God of Malice (Legacy of Gods #1) by Rina Kent

You picked war, baby, and I’m here to serve.

I throw my phone in my shorts pocket and drive to the place that started and ended it all.

As soon as I arrive at the cliff on the far end of the forest, I stand on the edge and stare below.

At the violent waves crashing against the harsh rocks, at how much the water has turned them sharp, steep—a natural wonder that’s able to steal lives.

And be the site of a fucked-up encounter.

Grandpa was right—as usual. The more I think about my friendship with Devlin, the more it doesn’t feel like a friendship.

He definitely didn’t feel happy for me like Cecily, Ava, Remi, and even Annika do when I tell them about something that’s made me happy.

Not to mention that he always loved to talk about himself, how he was an orphan, how he battled with depression his entire life, and how no one understood him.

I always listened to him because I thought we were kindred spirits and shared the same issues.

Our identities are misunderstood. Our depression is overlooked.

But now, I don’t know anymore.

I think his death hit me harder because I was right here when it happened. Right beside him in the car.

The wind flips my hair back as memories from that night hit me.

“Come with me, Glyn,” he said. “We can end the pain once and for all.”

“I…don’t know, Dev. I don’t really want that. I…can’t do that to my family.”

“Aren’t you the lucky one to have people who love you?”

“Dev, don’t say that. You have me.”

“And since when do you think you’re enough? You’re nothing more than a fucking coward, Glyn. You sing this tune of being misunderstood and say that your art is compared to your mother’s and brothers’, but ever thought it’s because you’re mediocre as fuck and shouldn’t even be painting in the first place? What type of artist is scared shitless of ending their life? How about you start practicing what you preach?”

Tears streamed down my cheeks and I couldn’t believe that I was staring at the same Devlin I’d known for months.

His face was dark, too, nothing like the kind-hearted friend I’d known.

“D-Devlin, how could you say that?”

“Get out of my car, coward.” When I remained in place, he shouted, “Get the fuck out!”

I opened the door, but I swayed on my feet, and I remember feeling dizzy, because I leaned against a tree for balance.

No clue how long I remained that way, my vision hazy and my limbs shaky, probably due to the drinks we’d had earlier.

Then, in slow, distorted motion, Devlin revved forward at full speed and tumbled over the cliff.

Back then, I was so shocked that I didn’t move for a long time, thinking that maybe I was dreaming and if I remained still, I would wake up.

Then I was screaming his name and crawling to the edge of the cliff because my legs failed me.

The car was sinking in the water below and I was crying and calling the police and shouting for help.

It was a mess.

Two days later, they found his body and he was identified by his roommates.

Besides his death, his words had the worst impact on me. It made my depression worse and my existential crisis critical.

Until a certain bastard came into the picture.

No matter how hurtful Devlin was, Killian had no right to tell him those words that could’ve possibly propelled him to end it all.

While I want to ignore him some more, there must be a story behind his whole encounter with Devlin.

But I’m ready to ghost him and make him lose his mind like he does to me on a daily basis.

Payback is a bitch and so am I, Killian.

“Miss me?”

I flinch at the very familiar voice and a scream bubbles in my throat when I turn around and see who’s standing behind me.

No, no, no…

This must be a play of my imagination. Or maybe I’ve become psychic and started seeing ghosts.

Or else…or else, how could Devlin be in front of me?

He looks different, too. Wearing all black leather like a member of a rock band, his hair is floppy, and his lower lip and nose are pierced.

If I didn’t already know Devlin was an only child, I’d swear this was his evil twin or something.

“D-Devlin?”

“Do you see anyone else here?” Even his voice is different. It’s harsher, like the Devlin from the car that last day.

“But you…” I stare at the cliff and then back at him. “I saw you fall. You fell off the cliff and they found your body…”

“You saw the car fall while you were drugged out of your mind because you’re so trusting, it’s annoying. As for the news about the body, nothing some connections couldn’t take care of, and I lied, I’m not an orphan. My family is pretty much alive, loaded, and associated with the mafia.”

My head crowds with the onslaught of information, unable to keep up.

“You visiting the site of my death is a very touching declaration of love, which would’ve mattered if you weren’t a fucking whore,” Devlin continues in his haughty tone. “You were supposed to let Killian play around with you a little, not take my sister’s place.”

“Your sister?”

“You already met her. Cherry.”

My heart drums harder in my chest. “Why…why would you go to all the trouble of faking your death? Just for the club?”