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

“Not until you let Creighton go.”

“No can do.” Nikolai swings his weapon in the air. “This motherfucker thought he could burn our compound and walk away as if nothing happened.”

I take a step backward, my back nearly meeting the wall.

Doubt slaps me across the face when his words and the events sink in.

What Nikolai is saying could be true.

After all, Creighton attempted arson in this same place before. What’s stopping him from widening his scope and going after the whole house?

My limbs tremble at the thought of him doing that and not caring if Jeremy and I died.

If everyone in the house died.

I internally shake my head. I’m not going to believe those suspicions unless there are hard facts.

Besides, Creighton wouldn’t burn the house while I’m in it, right? True, we haven’t known each other for a long time, but he doesn’t hate me.

I hope.

So instead of falling into whatever black hole my brain is forming, I laugh, head tilting back for extra effect.

“What’s gotten into you?” Nikolai watches me as if I’m an alien. “Did you hit your head earlier?”

“I’m just laughing at how ridiculous all of that sounds.” I wipe the tears from the corners of my eyes, pretending to make a huge effort to stop being amused. “Creighton was with me from the time I went to bed.”

Gareth raises a brow. “With you?”

I throw a hand in the air. “You know, with me.”

Silence falls over the room for a beat too long and I do my best to appear unaffected. I didn’t have enough time to think of a solution to save Creighton from certain torture, and this was the best idea that popped into my head.

Here’s to hoping my storytelling skills will be able to convince these three.

Killian presses the Taser against Creighton’s cheek without breaking eye contact with me.

I’ve studied in the same private schools as these guys, and Killian has always been the scariest, along with Nikolai. But while his cousin is open about his methods, Kill is discreet, and the only evidence he leaves behind is a trail of destruction.

While Gareth is approachable with prince-like looks, Killian has a serial killer’s beauty with his dark hair and somber blue eyes that only shine when Glyn is around.

I’m pretty sure he’s a psychopath, and that makes him the hardest to convince. Not to mention, looking straight into his eyes is similar to being dissected alive.

“Did he now?” he muses. “Pray tell, how did he manage to bypass security? The only way he can come inside the property is if he hacks into our system and stops our camera feed. Like say…the perpetrator of the fire.”

“Right!” Nikolai agrees with his cousin. “Let me beat the fuck out of this motherfucker.”

I step forward, feeling less and less nervous. “Why would he go to such lengths and hack the system when I gave him my access card?”

Killian presses the Taser against Creighton’s cheek harder and it takes everything in me not to flinch. “You’re trying to tell us you invited a guy over under Jeremy’s roof?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Jer is watching my every move, so the best way to go unnoticed is to meet Creighton where he wouldn’t suspect it.”

I remain standing strong under the scrutiny of their watchful eyes. I’m pretty sure I’ve convinced them, or at least, I’ve opened up their tunnel vision.

Nikolai’s gaze bounces between me and Creighton. “Wait a minute. If he was in your room, how come I didn’t see him with you when the fire first broke out?”

“I told him to stay put until I investigated the situation since I didn’t want him to run into you guys.” I’d high five myself if I could. Now, that’s a believable lie.

“Still…” Gareth starts.

“Still what?” I lift my chin. “Creighton saved my and Jeremy’s lives. You should be rewarding him instead of beating him up for it. Besides, if you’re worried this is the Elites’ doing, it still doesn’t make sense to threaten Creighton. He was never a part of that club.”

“His cousin is,” Killian says matter-of-factly.

“But he isn’t. Never was and never will be. The time you’re wasting here could’ve been used to worry about the Serpents that you so thoroughly offended, Kill. Surely you realize they’re the most likely culprits behind this mess?”

I can tell that I’m getting to them, considering the subtle change in their expressions. They must’ve thought about the Serpents’ angle, too, but since they had Creighton in their grip, they chose to believe it would be the Elites instead.

Nikolai tosses away his weapon, appearing dejected that his fun has been ruined.

“I must admit, the whole story sounds convoluted,” Killian says. “You’re not even worried that Jeremy can and will hear about this incident?”

I swallow, not feeling so brave anymore. Still, I try my best to preserve the façade. “I’ll talk to my brother when he wakes up. In the meantime, let Creighton go.”

Both Killian and Nikolai step out of the room.

Only Gareth stays behind and helps me untie him. The dried trail of blood looks gruesome against his ethereally beautiful face.

The lack of light gives his features harsh angles, almost sinister to the eye. His lips are slightly parted and I can’t help reaching a hand out to touch them, or touch him. But then I recall he doesn’t like being touched, so I let it drop to my side.