The huge TV on the wall casts a faint light over us as it plays Bad Omens music videos. Damien’s choice, of course. He sings along absentmindedly, not at all noticing my relentless stare.
This place suits him, I think. It’s the kind of thing he’s always strived for. Modern and fancy, with warm hardwood floors, expensive black and white furniture, and a kitchen covered in black marble that we’ll never use.
The floor-to-ceiling windows that take up an entire wall of the living space show an impressive view of the skyline of Downtown Las Vegas. The sun is setting in the horizon, painting the sky in orange and purple hues.
Jacob should be here soon. Fortunately, he agreed to come see us. It seemed like a better idea than us going back to Phoenix. Although he said that no one has been asking around about Owen. Not yet, at least.
“Killi?” Damien interrupts my thoughts with a soft, shy question. It’s not like him to speak like that, but he’s been acting weird all day.
“Yes?”
“Do you have feelings for Jacob?”
The question throws me off so much that I freeze. I didn’t see that coming, not in a million years. I turn my head to meet his gaze, sinking deeper into the plush cushions as I do so.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because why not?” He shrugs. “You seemed really into him the night he fed us . . .”
I hesitate for a moment, but decide that being honest is probably best. “Well—yeah.”
What’s the point of lying? I always thought Jacob was attractive. It’s one of the reasons why I felt out of place when he and Damien were together. He just seemed like a better option than me in every possible way. The truth is, Jacob intrigues me in ways no other man has before.
“You’d fuck him, wouldn’t you?”
Oh my God. What the hell is he thinking?
“Damien—this is your ex-boyfriend we’re talking about . . .” I feel my cheeks heating up.
“And so what?” His malicious grin terrorizes me as much as it turns me on. He’s up to no good and I’m totally into it.
The memory of Jacob’s blood burning its way down my throat makes my heart flutter. I remember exactly how much I desired him right after. That feeling stuck to the back of my mind. Occasionally, it slithers out of its hiding hole, making me wonder what it would have been like to have sex with him and Damien that night.
A shiver runs down my spine, but I force myself to stay still. My brother’s eyes are studying me carefully, looking for any sign of weakness. He can already tell I’m nervous, Damien knows me too well. He’s made me into a horny monster that can’t get enough of his dirty games. My mind is already racing and conjuring images of Jacob stuck between us.
For fuck’s sake. I can’t with him.
Damien laughs softly while he rolls one of his lip ring with his tongue. Maybe I should try to dissuade him from whatever he’s planning to do. But once my brother gets something in his mind, there’s no stopping him. He’ll go at it until he gets what he wants, one way or another. As bad as it is, I can’t help but love it.
“We invited him here to apologize,” I remind him, tapping my fingers on my thigh as I try to calm myself down.
“And we will. Don’t worry about that.” The smile on his lips tells me that I should probably worry a bit more than I actually am. But I don’t, obviously.
This is way too uncomfortable. Damien insisted on sitting on my lap, no matter how many times I tried to push him off gently. Having Jacob see us like this feels wrong. Although he hasn’t said anything about it, the pain is palpable in him. I can tell it’s hidden in the depths of his dark brown eyes.
We’re on the armchair while Jacob sits on the sectional in front of us. The vibe of this apartment suits him just as well as it suits Damien: dark and edgy, contrasting soft fabrics and smooth, cold surfaces. A ray of warm light hits the white marble top of the coffee table and reflects back onto Jacob’s face. He’s glowing, like some kind of goth God.
It seems like I’d forgotten how handsome he actually is; I’m almost hypnotized by him. The day we met him comes to my mind, just about a month before Ledger took off. Our maker drove us to Jacob’s shop so that Damien could get his tongue pierced. He’d tried by all means to talk my brother out of it, but failed. It wasn’t a surprise for me, obviously. I suppose Damien basically forced him to introduce us to Jacob.
As soon as their gazes met, Damien was lovestruck. It was clear as day to me; I’d seen him fall for so many other men before. But it wasn’t just him, was it? My first thought was that Jacob seemed too handsome. Kind of imposing and intimidating, since he looked strong, unlike Ledger. But there was something deeply alluring about him, and it captivated me.
Jacob was a sight to behold; dressed in all black, with a soft button-up shirt, tailored trousers, and boots. The silver buckle of his belt, chain bracelets, and stack of necklaces stood out as much as his visible tattoos: the red roses on his hands and fingers, and the phoenix on his neck. But his kind smile and polite demeanor intrigued me, since they contrasted so much with his overall appearance.
Thinking about it now, I see how the way my eyes lingered on him was a lot more than innocent curiosity. His leather-and-musk scent instantly lured me in, and the mystery of his tattoos had me wanting to peek underneath his shirt since my gaze fell on him. He was probably the first man I ever found attractive. Besides Damien, of course.
Jacob sighs, bringing me back to the present. He flips through the pages of the notebook I took from Owen’s home. His expression is serious as he tries to figure it out. It seems like some things are written in code, but there are lots of descriptions, locations, and prices. I’m pretty sure that one of the last entries actually refers to me, which makes my blood run cold every time I think about it.
“It’s worse than I thought,” Jacob says, shaking his head. “I should probably try to get a word with someone who can help us with this.”
