Page 152 of Lethal King

But the man never fails to disappoint.

“Shit. I thought he would be,” Tytus responds. Furrowing his brow, he scans the room, as if half-expecting to find Drago hiding in some corner. “He was here when I left.”

“Are you fucking with me?” I ask, unable to contain myself. I’ve got all this pent-up rage and no one else to turn it on.

“Roz, I’m telling you. He was here. And he was on his best behavior. I left him in charge of Babcia’s while I went to feed Kaja…”

“Why the hell did you tell him about Babcia?” I snap. “Now he’s got leverage on us.”

“He doesn’t want leverage on us,” Tytus casually insists.

His flippancy only adds fuel to my fire.

“For someone who’s supposed to be a strategic genius, you sure are acting like a fool,” I huff. Shaking my head, I turn back towards the hospital bed.

Kaja is already curled up on Babcia’s chest. The kitten looks comfy, like she’s already back at home.

I find myself filled with envy.

“Roz. Drago’s changed,” Tytus says. When I feel his hand on my shoulder, I try to shake him away, but he doesn’t let me. “I promise.”

But the mini-breakdown I suffered earlier hasn’t vanished entirely yet, and a ball of emotion clogs my throat.

“No. He hasn’t. I don’t care what he’s said.” Staring down at Babcia, I try to calm my racing heart. “He’s barely been back in our life for more than a week, and he’s already tried to marry me off to some sicko.”

“It’s different this time,” Tytus sighs, knowing full well I won’t believe him.

“How?” I ask, hating how much I want to believe him.

Kaja looks so peaceful on Babcia’s chest. The simple kitten has managed to find a home in this old lady—it doesn’t matter where they are, as long as she’s with Babcia, she’s comfortable. She’s home.

Down inside, I realize I’ve always wanted that.

But I’ve never had it. Not even with Tytus or Gabriel—and definitely not with Drago.

So, why would I ever give him a second chance?

“Because this time, he was plotting on your behalf; for your own good, not for his,” Tytus says.

My raw heart jumps, but my brain bashes it back down into submission.

“No. That’s just an excuse,” I mumble, shaking my head. “You weren’t there when he told me about Krol.”

“Oh, I’ve heard about Krol,” Tytus sneers. “In fact, I’ve seen the fucker’s tattered body. Believe me, he’s in much worse shape than Babcia. And I don’t believe for a second that the Greeks can actually help save him, but I do believe that Drago will do anything for his children.”

“We aren’t his children,” I spit.

Tytus sighs. “We don’t get to choose our family,” he says. “Even when there’s nothing to tie us together but our choices; when there’s no blood binding us together; no law; we will always be family.”

My vision blurs as a cold tear fills my eye.

“Why are you so sure he’s finally on our side?” I ask, wiping the weakness from my cheek.

Tytus can only shrug. “Call it instinct.”

“You’ve always had shit instincts.”

That makes Tytus smile.