The Fortunates (Unfortunate #2) - Skyla Madi Page 0,29
Vince. They crashed to the ground, Vince trapped underneath the weight of his brother. Vince had never been a fighter. He always preferred to attack his enemies mentally. Kade knew Vince was purposely trying to get under his skin, but he couldn’t help himself. He wouldn’t let his brother get away with it.
“You touch a single hair on her head and I will slaughter you like a pig, do you understand me?”
Kade dropped his forearm against Vince’s throat, making him smirk. “You’re dark as fuck, Kaden,” he rasped out. “It’s like looking in a mirror.”
“I’m nothing like you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re worse than me. You’ve killed more people in the last few months than I have in my entire life. You can’t stop, can you?” He laughed. “Who’s your next victim? Hm? Is it me? Or maybe it’s Gage, the moderator over there. He was the one who found the handkerchief. Or maybe Oliver is your next target.”
Kade frowned. “Oliver?”
He didn’t know an Oliver. Vince’s eyes flared, his sick amusement flashing brightly at Kade. If he choked his brother out and killed Gage right now, who would know? Who would care?
“Oh, you don’t know?” Vince’s throat tightened with a swallow, then a chuckle. “Oliver is Nine’s new cousin. One of the moderators in the Milano residence told me they were up late last night, chatting in whispers. If I heard correctly, Oliver followed your precious little cunt into her bedroom.”
Kade’s face pinched into a scowl. “You think I’m worried about a cousin? Nine would never.”
Vince struggled against Kade’s grip, but Kade didn’t loosen it.
“You two are on the rocks, are you not?”
“None of your business.”
“You’re telling me she wouldn’t fuck randoms for comfort? For the attention they all crave? As for Oliver, shit. Don’t bank on us all being like you. Even I’d fuck my cousin.”
“It’s against Fortunate laws.”
“But she’s not officially a Fortunate. Not until she’s sworn in by John Milano, her lovely new step-father.” Vince glances at the sky. “Which reminds me, you might want to get off so I can get ready. I’m hosting Nine’s party in a few hours.”
Hosting? Kade thought. A party? Nine’s party? Excitement wound tight in Kade’s stomach at the thought of seeing her again, but then he remembered what he did…and how mad Nine was. Kade lifted himself off his brother, who quickly scurried to his feet.
“Oh, by the way, I’m told Oliver has requested you don’t attend. Ouch. Who knows, maybe she prefers to fuck her relatives.” Vince dusted off his shirt and the knees of his pants. “So much for wedding bells.”
Vince whistled at the moderator and stormed off, leaving Kade standing on the riverbank by himself. Why wouldn’t he be welcome at Nine’s ceremony? And who the hell does this Oliver guy think he is?
He swiped a frustrated hand over his mouth and started back through the forest. He didn’t want to waste time standing around and wondering why Vince would host a party for a girl he hated.
The whole idea didn’t sit right with him. Vince was planning something. He could feel it in his bones.
Regardless of what Oliver wanted or what Vince and Nine wanted, Kade would attend the party and God help anyone who tried to stop him.
∞ Nine ∞
Fortunates mill about like goldfish in a pond. The women swish and swirl in streaks of bright colour against the black fabric of the men’s suits. They look beautiful, but even I know the more colourful the bug, the deadlier the bite.
Still, I envy them.
They look so comfortable, so at ease. Will I ever fit in with them? Do I want to?
I hide behind a thick, marble column at the top of the stairs, knowing that all of the attention will be on me if I make myself known. I don’t want to go down there. I’ll feel exposed—even with this stupid black lace mask covering most of my face.
“Scared?”
I jump, clenching my fists at my side.
Kaden.
There’s no mistaking that tone, deep and rough, and there’s no ignoring my increasing heart rate. His voice sings to me, to my blood.
I thought I’d have to do this alone. Oliver told me Kade didn’t want to come. He said Kade was preoccupied with more important things, like Elizabeth. Whether or not I believe what Oliver said, I don’t know. Kade has a habit of acting irrationally when he’s mad. I made him mad last night. I made him very mad.