“Not important.”
Surprisingly, it was my father who struck me. Usually, that’s my mother’s territory.
Viktor waggles his brows. “You make Henneman kiss it? Becks always kisses my injuries better. Well, the ones he doesn't cause.”
“Fuck off with that shit.” I shoulder past him, not wanting to deal with his nonsense.
Zach's on the couch, scrolling through his phone, barely glancing up as I enter. Merci's lounging against him, feet tucked under Zach's thigh. He looks me over once, rolls his eyes, and goes back to whatever’s on his screen.
Behind them, a bedroom door is propped against the wall. Merci must still be struggling with his claustrophobia.
Eli steps out of his bedroom and stops short, his brows pinched, cheeks flushed. His gaze drops to my mouth, and he sighs softly before heading into the kitchenette without saying a word.
“Ooh, groveling time.” Viktor plops into the chair opposite the couch, setting his Red Bull on the side table. “This is better than reality TV.”
The jackass isn’t helping.
I slide my hands into my pockets and take a step closer. “Eli, I owe you an apology.”
He ignores me, grabs the pizza boxes and a stack of paper plates, then drops them onto the coffee table. Alexei stalks into the room and takes a seat next to Zach, his dark eyes locked on me, upper lip twitching.
“I should've been there. Your wedding was important, and I screwed up.” I shift my gaze to Alexei. “Both of you deserved better.”
“Lucky for you, my Solnyshko has a soft heart.” Alexei cracks his neck as if getting ready for a fight. “Me? I want to break your fucking face.”
Eli sighs and rests his hand on Alexei's arm. “No breaking anyone's face. Especially not our friend’s.”
Alexei grunts but settles back slightly as he continues to glare.
Eli chews his bottom lip for a moment, then crosses the room and hugs me. “We were worried. You didn’t show up, weren’t answering anyone. We thought something bad had happened to you.”
I hug him back. “I know.”
“Aw, how sweet.” Merci's voice drips with sarcasm. “Can't believe you're forgiving him so easily.”
“Some of us don't hold grudges,” Eli says.
Merci huffs, shaking his head. “And some of us are too forgiving.”
Eli rolls his eyes, then glances past me toward the door. “Where's Ryan?”
My molars grind together as I glare at Viktor, who chuckles. Of course he told everyone. “He's not coming.”
Eli frowns. “Why not?”
“He's not one of us.”
“Ryan's actually nice. Unlike some people.” Merci stares straight at Zach. “Both of you are assholes to him.”
Zach reaches up, fingers threading into Merci’s hair before yanking hard enough to draw a sharp yelp. “That mouth's going to get you in trouble again.”
That’s one way to keep the small hellion in line. Henneman’s brown hair is too short to grab—
No.
Absolutely not fucking going there.
I grab a bottle of water off the table, open it, then drain half of it.
