Page 109 of Pretty Lethal
I shrug, uncaring. “We should still stop and stock up. That way you can pee on a stick until it turns blue or whatever it does.”
“I am not peeing on a stick every time I go to the bathroom,” Emilia argues. “That’s insanity, Wilder. And expensive. Not to mention unnecessary. I’ll know when I stop getting my periods or if my body begins to feel different.”
“Yeah, but I want to know as soon as possible,” I counter as we reach the bottom of the stairs.
Emilia moves to step up beside me, and my eyes lower instantly to the cheesy smile on her face. “It’s cute how excited you are,” she says in that soft voice that makes me want to get down on my knees and worship at her feet. Pressing onto her toes, her chest slides along mine as I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into me. “We’ll stop on the way home, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up. I’ve only been off contraception for a couple of weeks, and even if by some miracle I was pregnant, I think Kai’s right and it would be too early to tell.”
Kai steps up behind her, sliding his palms along the flat planes of her stomach as he lowers his head to kiss along her neck.
“I don’t mind either way, Angel,” I murmur against her lips. “All I’m hearing is that we need to spend every minute of the next month or two in bed together.”
Kai puffs out a breath of laughter against the soft skin of her neck, making her shiver, and I taste her reaction to his touch on my tongue as it slides between her teeth, savoring the moment before we have to dive back into our current reality.
“We’ll finish this later,” I vow, staring deep into the emerald pits of her eyes and loving the way they darken with lust as she looks up at me. She nods, and Kai reaches out to grab her chin, turning her head so he can slant his lips over hers and steal a kiss for himself—the greedy bastard.
“Are you done now?” I drawl when he continues to pillage her mouth with his tongue. “Some of us have shit to do.”
Breaking their kiss, his eyes remain glued to Emilia as he responds easily, “You got your turn, I wanted mine before we go any further.”
“Fantastic.” I clap my hands together and grin at both of them. “Now everyone’s had their moment, let’s get this show on the road, yeah?”
* * *
Turningour focus to the ceremonial chamber, we spread out and feel across the cold, rough stone for a secret passageway that could lead into the tunnels. I vaguely remember the general direction in which the other cloaked figures disappeared, but I don’t know exactly where the door is. The place is cavernous enough that it feels as though it takes forever before I feel cold air blowing against my hand, comingthroughthe stone.
“I think I have something,” I call out, feeling the slight gap cut into the rock face where the gust of wind is coming from. However, it is too narrow to wedge my fingers into.
“Perhaps there’s a lever, or a panel we can press,” Emilia suggests as she feels around the nearby wall for anything that might trigger the stone to move. Kai and I do the same, not finding anything until Kai stretches up to feel the unlit torch on the wall. His finger runs over something, causing an audible click before the stone slides away from the wall.
Sharing a glance between us, we take off at a run.
Breaths labored, the white light from our phones bouncing off the walls. I keep one hand on the cold stone wall as we move further down the tunnel. Occasionally, we come across intersecting paths. It feels as though all of them are connecting back to this one, confirming what I already knew: that this is the main tunnel in and out of the Elite’s clubhouse.
I’m not sure how long we’ve been running, maybe a few minutes, when I hear shoes clacking against the solid floor. The others hear it too, and we each pull out weapons, Kai and I moving in front of Emilia to block her from whoever is approaching.
Kai shines his phone light as far down the tunnel as he can, our steps slowing as the hurried footsteps grow closer until black fabric appears in the ring of light. Flecks of gold shine back at us, and my grin widens to something out of a horror movie.
“Mother,” I practically purr. “I was hoping I’d run into you down here.”
Another set of heavy footsteps approaches, and I feel Kai tense beside me, the weapon now aimed at my mother.
“Fancy meeting you down here,” I say, grin still in place as Hawk steps up behind my mother.
He smirks back at me. “Needed to make sure this one didn’t get away before you’d had a chance to play with her.”
I clap a hand over my heart. “This is why we’re brothers.” Jamming my elbow into Kai’s side, I ignore his grunt and furious glare. “Take note, newbie. You need to up your game.”
“Do you think I’m down here, running around in these godforsaken tunnels for shits and giggles?” he snipes.
I raise both hands. “I dunno what you get up to in your spare time. That’s your business.”
“Guys, do you think we could get on with this?” Emilia interrupts. “I’m in desperate need of a bubble bath.”
“Of course, Angel. Anything for you.” I spare her a soft smile before rounding on my mother, gun pointed directly in her face. She hasn’t said one word, and annoyingly, I can’t tell if she’s terrified or pissed that her escape has been intercepted.
As though he can read my mind—see, fucking brothers!—Hawk reaches out and yanks her hood back. I meet wide, fearful eyes that look uncannily like my own—the same chestnut hue. However it’s the only indication that my mother is afraid.
Back straight, chin held high, you’d think she was the one in control here. I’d almost admire her ability to feign control in impossible situations, but there is absolutely nothing to admire about this woman.
