Page 94 of Soulless Deeds

I stopped abruptly and stared directly into his orbs.Choose,my face screamed.Choose,my eyes bled.

Echo raised a thumb to rub over my lower lip in reverence. “No. One,”he repeated, reiterating his previous statement.

I pitched my attention towards Aster to catch her reaction, which was disappointing. She practically gleamed with pride at his answer as if she had given him her approval and permission to do so.Fuck that, and fuck her.

Pointedly turning for the exit, I heard her whisper, “Be safe, Spencer.”Huh. That actually sounded like she meant it.

The elevator doors shut behind us, Fran sitting sentinel at my feet. The space was tight with all four of us Kings, beefed up Psycho and my beautiful Echo. The familiar charge of adrenalin infused my bloodstream from the impending mission we were about to embark on.

As we began to descend, Emerson’s gaze bounced between me and Echo, perusing our gaudy outfits.

Tanner sighed. “They really do suit, don’t they?”

I dramatically yawned at their predictability. I swear, they had no individuality known to mankind. They all wore the same casual attire they usually did. All-black, no substance or flavour.Barf.

Did they not get the memo that the Gladiator Games were a prestigious event?

Emerson ended her inspection by landing on my impractical black stiletto heels. She should’ve known better. We were trained to kill in anything—or absolutely nothing. It’s not my fault I had taste.

“What?” I snapped. “They’re black, aren’t they?”

Psycho snickered from the back. “At least she’s not wearing orange this time.”

I scoffed. “August,huh? What a shit name. Wonder why you changed it?”

“Fuck you, Killer.”

“Like your sister fucked your best friend? How old is he, again?”

An animalistic rumble seemed to vibrate from his chest, and every set of eyes seemed to narrow in my direction.

“What? Too soon?”

XXXVII

Spencer

“Hurry up!” called Micah from the theatre auditorium.

We sauntered down the aisle to the front row, where we found a calm, collected Ace and a pathetic, snivelling Ava.

She instantly dropped to her knees before us, chanting apologies.

“Get a grip, woman,” I said. Fran took that opportunity to trot to her side and lap the tears from her face.

When she didn’t seem to catch on, and her cries turned hysterical, I raised my hand to give her a good slap. You know, to snap her out of that self-induced pity party, but before I could make contact, Psycho snatched my wrist. “Touch her and sister or not, I’ll fucking kill you?—”

Psycho cursed as his grip immediately loosened, and blood freely seeped through his fingers. Echo had slipped between us, his stained knife casually brandished before him, then he spat, “Touch my woman again andI’ll fuckingkill you.”Goosebumps skittered over Psycho’s flesh as Echo’s Variant pierced into his skin.

I didn’t need protection, but I fucking preened from the show of force anyway. Displaying my pleasure, I leant over Echo’s shoulder and licked up his sexy face. He groaned in reply.

Fran yelped at the strained atmosphere, but continued to sit guard at Ava’s side. I nearly growled like a dog myself.The damn traitor. I’m the one who saved him.

Tanner huffed with impatience, gliding up onto the stage, looking down on us like we were a bunch of rodents. “Ava, we need a debrief as succinct and fast as possible.” He might as well have snapped his fingers.

With all the attention on her, Ava seemed to crumble in on herself, no doubt used to soft mutterings and words of affirmation, or some prissy shit like that. Panic took hold, digging its claws so deep, she couldn’t gather a proper fucking sentence together, her syllables meshing into chaotic gibberish.

I tightly folded my arms, perusing the team, giving someone else an opportunity to crack first.

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