King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

Chapter Three Hundred Sixteen

Sephle

Adrik asked Andrei to stay behind while everyone else went with Chen. He knew I’d want more time alone with Andrei, but I think Adrik was also curious to see what Andrei’s newly discovered gift was about as well, especially given that he so easily read me that morning.

For the first time since I’d come into their lives, I saw Andrei nervous about staying behind with me. “Bubba, don’t be nervous,” I said, trying not to laugh at him. He was still sitting at the kitchen island, so I walked slowly to him, sliding my arm around his shoulders. He grabbed my wrist, bolding onto my arm. He gave me a sideways glance. He’s definitely nervous.

Adrik might’ve been enjoying his nervousness. He was standing on the other side of the kitchen, arms crossed over his chest. He watched me try to calm Andrei down, finally saying, “how long have you been noticing these things?”

“Not long. Really since the night we saved Max. Tori popped into my head the day or two before that night and I couldn’t get her out of my head. I’ve not thought about her since the day she got fired, really. I mean, we saw her that one day when Glana wanted to go shopping. Well, Misha saw her. I didn’t see her. Mentions of her here and there after that, but other than that, I never thought about her. It was weird that I thought of her and couldn’t get her out of my head,” he said.

“Did you feel like something was wrong when you thought about her?” Adrik asked.

“Yeah. It wasn’t the same as Misha’s impending doom, but something didn’t feel right. Same as when Sephie grabbed my hand today when I was thinking about her going to the meeting with the journalist.”

What about the rest? About her lung healing and her still feeling like shi t?”

“That just popped into my head. I said it before I really thought much about it, Andrei said. He glanced at me, apologetically.

“Don’t be sorry, Bubba. You’re right. I do feel like shi t still,” I said, smiling at him. “But that’s the way it works for me. I’ve learned that when something pops into my head like that, it’s usually because the other person is thinking it but doesn’t want to say it. That’s how it seems like I can read your mind all the time. It’s only different with Adrik,” I said.

“How is it different with him?” Andrei asked.

like to pry. With Adrik, it’s everything. I just have to look at him for a few seconds and I know what he’s thinking. Like when he gave Giana shi t over accusing me of being on drugs. It wasn’t

Since I believed her when she said she was starting

better. I just still feel like shi t overall. But slightly better

was going to get you bone broth. That should help. Not eating isn’t helping you

She’s going to get all sharp and pointy again. I’m very delicate,” Adrik said, grinning at me.

over with me by the time I get out of this cast and my ribs heal enough that

what I like to call ‘job security,” Andrei

he lightly brushed his fingertips over my cheek to wake me up. “Wake up, solnishko. They’re back and it’s time for your antibiotic,” he said quietly.

asleep again,” I said, sarcastically. Adrik helped me

go?” Adrik asked as we walked slowly to

at pretending to be someone else,” Stephen said. “I don’t know why he thinks dating is hard.”

incapable of forming complete thoughts. Women instinctively know this, so

seems legit,” Stephen

was under the impression that the mayor

been when he was first elected. Or might’ve been trying harder to be. If he took campaign money from one of the

bosses?” I asked, my half-empty glass of water in my

know. Henry said it came from a non-existent corporation. On paper, it

their pockets, princess,” Ivan said. “They make it look legit at first, then once they’ve already accepted the money, they reveal where the money actually came from. They’ve already accepted

“Rude,” I said.