King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

398

Adrik

I could feel Sephie’s emotions were everywhere all at once as she was trying to goad Stephen’s sisters into an outburst. I know she was still trying to figure out a way to push all the pain and hurt she got from Stephen to his sisters. I also knew that Ivan, Misha, and Andrei were feeling much the same as I was. I wasn’t sure if it would work to push our anger to her, but we tried it. She was so adept at controlling her anger. It was like it had the opposite effect on her as it did everyone else. It calmed her. She could almost think clearer when her anger levels were extremely high, especially when she had to deal with her fear and panic. Both of those emotions were coming up for her when she thought about what she felt from Stephen. If we could help her keep her anger high and controlled, then she could concentrate on figuring out a way to push everything to his sisters, effectively breaking them.

It was a brilliant plan. We just weren’t exactly sure on how to make it happen or if it would work going into this dinner.

Judging by the state that two of the sisters were in when they left, I’d say it worked. I’d even go so far as to say it worked better than we dreamed possible. There was much to discuss later.

Battista was stunned, as was Vitaliy. He hadn’t seen Sephie’s eyes until now. When she looked at me after Stephen’s sisters left, they were still black. I kissed her forehead. “Take a breath, love. It’s over now,” I said, keeping my lips against her forehead. She leaned against me, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, they were the deepest depth of the ocean blue.

“I know what you did. Thank you,” she said as she smiled sweetly at me. I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers, pulling her chair out so she could sit back down. As she did, she leaned over to Stephen. “How you doin? You okay? Was it too much? I might’ve gotten a little carried away there,” she said, trying to make him laugh.

He turned to look at her, speaking quietly, but I could still hear him. “It was perfect, Seph. I think I know what you did, but we’ll talk later. My m om is gonna be so pi ssed,” he said, shaking his head. He caught my arm as I was pushing in Sephie’s chair. “Thank you,” he said.

“Anything for family, Stephen.”

We finished dinner, with Battista and Vitaliy asking plenty of questions. As usual, Sephie kept the focus on her when Battista was around. He suspected there was something different about me still, but I was hoping he didn’t have any idea about the guys. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to know about them just yet either. He also didn’t realize that we were all as connected as we were now. I felt protective of that.

and hugged

guys. “I know what you all did tonight.

you’d need help. You’ve felt different the last couple of days. Like

guys can feel the difference in my

We even asked Boss if you were okay because we were scared of asking you,” he said.

never directed at

also didn’t want to make you talk about something you didn’t want

looked to Ivan. “You saw something different about one

different. It was just as clear as Battista’s associate. Did you see it

reason I saw it last time is because you were touching me. I think I need to be touching you in order to borrow it,” she said. “I did, however, look in all their heads. Totally regret that as now

after you broke

What do you mean?”

them everything you got from Stephen, plus some. They couldn’t

said.

you called her out. I saw it when she grabbed the other two to leave,” Ivan said. “She did a good job of hiding it when I

way you did the other two, but she was just as disturbed when she left,” Andrei said. He looked slightly nervous. as he looked from Sephie to Stephen. He quietly added, “she was replaying scenes from childhood

worked?” Sephie asked, completely surprised.