Page 18 of Devour

“Your mom’s a fucking delight,” Kynlee says.

“If I ever become like her, shoot me.” I drink my coffee. “I’d rather be a Talon’s whore for the rest of my life than become the next Jessica Carter.”

Justin looks at me. For a second, the easy grin is gone, and there’s a look of understanding in his expression. Like he knows what it’s like to sit across from that woman and feel like you’re never going to be enough. But she practically worships the ground he walks on, so he could never fucking understand.

Then he gives me a sympathetic grin, and he’s back to scrolling his phone.

“So are we doing this?” Kynlee asks him, pulling us back to the earlier conversation.

“Sure.” He sets his phone down and looks at her. “If you want me to catch you, I’ll make sure I catch you. But you better like to suck dick.”

She fake bats her lashes at him. “And you better like to fuck with that mask of yours on.”

Jesus fucking Christ. I don’t want any part of this conversation.

“I think that can be arranged.” Justin grins. “We’ll see if you’re the dirty little slut you want me to think you are.”

I think Kynlee could hold her own with Justin. I’m not worried about her in the slightest.

“One more thing.” Kynlee holds up a finger, like she has real choices in this game of the Ravens. “Veronica comes with us and sleeps in your bed too.”

Justin’s eyebrows go up. He looks at me, then back at her. “Who the fuck is Veronica?”

“She’s non-negotiable. Where I go, she goes. If she can’t come, the deal is off.”

Justin leans forward. His eyes are dark, and his jaw drops. “You want to bring another woman? To share a bed with us?”

“We sleep together just about every night,” Kynlee says, like it’s the most normal thing in the world. “Not last night, of course.”

I press my lips together so hard, it hurts. I know exactly where this is going.

Justin is already imagining he’s made an even sweeter deal of two for the price of one. Men are so fucking predictable. My mind goes back to Axl’s comment about how he wouldn’t be that kind of guy—how he’s a one-cunt-at-a-time kind of dude. That wasn’t quite so predictable.

“I think I can handle Veronica,” he says slowly. “How did I not know this about you, Kyns? Have you two . . .” My brother trails off, motioning between me and my best friend.

“Never.” I say, taking another long gulp of my coffee. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just never been my thing, or Kynlee’s. We both enjoy dick too much.

“She’s my cat, you horny asshole.” Kynlee throws a grape at his face. It bounces off his forehead and rolls across the table.

I lose it. Coffee almost comes out of my nose, and I have to set the mug down before I spill it everywhere. Justin’s face goes from confused to pissed to amused in about three seconds.

“You’re bringing a fucking cat to the Talon mansion?”

“Of course. I can’t leave her behind.” Kynlee crosses her arms. She’s really attached to that cat. She calls Veronica her emotional support kitty.

Justin shakes his head, but he’s smiling. I don’t see that from him as often as I used to. Not since he’s had to move to the Talon mansion, plus keep up with whatever work our father has him doing. It’s actually kind of nice. “Fine. The cat can come. But don’t let her scratch up my shit.”

“She’s going to scratch everything you own. That’s what she does.” Kynlee steals another grape off his plate. “You’ll see. Welcome to life with Veronica.”

“I’m already regretting this,” Justin mutters, picking up his phone.

“No, you’re not.” Kynlee grins at him. Then she looks at me. “I already feel better. This is going to be fun.”

Fun isn’t the word I’d use to describe knowing that my brother is going to be fucking my best friend. But at least he won’t treat her like shit and she already negotiated Veronica coming with her. That’s the most Kynlee thing that could ever happen.

My phone buzzes. I pull it out under the table.

My King: Be sure to tell your brother I said hi. I know he’s planning to talk shit.