God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2)(91)

Strategically.

I track their movements until they reach their destination.

The basement door.

When they insert the key and unlock it, I catch a glimpse of none other than my cousin.

Surprisingly, it’s not Landon, though.

Bran slips inside with swift agility that I’m witnessing for the first time.

I wait a few moments before I follow behind.

Through the ajar door, I can make out Nikolai’s huge body slumped over in the chair he’s bound to. His head has fallen to his chest and his long hair is loose, forming a curtain over his face.

Brandon remains a safe distance away, watching him with a blank expression.

He’s always been the most even-tempered out of the four of us. He’s never indulged in hunting, manipulations, pranks, fighting, or anything monstrous.

Brandon King is the only good boy among us.

Where his twin brother is a volcano, Bran is the earth—silent, deep, and actually has a core.

Morals.

Which is why I have no doubt he’ll let Nikolai go. He’s just not the type who’ll sit by while someone else gets hurt.

A trait that will probably get him killed one day.

I’m about to barge inside and abort his plan, but I stop when Bran reaches a hesitant hand to Nikolai’s…hair.

He slowly, gently slides it back, revealing his unconscious face. A groan spills out of Nikolai’s lips and Brandon jerkily releases him. His hand finds the back of his neck and he pulls on the short hairs there.

Nikolai’s eyes blink open, his pupils dilated, and he appears to be as high as a kite.

“Lotus flower…? What are you doing here?” His voice is craggy, a bit slurred, barely understandable.

Bran reluctantly releases his hair. Then he pulls out a knife from his waistband and starts cutting at Nikolai’s bindings. “You’re the one who came into my house. You just couldn’t stay away?”

A lopsided grin lifts Nikolai’s lips. “How else would I see you so adorably worried about me?”

“I am not worried about you and don’t fucking call me adorable again.”

“Wow. The posh boy can curse.”

“Shut it or I’ll leave you to my brother’s and cousins’ nonexistent mercy.”

“If I’d known I’d see this side of you, I would’ve gotten myself kidnapped long ago.”

“Are you insane?”

Nikolai lifts a shoulder. “Probably.”

Brandon shakes his head and releases a long sigh. “I’ll release you and leave the back door open, and you’ll have to find your own way out.”

“No.” I stroll inside and Bran freezes, then slowly faces me.

“Creigh.”

“Step back,” I order when he continues trying to cut the ropes.

“This isn’t right and you know it—”

“Step the fuck back, Bran. I won’t repeat myself another time.”

He complies, but he doesn’t put away his knife and lets it hang at his side. When I went to my room earlier, Lan and Eli filled him in about the situation, so he knows exactly why I’m doing this.

“Get out.”

“Listen…” He steps toward me. “I know you feel the need for revenge, but this whole thing is wrong.”

“No one asked for your opinion. Stay out of this.”

“I won’t allow you to throw your life away for parents you’ve never known and a past you’re better off without, Creighton.” His voice hardens. “I’m letting Nikolai go and then we’ll talk about this. Rationally.”

He turns around to our prisoner, but before he starts trying to free him again, I punch him on the back of his head.

A groan spills from his lips as his unconscious body falls on top of Nikolai. I pull him back, then lower him to the floor against the wall.

Sorry, Bran, but your morals have no place in this situation.

“That was unnecessary,” Nikolai says in a deadpan voice.

I face him, both hands in my pockets. “Attempting to save you is what’s unnecessary.”

He’s about to say something when the door opens again and Landon strolls inside dressed in new clothes and sporting a galaxy of bruises.

His gaze roams over the room and pauses at the sight of his brother, but he doesn’t appear surprised in the least. “And what is he doing here?”

“He was trying to rescue Nikolai,” I say.

“Should’ve known since the little fuck was acting suspicious.” Landon’s gaze is disapproving but he picks Bran up and half carries him, stops at the door, and says, “Oh, by the way, Jeremy’s here. I’ll let him in once I lock the king of morals up.” With one last glance at Nikolai, he leaves, taking Bran with him.

I lean against the wall and cross my arms, summoning the calm I don’t have.

Nikolai glares up at me from beneath strands of his wild hair. “What are you up to, King? What’s the revenge lotus flower was talking about?”

I say nothing, meeting his glare with my signature blank stare.

“Shouldn’t you be bribing Jer so he’ll let you be with his sister instead of encouraging him to rip your balls out?”

My jaw clenches, but I neutralize my expression.

“The fuck? Say something. Wait a fucking minute. I say, were you playing Anni? If that’s the case, I’ll help Jeremy tear your head off and throw your body in the ocean as food for the fish.”