Page 207 of Lethal King

I just want an update on Babcia.

“Everything is fine,” Tytus assures me. The glint in his eye calms me a little. He knows what’s coming. We all do.

Still, I can’t shake a suspicious twitch. Something doesn’t feel right. There’s a heaviness in the air that can’t be explained away by all the plants.

Stepping around Drago, I take note of Leander’s security detail. As far as I can tell, there are only six men. They stand just behind Leander, blocking off the exit, Ak-47s held tightly between their white fingers.

If we act swiftly, they won’t be much of a problem. I know what kind of company Leander keeps. His mercenaries are no match for us.

If he was smart, he would have brought some of those mafia troops he’s supposedly been cultivating. Then, we might actually have a fight on our hands.

But I doubt Leander knows any better. He’s a stranger to our brutal world, after all. His unearned confidence is going to be the end of him. I’ll make sure of it.

“What a charming little reunion this is,” Leander chuckles. “No need to thank me, though.”

“Why would we thank you?” I hear myself ask. There’s too much venom in my voice. I try to dial it back by forcing a small smirk onto my lips, like I’m joining in on the banter.

Leander can’t know how much I still despise him. He’s supposed to think I’ve come around on his offer.

“For helping you escape, of course,” Leander explains, hardly fooled. Furrowing his brows, he gives Drago a confused look. “Didn’t you tell her who set that union building on fire?”

“Union building?” My heart clenches as I glare over at Drago.

But Drago doesn’t flinch. Instead, he just gestures toward the Greek billionaire.

“Leander lent us some men to set a distraction. I told them to burn down union headquarters and paint the Kilpatrick name in blood on the street outside. It was the most sure-fire way to grab the lion’s attention.”

A sharp gulp cuts down my throat as I remember how Rian looked at me when he learned about that attack.

My clenched heart twists.

“Why the hell did you do that?” I blurt out. My words don’t carry far before they’re engulfed by the thick foliage surrounding us.

“To help you escape his grip,” Drago says, his confidence wavering.

Clearly, he can hear how upset I am. It confuses him.

“I had already escaped by the time you attacked,” I sneer. “How didn’t you know that?”

Pulling my glare from Drago, I fix it on Tytus.

My brother knew about my escape. He was with me at Babcia’s cottage. He was with me at the hospital. Why didn’t he tell Drago?

“It didn’t come up,” Tytus shrugs. “But that doesn’t matter. An attack on Rian Kilpatrick is never a bad thing. Right?”

The glint in his eyes suddenly isn’t so reassuring.

I gulp.

Does he know about my feelings for Rian? Did he overhear what Babcia and I talked about in her hospital room?

Is this some sort of punishment for caring about our enemy?

My hackles rise.

My heart drops.

Who the hell can I trust anymore?