brutal

Chapter 16

VERENA

The only times I'd seen a dinner like last night was when Reid told father that he'd proposed to Sabine without permission. And that also ended with Reid walking out.

When Yuna invited me to come with them to the house, I was reluctant at first. It was a huge risk to take, given that it could be a well-thought out trap to finally get me.

But after a few moments of consideration, I accepted and came along with them. It was the perfect opportunity for me to take a look around their home, search for any leverage I can take and use against them.

Failure was an understatement. They had nothing at all. No laptops left opened, no hidden drawers with anything interesting in them, not even any clues as to who owned each room.

Sure, Yuna had pointed to where each one of them resided. So when she told me that Kai's room was off-limits, it was basically a welcome invitation for me to raid it.

But the man was a mystery. No photos, no gadgets, no personal information. When I checked his drawers, I made sure to lower my expectations and expect probably piles of paper, most likely condoms.

Nothing. The man was like a fucking monk.

Then he entered and I thought my cover was blown. I had to hide behind one of the chairs in the corner to cover myself and even then, there was nothing I found in the two minutes I was there. Not even a speck of dust.

While they were getting into their heated argument during dinner, I also took the liberty to look around. It looked spotless and like one of those kitchen models from Ikea. Like they didn't even live in it.

How was that possible? Did they take me to some other house that they didn't even use? Was it all a ruse?

"You're doing it again."

I blinked and turned to Irene. "Doing what?"

"That face," she lowered her brows and intwined her fingers, perching her nose on her index fingers. "your thinking face."

Rolling my eyes, I took a moment to realize that I was doing what she just demonstrated and straightened myself on the chair. "I just have a lot to think about."

"Mhm. Is Kai Deimos one of them?" She grinned.

I scoffed and stood to walk to the kitchen. "Why would I deliberately punish myself by thinking about him?"

"True. But have you made any progress?"

I fished an ice cream pint from the freezer and placed it on the table where Irene was already sitting on the stool with two spoons. Taking one of them, we leaned and began eating.

"I think so," I started. "He's... intrigued, to say the least."

Irene smiled. "I see. That means he wants to fuck you."

I quickly tossed the spoon on the counter and coughed into my fist. Her insight was definitely the most Irene thing to say, but it still caught me off-guard.

"Why does everybody keep on saying that? Is it maybe possible that he doesn't?" I countered when I finally composed myself.

She shook her head. "I don't think so. He's probably jacking off to the thought of you right now."