King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty-Two

Misha

I felt my cheeks blush. “I honestly didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” I sald, somewhat sheepishly.

She laughed again. “Don’t worry, my adorable Russian guardian, he thought it was funny. He appreciated your frankness because he knew it was ultimately for my benefit.” We walked a few more steps, then she stopped again. “I want you to pinky swear that you will always be that frank when you get that reaction,” she said, holding her pinky up to me.

“What does that mean?” I asked, completely confused.

“Jesus, what do you people do in Russia as children? Not pinky swear, I know that.” She sighed. “Okay, so the pinky swear is the holiest of holy swears. Like so holy that legend has it Jesus only used it once then promptly had his pinkies removed so he could never use it again. It’s that serious,” she said. She was trying not to laugh at her own explanation, but she ended up giggling through most of it.

“Okay, so how do I do the holiest of holy swears?” I asked, clearly amused at her. This felt like a secret that only she and I had, even though I’d heard her and Adrik talking about it before. That was one of the things we all loved about Sephie. She had little things that she did with all of us that clearly meant something to her, not even caring a little bit that it was sil ly and childish.

She lifted her hand, with her pinky out. “Give me your pinky,” she said. I held my hand in front of me, matching hers. She grabbed my pinky with hers and said, “you pinky swear you will always be frank when you get the goosebumps reaction.” She looked at me like she was waiting for me to say it too, so I repeated it back to her. She grinned at me, completely satisfied in our holiest of holy swears.

Strangely enough, I felt compelled to always honor it. It might’ve been si lly and childish, but when it comes to Sephie, all bets

are off.

Sephie

house, laughing, but he kept his arm around my shoulders and I kept mine

the house, Viktor met us with his phone in hand. “Chen,” he said, motioning us to follow him. He walked

speaker

Chen? Sorry to keep you waiting,” I said.

for a run. I was expecting to wait for another hour, minimum, so technically you’re back early,” he

predictable than I thought. “What did

your giant security people and then he said Trino called him and told him he had to, so that’s happening. Gus also talked to the couple other guys that are kind of running things with him. They want in as well. And, uh, when

walked the few steps to me and the phone. He asked Chen, “that’s not a

hear the nervousness in his voice now. I couldn’t help but laugh. Adrik was clearly

to worry about,” I said, trying to help calm him 1 down. He was quiet for a moment. I thought he had hung up.

holy sh it this is way bigger than I thought,” he said. We could all hear the fear in

done us a massive favor. You’ll be safe as long as you’re in the city, you

offer, sir. But I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing this was going on and

for being the liaison between us and the dealers for now? I prefer to stay as anonymous as I can, but Sephie trusts you, which means I

sir. I can do

back to you with a place to meet on Monday and a time. Can you make sure Gus and the other guys

“Absolutely, sir.”

a little at how scared poor Chen was. I think his reaction surprised me, honestly. Adrik could be intimidating, for sure, but I just didn’t think of him

was so ominous,” I said, grinning up at him. He just smirked down