I raise my hand in return.
Damn, the boy is gorgeous. Kind. Funny. Sassy as hell when he wants to be. Brilliant all round in fact. He takes my spankings like he was made for them and still looks at me like I’m worth something more than the violence I bring. He’s perfect.
Then, a bittersweet ache settles in my chest.
This might be the last time I ever see him.
If today’s meeting is a setup, if Viktor and his partners are the ones who murdered my brothers, I may not walk away from it. And even if I do, the war that follows will be ugly. Blood will run in the streets.
I won’t drag William into that. I can’t.
I stand there for a long moment, watching the doors he disappeared through, committing the image of him to memory—sunlight catching his hair, that soft smile, the way he carries himself like the world is full of wonder instead of knives in the dark.
Then I turn away.
My phone is already in my hand, typing a reply to Viktor…
KANE: Name the time and place. I’ll be there.
The pakhan has work to do.
And the boy who somehow stole my heart will have to wait.
For his own safety, I hope he never has to see the monster I become when I finally get my revenge and show the world that two Kamedov brothers might have fallen, but the youngest is alive, kicking, and ready to take lives like most people eat hot dinners.
Chapter 15
William
“That was a wicked cool lecture,” I say, full of beans.
“I’ll say,” Davey giggles. “Jeez. Some people would call us total dorks for acting like this, but I don’t care!”
The afternoon sun is warm on my back as Davey and I slip out of the Uppington Building with a rare free hour between lunch and our next seminar.
We’ve been buzzing with nervous energy all morning, and when Davey suggests a quick visit to Stuffiezone, the cozy Little club just a few blocks away, I don’t even hesitate.
“Yes,pleeeease,” I trill, linking my arm with his. “I need some serious stuffie time.”
Stuffiezone is exactly what it sounds like: a safe, colorful haven tucked into a converted warehouse with bright murals on the walls and soft lighting that makes everything feel like a giant playroom.
The moment we step inside, the familiar scent of lavender, vanilla, and fresh laundry hits me. We sign in at the front desk, slip off our shoes, and head straight for the biggest playroom,the pastel paradise filled with mountains of stuffies, foam mats, and low tables perfect for coloring or building.
Davey and I immediately drop to our knees in the middle of a sea of plush toys. I grab a soft gray elephant and a bright orange fox, while Davey claims a fluffy white bunny and a dinosaur.
For the first few minutes we just roll around, giggling like natural born Littles.
“This one says he wants to be an astronaut,” I declare in a high-pitched voice, waving the fox dramatically.
Davey makes his bunny hop across the mat. “Well, my bunny is the captain of the spaceship! Your fox can be the official snack provider. He has to bring cookies on every mission.”
I gasp in mock outrage. “But what if the cookies float away in zero gravity? We need a cookie guardian!”
We dissolve into giggles, burying ourselves deeper in the pile. That’s when the boy approaches us, dropping down gracefully beside our fort.
“Hi!” he says brightly. He’s wearing the cutest purple dinosaur romper with little spikes down the back and a hood with tiny teeth. His vibe is pure fun, and he radiates that effortless Little energy. “Can I play too? I’m Eddie. I promise I’m really good at building forts and making stuffies talk in cool voices.”
“Of course!” Davey and I say at the same time.
