I look around, seeing nothing but dark green walls and shadows under doors. “You want me to wait,” I circle my finger around for dramatic effect. “In this creepy little hallway, all by myself?”
“It’s not creepy, it’s your house, Ace.”
“Right.” I nod slowly, pretending I agree with that statement.
“Call out if you need me,” he says, disappearing from my front and leaving me alone.
I’m not scared of much, but I don’t enjoy the dark.
That feeling changes when I start hearing men argue behind the door.
I can recognize my brother’s voice. “How the fuck does that make sense. We are supposed to meet with at least one of the Orlovs once a month. Then they wake up one morning and say, ‘Never mind, no more alliance?!’”
Then one I don’t recognize. “With all due respect, wasn’t it expected that Viktor and Dante would eventually turn on each other after what happened with her?”
I hear a punch and feet stumbling.
“If it had anything to do with her, it would have ended long before today. It’s fucking Nikolai.”
Then Elijah: “I told you we should’ve killed him like we planned.”
“Yeah, and you know why we didn’t.” I lean closer to the door, trying not to make a sound.
“She would have forgiven you, I thin—”
A muffled scream escapes my throat as a hand is placed over mine. And Leo turns me to face him, smirking. “You’re eavesdropping.”
“Why would Nikolai want to end a perfectly good alliance, and what’s the deal with Viktor?” I spit out quickly.
“Ace, come on, you know I can’t talk to you about any of that stuff.”
I know he can’t, but ever since Leo got switched to the night shift on my door, I could tell he has a little thing for me. So I keep pushing.
“Come on, I’ve figured out the basics over the years, but I’m still missing stuff.” I start listing things on my fingers. “The Orlovs are supposed to be in an alliance with us, but since Viktoris the Russian equivalent of Dante, they haven’t liked working together as much as others have,” I pause, looking at him with a knowing tilt. “Now I know it obviously has something to do with a girl.”
He looks down and nods.
“Okay, good,” I say, continuing on my middle finger now. “Nikolai is the heir, equivalent to Enzo.” I move to my ring finger. “They have asuper sexist, no-women-allowed setup, which is why I’m not supposed to exist and all that.” On my pinky: “Nikolai is clearly stepping into control and hence, he wants to break our alliance for some unknown reason. And apparently, someone else is the reason for his survival.” I look up for the first time since counting on finger two, but Leo is looking a little more stunned than I suspected.
“I think you’re really special, Ace. You’re smarter than people realize.”
I take a deep breath, trying to feel anything for the man in front of me.
I lean in and kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Leo. But I’m just not interested in you that way.”
He nods, and I feel like I just kicked a puppy.
I reach for his hand, trying to soothe his discomfort, but just as my fingers touch his, Elijah opens the door, his chest pressed against my back, looming over my head, locking eyes with Leo. “Fuck off.”
Leo turns and disappears down the hallway.
“You’re an ass.”
It comes out as annoyed as I feel.
“What else is new. How much did you hear?” He’s strict with his tone, but his fingers tapping his leg at his side tell me he’s not as confident as he wants me to think.
I turn so I can face him. “Nothing.”
