God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2)(53)

Then he’s out.

I lie back on the bed and retrieve my phone.

Usually, I do that only to find out if Annika has sent me any texts. She’s the type who likes to take pictures of all the little things she encounters in her daily life and send them over with ‘Isn’t this so cute?’ or ‘I wish I could take this home with me.’

They’re typically cats or dogs or any small creature.

So imagine my surprise when I find no text from her in the past…two hours.

Now, that’s rare.

Normally, she’d be demanding a date or she’d lure me in for a conversation.

Not tonight.

I scroll to the group chat that Remi insists I stay part of. I mute them whenever they start blowing up my phone with notifications.

Remington: Who wants to partyyy?

Eli: Don’t throw it in the house and you can do whatever you want.

Remington: But why? I have privileges in the house.

Eli: Not unless you want to put your balls in jeopardy.

Remington: Bloody hell, mate, no threatening the family jewels. I have a title that I need to keep alive.

Landon: You can always go to a club.

Remington: Be right back. Let me go get my spawn.

Brandon: Creighton’s sleeping.

Remington: Never stopped me before.

Brandon: Don’t wake him up. If you need someone to go with you, I will.

Remington: Awe, I just got tears in my eyes. I knew you were my favorite, Bran.

Remington: Don’t tell Cray Cray.

Landon: @Creighton King

Remington: I’m going to fucking kill you.

What the hell did Landon want me to see? Remi being a clown? Or the fact that he’s out to shag and has successfully dragged Bran along as a sidekick?

A notification appears at the top.

Landon: Forgot you’re a hermit.

Attached is a screenshot from Remington’s Instagram.

He’s posted a selfie where Ava, Cecily, and Annika are standing between him and Bran. And he has an arm around Annika’s shoulders as they smile brightly.

My favorite party people. Join us?

My fingers clench around the phone and wildfire spreads across my chest as I continue to look at her. And Remi’s arm around her bare shoulders, since she’s wearing a strapless dress.

So this is the reason she didn’t text me. Apparently, being busy partying is able to wipe her memories.

I text her.

Creighton: Where are you?

No reply comes in…five minutes. Which I spend pacing the length of the room.

When her name pops up on my screen, I lean against the wall.

Annika: Um, hi.

Annika: I mean hiiii.

Annika: Hi :)

Annika: That’s what people say before asking questions. Hi :) Creighton: Are you drunk, Annika?

Annika: Nah, nope. No.

Creighton: Are you sure?

Annika: Uh-huh. Though I did have a drink.

Creighton: Only one?

Annika: Maybe two. I like drinking. I’m gonna ask him to bring me another.

Creighton: Who’s him?

Annika: My favorite drinking buddy, of course.

Creighton: Name.

Annika: You guess :)

Creighton: Remi or Bran?

Annika: Maybe both. Maybe it’s someone different.

My grip tightens on the phone and it takes all my control not to throw it against the wall.

Creighton: Where are you?

Annika: No, nope. I’m not telling you so you can come and spoil my fun. You prefer sleep anyway. Nightyyy.

I send her a few more texts, but she doesn’t even read them.

The little fucking—

I spring up, throw on a hoodie, and text Landon.

Creighton: Address.

Landon: That was fast. Can I bring popcorn and come watch?

Creighton: Address.

Landon: We need to work on your conversational skills, baby cousin. Here you go. Don’t murder my brother. Remi’s life, however, is all yours.

It takes me fifteen minutes I don’t have to arrive at the club. I step out of my car and head inside with rigid steps.

The loud music, shouts, and the fucking noise are similar to having a machine prowl inside my head.

I push through the wiggling, twisting bodies as they jump and sway and drink and snort drugs.

After some time of shoving people out of my way, I arrive at the top level of the club. I grab the railing and cast a glance at everyone jumping around downstairs.

The colorful lights dim my vision, making them look like a copy of a copy.

In the midst of the chaos, my eyes are drawn to a girl in a light purple dress. Her rich brown hair falls to her half-naked back.

Annika, Ava, and Remi jump together to the music and point at a corner of the room across from them. It’s where Brandon and Cecily sit together, watching them with smiles and a lot of shaking their heads.

The emotions from earlier heighten in intensity as I practically jog down the stairs and to where they are.

When I arrive, it takes all my restraint not to punch Remi in his aristocratic nose and potentially start a dramatic saga.

But I do barge into their circle and shove him away with my shoulder.

He stumbles sideways and barely escapes having his face smashed on the ground.

Ava is the one who notices me next, pauses her manic jumping, and nudges Annika.

The infuriating little minx is the only one who keeps swaying and wiggling her hips.