pain.
Their joy is a physical presence, expanding and expanding until it chokes out every other thought.
I can’t help but feel tearful too. Because while these boys still absolutely hate and mistrust me, I realize I’m not the only one with a broken heart in this room. The Kings have lost their heart too.
Cadence and Grey are their weakness.