Page 111 of Depraved

“Of course, it does. It doesn’t make sense that they would just give her back without you keeping to your end of the bargain.”

Granite’s jaw ticked, his eyes wild and dark. “It doesn’t. Fucking. Matter. Okay? Can’t you just accept that she’s alive, and move the fuck on?”

“What? No.”

He roughly raked his fingers through his hair. “That’s it. I’m done. You’re going back to your room.”

“Wait.” I grabbed his hand. “How did you manage to get her back, Granite?”

A sarcastic grin spread along his face even though a cruel glint remained in his eyes. “You’re not the only one who can bargain with the devil, ballerina girl.”

“What does that even mean?”

He pulled his palm down his face. “Nothing. Now, get back in your room.”

“Granite, stop. You’re avoiding my question.”

He snorted. “I can promise you it’s not the only thing I’m avoiding when it comes to you.”

“Granite. Just answer my goddamn question.”

“He made a deal with the Pythons.” Onyx’s voice came from behind me, and I turned to face him.

“Stay out of this, little brother,” Granite warned.

Onyx shrugged. “Why? It doesn’t seem like you’re going to tell her the truth, so I’m going to.”

“Mind your own damn business, Onyx.”

Onyx smirked turning his attention to me. “Granite offered them the one thing they’ve always wanted ever since they came riding onto our turf.”

I glanced from Onyx to Granite. “What did you give them?”

Granite kept on glaring at Onyx, lips curled, animosity pulsing off him.

Onyx ignored his brother. “Granite offered them the business with the Sixes in exchange for Neon’s life.”

“Who are the Sixes?”

“Our biggest client. Was our biggest client.”

“I’m sorry,” I shook my head, “I’m not sure I understand.”

Onyx walked closer. “Let’s simplify it, then. Without the Sixes, the Kings are nothing. The Sixes were our bread and butter. It’s because of them that our business thrived. Now that we handed the reins to the Pythons, we’re basically…what’s the word?” He feigned a look of confusion. “Oh, yeah…fucked.”

I frowned at Granite. “Is that true?”

“Of course, it is,” Onyx answered for him. “But my big brother has this huge guilt trip happening, so he doesn’t really want you to know.”

“Okay.” I held out my hands, pointing to both in each direction, standing right in the middle of them. “I’m starting to feel dizzy.”

“It’s easy, Alyx,” Onyx continued. “Granite is so stuck on that guilt trip he’s currently on, he doesn’t want you to know that he basically cut the throats of our crew in order to save Neon’s life.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”

Onyx shrugged. “He doesn’t want you to forgive him,” Onyx studied his brother, “because he can’t forgive himself.”

“Fuck you, Onyx,” Granite spat.