Page 21 of Chasing Kit

He pulled out his phone and checked it. “Come on. It’s five. We’ve been sleeping all afternoon. Let’s get out of this room and figure out what’s happening.”

I followed him into a long, beautifully designed hallway and down a set of wide stairs. My head ached, and each step made me feel nauseous again, but I suppressed the urge to gag. Food sounded good right about now, especially since I hadn’t eaten since yesterday and my internal clock was completely off.

We entered the barroom, which was mostly empty except for Loki and Thor sitting at the bar. They were deep in conversation, but the moment we appeared, their voices died. Loki grinned at me and fluttered his fingers in my direction.

“Hey there, Champ.”

“Champ?” I frowned.

He laughed, a light, almost flighty giggle. He was a strange dude. “You won the bet.” Jumping to his feet, he waggled his eyebrows at me. He handed me a large wad of cash held together by a bill clip, and I choked. “Congrats.”

Before I could take the money, War snatched it from him and glared. “You’re a piece of work.”

Loki’s gaze darkened, and even though he appeared as innocent as an angel, I shivered. Something within him scared me. “I didn’t force him to do anything he didn’t want to do.”

War stepped between us, his huge frame shielding me. His wide shoulders obscured most of my view of Loki, and as much as I enjoyed staring at his strong back, I didn’t need him to defend me. Not when running would only prove Loki right—I was prey.

I stepped around him and sighed. “When can we go home?” I asked, hoping to diffuse the anger-fueled tension.

Loki’s fury vanished so quickly I wondered if it existed in the first place, and he brightened, grinning in my direction. “You’ll be staying with us for a few days.”

“Why?” I looked at War, searching for answers, and his jaw tightened again.

He shot me a quick glance. “Because Odin is blackmailing us.”

“Blackmailing isn’t the right word,” Loki huffed, crossing his arms. “You entered our city without permission. It’s compensation.”

Confusion had me switching my attention between them. “Why do we need permission to be here?”

Loki chuckled. “It’s the rules of Pleasant Beach. Odin controls this city, and those who treat the law lightly . . . .” He winked at me. “Criminals like War here, need permission from Odin before entering, especially when conducting business. No one dies here without our say-so.”

“They have jurisdictional rules?” I asked, my brow furrowing. “I thought the point of being a criminal was to break laws, not create more of them for yourselves.”

War snorted out a laugh.

I shot him a wide-eyed stare. This was the first time I’d ever heard him make a noise of amusement. But what hit me as even more surprising was that he smiled at me. Fucking smiled. I didn’t know War could be anything other than stoic or irritated.

“Odin sucked the right cock,” he drawled.

Loki gritted his teeth, his expression turning to stone. “I’d watch your tongue if I were you.”

“What are you going to do?” War stepped close to him, and my spine stiffened. I swallowed, fear lodging in my throat, which still ached from the earlier incident with War. “Was it your cock he sucked? Does Daddy take care of his adopted son?”

“Enough!” Thor roared.

I flinched.

He shot to his feet and stalked over to us, slotting himself between Loki and War just as Loki attacked. Thor managed to grab Loki as he catapulted himself at War, holding him back even as Loki struggled.

“I’m going to fucking kill him, Tobias. Let me go. I’m going to pound his skull into the road and then fucking ride over it.” Loki jumped, and Thor caught Loki in a vice grip around his waist.

War crossed his arms, not showing an ounce of panic. He looked proud of himself.

“Stop it, Loki. Now.” Thor set Loki back on his feet and held his face still, thumbs pressed hard against his jaw. He kissed him like he was proving a point, like he’d heard enough words. I watched, not sure whether to pay attention or look away. Loki went quiet against him, fingers curling into Thor’s shoulders, his whole body losing the argument.

I shifted closer to War. Would he kiss like that, as though there was nothing more exciting in this world than having his lips on me? I shivered at the thought and glanced at him. He was already staring at me, and when I caught him, he grunted and turned his attention back to Thor and Loki.

“Are you done with the PDA?” War grumbled. “We’re hungry.”