The Fortunates (Unfortunate #2) - Skyla Madi Page 0,44

behind us. They sip at their orange juice and watch us excitedly. Right. Now isn’t the place to discuss such a sensitive topic.

“Yes, we did. Thank you. We’ve reached our Unfortunate quota for the month so Amir will be a great help. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the replacement so soon.”

“You never would have received it if it was left up to my brother, but I’m a man who pays his debts.”

John’s lips curve with a sad smile. “April’s death isn’t your debt to carry and neither is Kyle’s, so your bag of jewels will be returned to your house immediately.”

“I’m sorry,” I slip in. “Kyle? April?”

I’ve never heard these names before. A thin sheen of sweat bubbles along John’s forehead and he reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket.

“You met Kyle when Vince ordered you to gun him down in my foyer and April…” He retrieves a handkerchief and pats his forehead. “April was our youngest kitchenhand. She died in the early hours of the morning after succumbing to injuries left by Master Vince.”

A sinister chuckle chills my blood as it slices through the air and kisses my skin. Goosebumps spring along my collarbone and that’s when I feel cool fingertips sweep against my shoulder. I shudder and pull away as Vince slides up next to me. He poisons the air, leaving a bad taste at the back of my throat.

“April? Yes. She was a clumsy little thing. Truth be told, I barely touched her.”

I peer sideways at him. I used to think Kade was terrifying, but he has nothing on his brother. They look alike, but Kaden is infinitely more beautiful. Though Kaden spends most of his day frowning, there is life to him. There’s an unfathomable magnificence that makes my heart ache.

Kade is the lion his family boasts to be, but Vince, well, he’s a hyena.

“What’s the matter, Anna? You look ill.”

I turn my head to Kade, whose angry eyes burn holes through his little brother before flicking to me. Can we go?

He nods his head at my silent question and proceeds around the table, buttoning his jacket. With Vince next to me, Kade feels like he’s a world away. Each step doesn’t seem to bring him close enough, fast enough.

Vince’s scent swirls around me as a gentle breeze blows. The bourbon in the air is thick, tainted by the smell of smoke.

“It was nice to see you, John,” Kade says, closing the distance between us. “Unfortunately, we can’t stay.”

He slides his hand around my bicep and gently tugs me along with him, pulling me out of his brother’s sickening aura. Away from Vince I can breathe without worrying that the air is poisoning my lungs and infecting my bloodstream.

“You can’t hide in your room forever.” Vince snickers, turning around.

Is that what he thinks I do in there? He thinks I hide? I clench my teeth as irritation prickles up my spine and warms my head.

“What is your problem?” I hiss, shrugging out of Kade’s grip. “Why do you insist on ruining my life?”

Vincent’s dead eyes glimmer with excitement. Finally. I’ve given him the reaction he wanted. I feel stupid for caving. I feel stupid for letting him burrow under my skin, but what happens when you fill a balloon with too much air?

“Ruining your life? Baby,” he teases, catching my chin between thumb and index finger. I slap his hand out of the way. “I haven’t even started.”

“I’ve done nothing to you,” I point out, ignoring the sound of Kade snapping my name between his angry teeth.

“Some things aren’t about you, Unfortunate,” he answers quietly, glancing over my head. “Some of us have other scores to settle.”

“If you have a problem with your brother, leave me out of it.” I swallow my pride. “Vince…please.”

“Ooh.” A cruel smirk twitches at the corners of his lips. “Say that last bit again.”

I scowl at him. He’s not taking me seriously. Why would he? Why would a single, desperate plea deter his sick mind from ruining everything Kade and I have achieved? I just want him to stop.

“If you’re going to kill me, kill me,” I say, slumping my shoulders. “Stop dragging it on. I’m tired.”

He leans in. “Maybe I’m waiting for the perfect moment—a moment when your death will have the biggest impact.” He snatches my hand and sneers down at the ring Kade gave me. His oily, black irises bubble with hatred and disgust. “Your wedding day, perhaps. Or the day you birth your first child.