Page 23 of His Queen

Caelian’s gaze cuts from Alexius’ to mine, and I’m pretty sure I’m spotting a little discomfort in my younger brother. “Primal hunts. Nunzio has an estate out of town. The grounds are huge. He has his own damn forest in his back yard. And he’s been recruiting girls specifically for the hunt.”

“I thought you said the fucker is trafficking women,” I say.

“He is. Nunzio has his sick-fucker clients, and then he has his real fucked-up clientele.” He shifts in his seat. “The kind who like their prey unwilling with a good helping of real fear. A prey who knows if you don’t run…you die.”

“Jesus.” Air rattles out of my lungs, and my cheeks burn like they’ve been slapped. “Is this for real?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“I know we’ve done our fair share of fucked-up shit, but hunting other humans like they’re animals, fucking them, and then killing them—”

“Not necessarily in that order, either,” Caelian rumbles.

My stomach churns as the reality of what Caelian just shared sinks in. The idea of people hunting other humans for pleasure and entertainment is beyond anything I could ever imagine.

Maximo’s voice breaks through the silence. “We have to put a stop to this.”

“How do you suggest we do that?” Alexius asks, his eyes narrowing as he weighs his options. “We don’t even know where this estate is.”

“Caelian does,” I state, staring right at him. “He said this estate has its own damn forest specifically for hunting games. How would you know that if you haven’t seen it for yourself?” I ask him.

Caution settles in his gaze as he looks at me. “I’ve…heard some things,” Caelian begins, his voice low. “But I haven’t seen it myself.”

“You expect us to believe that you just happened to hear about this specific estate and Nunzio’s twisted clients?”

Caelian looks at me for a beat, then throws back the rest of his bourbon with one large gulp, hissing as the alcohol burns his throat.

“How do you know about this, Caelian?” Alexius demands without an ounce of patience in his tone.

A long silence stretches throughout the room. All our attention is focused on Caelian, who glares at me from across the table. “Just like all of you, I have…specific tastes as well.”

“I knew out of the lot of us you were a special kind of fucked-up.”

“Fuck you, Nicoli.”

“I know you have a thing for chasing girls at the club, but I never thought you attended these…primal shitty games.”

“Please tell me you’re not a part of the clientele who ends up killing their prey,” Isaia chimes in.

“Of course not!” Caelian snaps. “All the games I’ve attended were with girls who play willingly. Women who share the same…taste.”

“So, you’ve been at one of Nunzio’s parties?” Alexius snuffs out his cigar and leans back in his chair.

“I didn’t know it was one of Nunzio’s parties. All anyone knew was that there’s a new host on the block and that the only way to get in is by invitation.”

“You got an invitation?” Alexius’ eyes widen. “Nunzio invited you?”

“I didn’t know it was him. Aren’t you listening?”

“I don’t know what’s worse,” I start. “The fact that you accepted an invitation without knowing who it’s from, or the fact that Nunzio knows enough about you to know that these primal games are something you’re into. Something none of us here knew.”

“And that means Nunzio is watching you.” Maximo scratches his fingers along his beard. “The fucker is watching all of us.”

“Maximo, we need eyes and ears everywhere. Call in every favor owed to us,” Alexius orders. “There is no way we’re allowing this son of a bitch to watch us like our lives are the motherfuckingTruman Show. And no one leaves this house until I say otherwise.”

“What about Myth?” I ask. “It’s not like we can leave the family business without a Del Rossa presence.”

“Goddammit!” Alexius leaps from his chair, slamming his fist against the table, and I watch patiently as he takes a few deep inhales. “You and I, we’ll go the club at night, show our faces, then come straight home.”

---