way she’d gotten to my father.
I sighed when I realized I was softening toward Katya, too. She had a lot of nerve to come after us, and I could admit we deserved it a little. We tried to terrorize her, but she bounced right back and came at us. She could have gone to our father and made our lives hell, but instead she handled business on her own. The pranks she pulled had been a little childish, but I had to laugh at the cream cheese deodorant. It also showed that she didn’t have any real malice toward us if that was her idea of revenge. King was quick to forgive her once his hair was back to normal, and he was having fun thinking of ways to get her back. I think he liked having someone who was able to play around on his level.
I almost felt a little bad for what I had planned for Katya, but I couldn’t let soft feelings get in the way of what I needed to do. She might hate me even more after this, but I had to protect my family. It was more important than ever if she was starting to work her way into my cold heart. I needed to keep my distance.
Chapter 19
Katya
Luckily, I was already dressed when a topless Kingston barged into my room Monday morning. “Hey sis,” he called as he strode in and flung himself on my bed. “Why are you dressed already?”
“Because your dad said to be at the school at ten, and it’s already nine?” I tried not to gape at him, but he was only wearing a pair of boxer briefs, and he was cut for someone his age. His abs and Adonis belt were on full display, and his thighs were even more muscular than the male dancers I knew.
“Why are you naked?” The words burst out before I could stop them, and I turned bright red at the delighted look on Kingston’s face.
Kingston laughed out loud. “Is this what you think a naked man looks like? Maybe I should show you the rest.”
His hands went to the waist of his underwear.
“No!” I shouted hurriedly. “You’re fine as you are.”
I grabbed my phone off the bed where it was lying right next to him. “Why do you smell like alcohol? You’re not going to show up to school like that, right?”
“I probably smell like sex, too,” he said with a grin. “Last night’s girl is still in my room and trying to get clingy. I’m hiding out in your room until she gets the hint and leaves.”
“That’s gross,” I said with a frown. “And shouldn’t you talk to her? It seems kind of mean to just leave her.”
Kingston smirked. “I don’t know her name and don’t want to make it awkward.”
“Why-” I shook my head. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. Don’t you think hiding from her is even more awkward?”
“Hey, Mav,” Kingston raised a hand in greeting as his brother entered my room.
“Are you hiding from a girl, too?” I asked sarcastically.
“What?” Maverik frowned at Kingston. “Is Melanie still here?”
“Melanie!” Kingston said gleefully. “That was it!”
I shot him a dirty look before speaking to Maverik. “Your brother is being a dick to some girl.”
Kingston shrugged. “I asked her to leave, and she kept trying to snuggle with me.”
“That’s messed up,” I said darkly. How could Kingston be so cold to someone he just spent the night with? He was going to crush that poor girl.
“Right?” Kingston said as if I was commiserating with him. “She should have gotten it by the third time I asked her to leave.”
“Maybe you should take her home?” I suggested, annoyed that he would treat anyone like that.
“Use my shower,” Maverik told him. “I’ll get rid of her and have Henry drive her where she needs to go.” He glanced at me.
Kingston got up off my bed and sauntered out.
“How can you guys not realize how fucked up your treatment of that girl is?” I asked Maverik in disbelief. “Or do you intentionally do whatever is the opposite of decent behavior?”
Maverik frowned at me. “Don’t judge Kingston before you even know him.”
“I’m not judging him,” I countered. “I’m judging the way he treats others. That’s a human being in there, not a sex toy that he can just throw away when he’s done.”
Maverik ran his hand over his face. “I can’t deal with this shit right now.”
I thought he was going to just walk