God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2) by Rina Kent

I figured the reason his parents had died was because they’d pissed off the mafia, but Reina assured us that the boy had no ties whatsoever to the mob.

And I assured her that he’d only be a King going forward. No longer American, no longer alone.

He’d become my son.

“That’s not the worst of it.” Landon’s voice brings me back to the present.

“What is then?”

“She’s Creighton’s girlfriend. Or was, considering the circumstances.”

“What?”

“The one who shot him is his girl,” Lan repeats. “So the thing is, I’ve been looking into his past for some time, but I only managed to corner the guard with the right information recently. Once all the pieces of the puzzle were in place, I tried to warn Creigh away from Annika, but he was too pussy-whipped to listen. Now that I think about it, he looked more devastated finding out she’s the daughter of the people who wronged him than he was about his origins. Do you think that’s why he provoked her so she’d shoot him?”

“Tell me more.”

I listen carefully to Lan’s recounting of events. By the time he’s done, I’ve already formed an image in my head regarding what seems to be the issue.

Landon gets his prize and says he’s going to find his brother, who’s in a place he’s not supposed to be.

I’m still thinking about my nephew’s words when I arrive in front of Creighton’s room.

My feet come to a halt when I catch a glimpse of a petite girl in sweatpants and a hoodie, her hair falling on either side of her face, and she’s crying. Silently. As she glues her face to the glass. Both her palms are on the surface, her lips trembling as she murmurs something I can’t hear.

That must be Annika Volkov.

The girl Eli was giving Creighton shit about when they talked to Elsa once.

My wife wouldn’t shut up about it that night, retelling me every word with her bright expression and smiley face. She was so happy that her youngest was finally finding love.

She’d assumed both our boys would die alone and she wouldn’t have any grandchildren but was happy to be proved wrong.

Annika is also apparently the girl who shot my son.

The one who stabbed him in the back when it mattered the most.

I approach her with powerful strides. She doesn’t sense me, seeming too focused on the other side to notice her surroundings.

When I stop behind her, I can hear what she’s whispering in a brittle voice.

“I’m sorry…so sorry… Please wake up… If you do…if you do, I don’t mind if you kill me. I’m so sorry, Creigh…so sorry.”

“Is that all you have to say after what you’ve done?”

She flinches, and slowly turns around to face me, her eyes wide, her cheeks tear-streaked, and I realize exactly what she is.

Annika Volkov is the missing piece that’s forbidding Creighton from waking up, and I’ll do anything to get my son back.





31





ANNIKA





I shouldn’t be here.

If Papa finds out I’ve come to the hospital, which I’m sure he will, considering the thousand and one guards he brought with him—Kolya included—I’m done for.

But I managed to sneak out in disguise while everyone was busy.

I had to see Creighton one final time before I’m dragged back to the US.

I had to hear the machines beeping, signaling that he’s alive.

But he’s not awake.

From what little info Remi fed me, his condition gets more complicated the longer he stays in a vegetative state.

Remi is the only one who talks to me, secretly, monotonically, even. Like everyone else, he hates me for putting his friend and cousin in this state, but he also said, “I understand that you did it to save your brother, but I still don’t like you right now.”

That’s okay.

As long as I’m updated about Creighton, I don’t care if I’m disliked, hated, or downright tortured for what I’ve done.

And I think that’s exactly what will happen as I stare into Aiden King’s soulless gray eyes. They’re so much like Eli’s, both in their terrifying edge and in color, that it’s absolutely horrifying.

Actually, no. Eli’s are probably tamer in comparison.

After all, Aiden is the father, and he seems to have seen the world with those merciless eyes.

“I asked you a question, Miss Volkov. Do you believe apologizing is what you’re supposed to be doing after you shot my son?”

My spine jerks upright, half due to the shock of hearing his ruthless, deep voice and half due to the information he just divulged.

He knows.

I thought Ava said they weren’t going to tell Creighton’s parents the truth. Or maybe they just meant his mom.

Not that I mind. If paying the price for what I’ve done will bring Creighton back, I’ll turn myself in. Hell, I’ll do it even if he doesn’t wake up.

I made a mistake and I’ll own up to it.

But my family, namely Papa and Jeremy, would never allow me to do that.

“I…” No other words come out. It’s as if my tongue is tied.

“You’re what?” Aiden closes in on me, and even though he doesn’t invade my personal space, my heart flounders to the ground under the force of his intimidation.