Chapter 16: Part 2

"Kiaan," I say too loud. Clearing my throat, I lower my volume. "Thought about what you want to do after high school?"

Kiaan shifts uncomfortably. "Nah."

"I wish I had the luxury of not knowing," Alister says with a mirthless laugh. "My future was already plot-pointed by my father."

"Well, mine's a dead-beat drunk, so at least yours gives a shit to go that far."

His raw and unfiltered response charges the tension so it's like you're drowning in it from the inside.

Alister malfunctions, lifting a bumbling hand before he removes his sunglasses. "I am sorry, I never meant—"

"To make everything about you? It's cool man, I know you can't help yourself."

I shoot out my foot to kick him in the shin. He erects with a wince, stabbing me with a glower. I mouth a warning at him and just then, the server comes with a tray of our drinks. He deposits the ice bucket of wine bottles, the sodas and my mocktail. He uncorks the wine of either preference and pours a glass for Alister and Alex, who share a bottle. And for Vanko who has his own.

"I think we are ready to order." Alister says as if he too is eager for this night to be done.

"Certainly, sir. Our chef recommends our catch-of-the-day, freshly sourced."

Alister orders a platter for two to share with Alex.

"May I suggest a glass of our signature Chardonnay to complement your meal?"

Alister smiles indulgently. "Why not?"

Kiaan chucks the food menu aside carelessly. "I don't even know how to pronounce any of the words on this damn menu. My man, you guys don't' got a simple fish and chips?"

The server nods. "We do, will you be having it?"

"Yes," Alex answers, pointing to her brothers, "all of them will. Thank you." She rises to her feet. "If you will excuse me."

Alex goes inside for the bathroom, and following girl-code. I follow. Alex holds it in until we make it inside the opulent, blindingly white bathroom. She frees an explosive breath and shakes out her hands, panicked.

"It's not that bad."

She burns me with a skin-blistering glare. "Wait until we get home."

I stifle a smile. "You sound like my mom when I was a kid, and I was misbehaving in public."

"Which is exactly what they are doing," she says in a harsh hush. "Alister just brings out the worst in him and I don't know what to do."

"Overprotective brother, it's kind of his job, sis."

She rolls her eyes and slaps a stall door open. "I need a minute."

I permit her space, intending to wait outside only for a burly arm to wrap around my waist, leading to me to an alternate entrance to the terrace—on the other side.

"What are you doing?"

"Giving Alister and that boy some bonding time, they clearly need."

Vanko's arm recedes and his hand meets my body, gliding down to the small of my back---a dark surge, hot it stirs a storm within me. At the threshold, both hands grasp my hips, my heart beating even faster, threatening to burst as he guides me out onto an open viewing deck. The lake sparkles like a jewel and sailboats glide gracefully across the water in the distance. I wheel around, but my eyes are staring straight at his chest. I lift my gaze cautiously to be right under his nose. He looks down, his gaze pouring into my own.

"What are you doing here?"

He flashes a piranha-like smile. "You're not happy to see me?"

He eyes me down so slowly, I quickly fold my arms across my chest, feeling naked.

"By the tell of your shivering, I guess not."

"Vanko, do you know how insane you look right now?"

Vanko weaves around me, graced in a white linen suit. He goes to the railing to lean his rear against it so he can stare back at me fully with his ankle crossed over the other.

"You and Alister do have one thing in common." He tilts his head down so he can peer up at me through his eyelashes. "Not everything's about you. I played soccer for years. Why would I stop just because I came back to Braidwood?"

"I mean, why are you here? You just happen to link up with the boyfriend of one of my bestfriends?"

"Not my fault the captain took a liking to me. How was I supposed to know they were dating?"

I rage over his retort, releasing a pent-up breath to subdue my emotions.

"I guess no one can fight fate."

"Fate?" I blurt with suppressed fury. "Or your own manipulations?"

"We should head back before Alex starts thinkin things," he says presumptuously. He straightens up and saunters to me menacingly. "We do have a literature assignment due next week. And I need help—"

"You're still going with that chara—"

"—so you should come over to my house tomorrow."

I try to swallow but my throat is bone dry. "What?"

"Or Thursday?" he suggests casually, then thinks it over. "Thursday is better."

"The pictures of Alister and I that got leaked," I point out. "You sent me a copy before it got published anywhere else. Where did you get it? Did you have someone follow me?"

He tips his head slightly back to let out a mocking chuckle. "You think I'd waste resources on something like that?" A fierce shift, then he quickly re-adjusts. "I don't know what I can do to prove I am not the psychopath you think I am, or the villain in your story you believe me to be."

"It's a losing game," I say, outright. "No matter your tactics, manipulations, it will end nowhere."

He comes, leaning closer, then he pauses, hovering an inch away from my lips. Close enough to feel the warm wisp of his breath... then he draws back, his eyes glittering with dark delight.

"It will end somewhere," he corrects with certitude as if he has foreseen how our story will unfold. "Because there are no tactics, no manipulations. It's a redemption arc, that point in the story where the villain—," he says jokingly, making a loose gesture to himself, "— seeks absolution. And like a bind, the more your resist, the more bound to me you'll be."

"Only you could make an apology sound like a threat."

A small, smug smirks plays on his lips before they thin into a grim line.

"You come to me on Thursday. You help me, and I'll apologize to Kenji, whether or not he'll take it."

My eyes narrow distrustfully. "He definitely won't."

"I'll give it anyway," he says grudgingly.

"Really?"

Resolve settles on him. "For you. Consider it done."