Bloodbound: The Alliance
Chapter 93 - 95

Chapter 93: Chapter 95

Kelsey wanders closer. "But Simon opened your eyes to something none of us would’ve seen?"

"The first indicator was when Botan was at my house. But at that time, I didn’t know who he was. With everything that was going down with Haru and this ’debt’ my father owes. He served us this lie about coercion."

Kelsey comes close and releases an explosive sigh as she plops down beside me. "It’s unbelievable that your father’s childhood friend is a Yakuza boss. I mean—I just—don’t know what to believe."

I drop back down on my back so I can look up at her. "Me neither. Which is why I want to find out the truth about it all—his relationship with Haru, the alliance and the Vacherons’ involvement. I’m guessing there is a history there that was conveniently left out."

"Kinda is suspicious how this all came about. How their proposal for the alliance came in right when we hear about Haru allegedly threatening Uncle Al, and Colton coming out of nowhere with preternatural timing, offering salvation, all at the cost of your hand. But why you—no offense."

"None taken," I say with half a smile. "It’s plagued me since day one, but I didn’t really get a chance to think it through because everything was happening so fast. But it was the same reason why I wondered why a crime boss would choose my father to exploit? Same question stems from Colton. If either party wanted significant political influence, leverage a senator or something. Not a local mayor—at the time."

"Yeah, but what ulterior motive could they have with you?" she asks, to voice the question looming behind every theory. "The link between the alliance and your family is your father because he and Haru go way back—take over the world, yeah, we get it. Fine. The Vacherons however, more especially, what does Colton gain from the alliance?"

"Power," I blurt and I bolt upright so we’re aligned even with our bodies facing opposite ways. "Allegedly, my father has a host of criminal connections, including the Yakuza—billions in shadow currency. My father must be the bridge between the worlds, so that means—"

"The Vacherons are dirty," Kelsey says in a dramatic conspiratorial voice like announcing a plot-twist revelation that was kind of obvious the moment my father himself made his criminal affiliation known.

With speculations still stirring, Kelsey moves her body to recline her back on the bed like the way I was with her head resting at the foot. I drop back down with my face turned to look back at her, shoulder-to-shoulder, as I can practically see the steam emanating from her temples as the gears churn.

"So wait... let’s say you investigate this further. Teamed up with that hot ex-detective and—"

"I never said he was hot."

"You didn’t have to," she says, snorting through a short laugh. "The story of you doing target practice and how he shot a bottle without even looking back, but just staring at you—hot. Tell me I’m wrong."

I splutter a denial like a stammering fool. "W-well, yeah, that was, but like I don’t see him that way. He’s attractive, yes, but he had a daughter who died who was the same age as me. It would be weird to see him any other way. So what was the point you were making?"

"What will you do?" A simple question with a complex meaning and adevastating outcome. "If you discover the full truth yourself, and Haru was right about it all. And we learn more about the Vacherons. And your father really is this corrupt criminal. What will you do?"

I turn my face away to look up straight.

"Would you really be about to snitch on your own dad?"

My face snaps to the side to glare back at her.

"It’s a betrayal neither of you could recover from, but keeping quiet is almost just as bad."

"I don’t have it in me to betray my own blood," I whisper back. "My brothers are tied into what he’s been doing—I just know it. I can’t look away but I definitely can’t see them get locked up either. I can’t. And if that makes me immoral, then so be it. I guess that’s what I should do... nothing."

"You gave your life for your family. You’re willing to sacrifice your soul for them, too?"

The response hauls me up to be elevated on my one elbow so I can hover over her.

"They’re my family," I affirm unyieldingly. "Which is why I would do the same for you. So what about me? If I committed a crime, would you nark?"

"You kidding, right? I’d probably be the one helping you commit the crime."

We share a look before we explode into laughter before I collapse on my back. The door to my bedroom bursts open and our laughs are cut out like a snuffed flame as Landen struts inside, staring, his eyes slinking back between us with a slow and sultry trail, a burgeoning smirk like he’s somehow aroused by the sight of us.

"You know, I had a dream like this not so long ago."

"Girl, you better get him before I do," Kelsey says as she sweeps up and off the bed to sashay back into the en-suite, leaving a barely damp imprint on the fabric of the bed.

"You can’t just walk in here."

"It’s literally my house?"

Kelsey brakes to a hard pause. "His grandfather literally said the same thing from jump. You sure you Vacheron men aren’t just a bunch of clones?" Her eyes scan him scathingly with a glitter of malice. "Although when I look at you, there was clearly a glitch in manufacturing."

She walks off and the door slams behind her.

I move to stand up, allowing the satin to cascade from the bed to my ankles.

"I have this sense that she doesn’t really like me," Landen says with narrowed eyes, feigning concentration.

"Oh, no, not at all," I say reassuringly. "She doesn’t like any of you," I end with a flat stare.

He smiles back at me amusedly, undeterred. "People claim I’m much better once you get to know me."

"Those people were probably paid to say that."

His eyes glint with dark delight. "I came here to fulfil my duty as the dutiful son that I am," he says with a mocking smile. "They want us to put on a show, so we’ll give them something they won’t forget."

"So late?" I groan. "I’m already in my nightgown."

"Which is perfect," he says with a serpentine smile.

"I won’t be filming a sex tape!"

"I never asked. What I will ask is that you come with me. I promise you’ll be back in bed by midnight."

"Whose bed?" I ask with my eyes thinning into suspicious slits.

"Yours or Kelseys, since you’re sleeping together."

"Don’t make it sound weird," I mutter as I move to make a start towards the door.

The moment I pass through the threshold, a man lunges at me with his hands raised and a scream rips through my throat as I dart back, caught by Landen as his arms lock around my body to steady me. Alec bellows a guffaw as he even needs to use the wall as support before he points at my face animatedly.

"You should’ve seen your—" then he erupts into another round of laughs.

I squirm my way out of Landen’s hold. "What is he doing here?"

"He is here for his best friend’s wedding," Alec answers before he clasps hands with Landen to do a bro shake. "Here to do my best man duty," he says with a mock salute.

"Which is?"

He slings his arm around me, drowning me in the overpowering smell of his cologne that makes me grimace as he steers me onwards by the shoulders. "Just wait and see."

I try to push him away. "Did you bathe in whatever fragrance you’re wearing?"

"You like it? It’s a new release." He glances over his shoulder as he says, "It’s called, woman stealer," he says, plunging out his tongue with a revoltingly fast flutter.

Landen grabs him by the scruff of his collar and one pull yanks him away from my side.