Page 63 of King of Ruin

I nod.

“And I’m assuming there will be a place we can cross over into their territory without being seen?”

Again, I nod. “Yes, I have the roads you’ll need to take that are free of soldiers. They don’t expect you to leave, considering their threats. So, they are moving most of their men to a neutral area to be ready for when you cross tomorrow.”

“And why do they think we’ll find out about Onyx’s meeting?”

“They said word would spread fast when people see Lucian.” I’m not sure of his importance, but I’ve never seen my brother so uncomfortable talking about someone else. Judging from the look on Maddy’s face with her wide eyes and fast blinks, I’d say she does.

“How the fuck did Phineas get Lucian to do his dirty work?”

I shrug. Not only because I have no clue but I don’t even know who the guy is. “I’m to give you a contact number for a man named Oliver. Zek said to call him at six tonight, and he’ll get you squared away with where to enter the mansion grounds.”

Maddy takes a moment, though I’m not sure if it’s to ponder on what I’ve told her or if she’s still worried about the lawyer. A few more beats pass before she finally works whatever it is out. “And if this whole ploy is just a way to kill us?”

“I thought about what I’d say if you asked that. I even asked my brother. He said there is nothing he can say to make you trust him, but that’s what he’s asking.”

She scoffs, turning back and continuing up the stairs. “He’s been asking way too fucking much of me lately, and it always results in little payoff for me. And people wonder why I favor women.”

I follow behind her the rest of the way, and exit through the metal door leading to the floor where I first met them all. We walk into Kilo’s room, who looks much better than he did when I first saw him.

He’s sitting up, his white hair tousled as if he’d run his hand through it more than a few times, and his eyes are moving quickly over documents sprawled across the lap tray in front of him.

When he hears us enter his eyes flash up, the bright blues appear like lightning they move so fast. They flit to me and I suck in an audible breath.

He’s so insanely gorgeous, it’s jarring. His gaze stays trained on me, and the longer they do, the thinner the air gets.

Finally, Maddy speaks,“need a favor, Ki.”

He continues to hold our stare but answers her. “Anything.”

She motions to me with her head before pulling something dark from beneath her dark green blazer and tosses it at him. When he catches it, we both break eye contact and stare at the gun he’s now holding.

My heart thumps loudly in my chest, and my palms instantly become clammy. I don’t react fast enough before Maddy has a vice grip on my upper arm and jerks me to Kilo’s side. “I need you to watch her for the next twelve hours. If you don’t hear from me, put a bullet in her head.”

My mouth opens twice like a fish, but nothing comes out, the shock and fear tangling my vocal cords.

This makes Maddy laugh as produces cuffs from her back pocket. When I asked her to meet, she must have planned to take me this time.

Shit.

I shriek when the cold metal touches my wrist. “I swear I’m telling the truth. My brother wouldn’t set you up.”

Kilo watches in silence as Maddy secures me to his bed rails.

“If that’s true, then you’ll be free to go in a little bit. Not a thing to worry about. Watch some TV or something with Kilo. He needs the company.”

“But I-I can’t–”

“You can and you will, little mouse.” She takes two quick steps back before kicking a chair hard in my direction. After that, she flings something silver at Kilo who catches it in one hand. “I do hope I get to see you again though. Preferably breathing.”

There was something I heard on TV one time. It was one of those organizational shows that talks about throwing stuff out rather than hoarding. It said if it doesn’t bring you joy, toss it.

Don’t like that sweater your grandma made? Trash it.

Hate looking at that picture on the fridge your kid spent all week in art making? Crumple it up.

Look in the mirror and can’t find anything about yourself that makes you happy? Well, the point is clear.

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