Heart of My Monster (Monster Trilogy #3) by Rina Kent

Their harsh breaths, sweat, and the smell of blood lingers in the air, only interrupted by my casual sips.

“You guys get an A-plus for stamina.”

Anton staggers to his feet and kicks Maksim in the ribs. “I won.”

Maksim captures his ankle and brings him crashing back down—on top of him. “Like fuck you did.”

Anton fists his shirt. “Admit that you’re not a god, after all.”

“I am to you, dick.” Maksim throws him off and stands up, then walks in my direction and snatches the bottle of vodka and drinks right from it. “You watched, Sasha. I won, right?”

“Nonsense.” Anton takes the bottle and drinks straight from it, even though a few glasses are lying about. “Anyone with eyes could see that I got more points on you.”

“In your fucking dreams.” Maksim steals the bottle back and pours more alcohol down his throat.

“I’m not sure, to be honest.” I tilt my head to the side as they keep fighting over the vodka until they finish the whole bottle.

Both their faces are a map of bruises, cuts, and bleeding lips.

Maksim throws his weight on the seat beside me, dwarfing the wooden chair. “You obviously have nepotism issues.”

Anton sits on the chair on my other side, causing it to creak under his weight. “Watch your fucking mouth when you talk to her.”

“What are you going to do about it, motherfucker?”

“You—”

I slam my glass on the table. “Seriously, stop it. You’re giving me a headache. You’re like children.”

“The only man-child in this equation is your brother, who has small dick energy.”

“You speak as if your dick is all that impressive.”

“You know it is.”

“Okay.” I lift my hand. “Too much dick talk for my taste, and seriously, Tosha is my brother, and I don’t need these images.”

The latter closes his eyes as if he’s just realized he’s been talking about dicks in front of his sister. Which is surprising, considering he’s collected to a fault.

Maksim rattles him—or his rage toward him does.

Interesting.

Maksim hits my shoulder with his. “You lived with men for two years, and while you never participated in a dick measuring competition, you never flinched from it either.”

“Well, that was before I knew Yuri was actually my brother.”

“Guess I should feel like I’m in good company if he also managed to fool his own sister.”

“Stop talking about me as if I’m not here,” my brother says.

Maksim doesn’t look at him and, instead, smiles at me. “What type of game are we playing?”

“Don’t fucking ignore me.” Anton speaks so low that goosebumps erupt on my skin.

“Card game?” Maksim does a marvelous job of completely erasing him. “I prefer that over a board game.”

“Are you an attention whore?” Anton’s voice returns to normal.

Maksim raises his head slowly, the cards clenched in his fist. “The fuck you just say?”

My brother’s lips tilt in a smirk. “Take a hint already. She’s a woman and was never interested in you.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“What? You’re embarrassed that your crush turned out to be a woman?”

Maksim lunges up, and so does Anton. I lift myself in time to stop both of their punches. “Can you guys just chill for a minute?”

“You had no fucking right to reveal that,” Maksim grinds through his teeth.

“I don’t give a fuck.” Anton stares down at me. “Maksim is gay, and since he thought you were a man, he had a crush on you. Now, all his hopes are destroyed. Just like that.”

“You fucking—”

“Get out, Anton.” I push him.

“No.”

“I said get out.” I soften my voice. “Please.”

He grinds his teeth, but he heads to the exit.

My friend still wants to go after him, but I stand in his way. He walks into me, and since he’s a damn bull, I can’t keep him in place.

“Maks!” I push at his chest. “Ignore him. Anton was an asshole, but it’s not worth it. Besides, I don’t care whether you’re gay or straight or an alien. You’ll always be my friend.”

He breathes deeply and stops pushing me, a bitter smile appearing on his lips. “Thanks for the thousandth kick into the friendzone.”

“I’m a woman, so anything between us would be virtually impossible.”

“You say that as if it would be possible if you were a man.”

“I mean, you never know.”

“Don’t fuck with me, Sasha. You looked at Boss like he was your god.”

“That’s not…true.”

“Yes, it is.” He sighs. “I guess I wanted someone to look at me that way, too.”

I pat his arm. “I’m sorry I lied to you. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“At least you didn’t mean to hurt me.”

“Anton is…” I pause, searching for the right word. “Not that bad. He’s just too inflexible.”

“If you continue to keep me locked up here, one of us will end up killing the other. You know it, he knows it, and I know it. Do the right thing, Sasha.”