Page 279 of Coal Hearts

“Aren’t we all a little mad?” I laughed. “But at least we accept it, unlike some.”

“Some being...?”

“My brother.”

“Fuck you and your dramatic delays, Ward. Get to the goddamn point!”

“I like it here, Vic.” I smirked. “I like who I am here.”

“How nice.” He smiled with unveiled sarcasm. “I’ll be sure to put that in the review book.”

“I like part owning Ily, and I like being me.”

“Doesn’t change—”

“I don’t want to die.”

Victor snorted. “Pity—”

“I want to live, Vic.”

“That won’t—”

“I want to stay.”

“Your enjoyment of my home is flattering but—”

“I am what you see. You weren’t wrong. And I wasn’t acting. I’m a sadistic son of a bitch, and I can actually accept that now...thanks to you.”

“Lies—”

“Truth.” Leaning forward, I draped my arm over Ily’s bare back and clamped my fingers over his wrist. Smiling with every blackness inside me, I squeezed him. “I want to stay, not just for this weekend or a single month. I want to stay forever. I want that lifetime membership. And in order for you to trust me...I’ll tell you who I truly am.”

Victor sucked in a breath, glanced at my hand locked on him, then raised a single eyebrow. “Go on then, I’ll bite. Tell me...who are you?”

My soul shivered.

My heart thundered.

And all I said was, “I’m Henri Mercer, brother to Q Mercer, and it’s a pleasure to officially meet you.”

Chapter Seven

...............................

Ily

––––––––

CHAOS ERUPTED.

Guests started yelling.

A gun fired by accident, the bullet whizzing into obscurity.

Jewels scurried away, hiding behind bushes and hedges.

And Victor shot to his feet so fast, he almost went ass over heels. His gun went flying, skittering under a table.