God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2)(74)

Landon: Bran wins all the time. You don’t see him flaunting his dick for anyone to see. Isn’t that right @Brandon King?

Remington: Or that’s what you think *laughing out loud emoji winking emoji side eye emoji*

Landon: Details?

Remington: Let’s just say Bran surprised my lordship and it takes a lot to do that.

Brandon: Shut up, Remi.

Remington: Yes, sir. Off to go now. If I somehow die in the throes of pleasure, write ‘He died doing what he loves the most’ on my tombstone and tell my parents and grandparents that I love them. My spawn, too. You better miss me @Creighton King

Eli: Pretty sure he won’t. In fact, he’ll be happy to be rid of your bothersome clinginess.

Remington: Shut up, you unfeeling, antagonistic, crazy psycho.

Landon: It’s true, though. Creigh couldn't care less about you, no matter how much you try. How does it feel to be unimportant?

Creighton: You are important to me, Remi.

There’s a long pause, people typing at the same time. Then all the replies come at once.

Remington: Totally screenshotted that, will frame it and hang it in my room. You can’t take it back, spawn.

Landon: Who are you and what have you done with our silent Creighton?

Brandon: Is it really you, Creigh?

Eli: Emergency state. He must’ve been kidnapped.

Remington: You guys are just jealous. Go die.

Then he sends a series of evil laughing GIFs.

I throw my phone aside, use my hand as a pillow, and stare at the ceiling.

A dark ball jumps onto my chest and I sigh as Tiger decorates my T-shirt with his hair.

This cat is another reminder of Annika. Of her sweet smiles when she sees him and the baby voice she uses to talk to him.

“Listen here, you little twat.” I hold him up so I’m staring at him. “No more climbing onto her shoulder or head or I’ll throw you out on the streets.”

He merely glares at me with those hooded eyes the way snobbish cats do and attempts to scratch me.

Christ.

I can’t believe I’m both talking to a cat and jealous of it.

My door slams against the wall as my brother strolls inside with the nonchalance of a jaded warrior.

Tiger jumps, then runs out, probably to find Brandon. He’s his favorite after Annika.

Eli stops by the side of my bed, stares down at me with a critical gaze, and crosses his arms. “You’re not kidnapped. Wait, have you lost your phone…” he trails off, a frown etching between his brows when he sees it on the side table.

Instead of buggering off and leaving me alone, Eli sits on the edge of the mattress and runs his fingers beneath my chin. “What’s going on, baby bro? Is someone bothering you? Who should I maim to pieces, then dump their remains in the sea?”

“Forget it.”

“Bullshit. If it’s affecting you to the point that you’re not only texting, but also defending Remi instead of drowning in sleep, I need to know about it.”

I let out a long breath. Eli is no different than a dog with a bone, and he absolutely won’t leave me alone until he gets what he wants.

And at the moment, maybe I can use his ‘wisdom’ to find a solution.

“Jeremy caught me with Annika in a grocery store and she went back with him.”

Eli’s movements halt beneath my chin, but he doesn’t remove his hand. “And? Did you beat him to a pulp?”

“I wanted to. I still do, but Annika intervened.”

“I see.”

My eyes meet his muted ones, and it reminds me of those times we got in trouble—because of his anarchist plans—and he tried everything under the sun to come out unscathed.

Without implicating either of us.

Dad usually caught on to his schemes and punished him, though. But Eli didn’t mind as long as I wasn’t blamed for his actions.

The world might consider him abnormal, but he’s been my role model ever since I figured out what a role model means.

I sit up in bed and he leans against the headboard beside me, stretching his legs out on the mattress.

“How can I get her back without antagonizing her brother?”

“Why can’t you teach him a lesson or two? Maybe a few?”

“Because she loves him. She was ready to die in a fire with him, and while I’m game to beat him the fuck up for daring to come between us, I know I’ll lose her if I do.”

“Look at my little Creigh, all grown up and catching feelings.” He reaches his hand beneath my jaw.

I slap it away, glaring. “Are you going to help or are you going to sod off?”

“Fine, fine. For your information, I feel used for my genius neurons right now, but I digress.” He tilts his head in my direction. “What happened after she went with him?”

“She asked me to trust her. I told her I’ll only give her a day before doing it my way.”

“Your way? Pretty sure that entails violence and sending him to the hospital. I thought you didn’t want her to hate you.”

“I don’t, but I’d rather have her hate me than not have her at all.”

“Oh? That’s interesting.” He hums for a beat. “But for now, do as she asked.”

“What?”

“Trust her. Let her deal with him. She’s known him her whole life and, therefore, has the ability to convince him.”