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He bursts out laughing. “Did she, indeed?” He glances to the door. “Are you meeting Camile?”
I sigh. “Yes. And she really doesn’t like any of you, so I suggest you make yourself scarce before she arrives.”
He smirks. “That’s what she told you, is it?” He leans in close and lowers his voice. “Still, I’d not go with the truth either if I were her. Women get judged for that kind of thing.”
He saunters back to his table, picks up the half empty soda bottle, and swaggers out. A beat later, Camile slides into the seat opposite me. “What the hell did he want? Are you okay?”
I turn to her, and, with the words of the Viper ringing in my ears, simply stare at her.
I don’t know who I can trust. Does anyone in this place ever tell the truth? Are they even capable of it? Was that Viper simply trying to get a reaction out of me, or is my friend doing something with them? I don’t care, but she’s been giving me grief for hanging around with the Devils, so it would be damn hypocritical of her if she were.
Her pretty eyes look so innocent, but she isn’t, is she? Camile grew up in a large, powerful crime family. Everyone here did. That has to warp your morality, right?
These kids weren’t protected from it. Hell, they are all being groomed for it. Lambs to the slaughter of the family business.
“Are you okay?” she asks me again, her expression kind and concerned.
Fuck it, I’m going to tell her what Kirill said, but if she gives me any crap for this, I’ll give her a piece of my mind. I need a friend right now, not a damn lecture.
“Kirill asked me to marry him.” I watch her reactions as the words leave my mouth.
Her lips part and, for a long time, she simply sits there staring at me. Then she bursts out laughing. I watch her in surprise.
“It’s not funny,” I snarl.
“I told you they were crazy,” she says.
“Camile, I need your help.”
“Why?” She laughs again. “Mackenzie, just say no. It’s a ridiculous idea. Just tell him to get lost, and he’ll sulk for a day or two and then get over it.”
“No, you don’t understand. He says I must. He says his father wants it.”
“His father? Grigoriy?”
I nod. “Yes, he wants us to marry, Kirill claims.”
Her face slowly pales.
“What?” I demand.
“Oh, fuck. Mackenzie. This is seriously bad shit.”
My stomach plummets, and I try not to cry as her words hit home.
Chapter 29
Tino
The message from Mackenzie wakes me from a half-sleep. My pain has been fucking awful these past few days, and I’ve been self-medicating even more. I check the text and bolt upright in bed.
What the fuck?
I message Dom.
