Ji-Su sank down onto one end of the plush, velvet sofa while Solan sat on the other end. “Not great,” he answered with a tired laugh.
“That’s understandable. I can’t believe that asshole Cedric did that to you,” Solan said with his expression filled with sympathy.
“Yeah. I’ve never been embarrassed like that before.” Thankfully his followers understood that the pics were fake and many of them made it clear they’d block anyone who brought them up on his posts or streams.
“At least you don’t have to worry about him harassing you anymore.”
And there was the reason for this talk. “I think I’m still in shock that Raul killed him,” Ji-Su whispered. “How did you know what happened?” Although common sense had told him not to say the reason over the phone, Solan had known exactly why he wanted him to come over and talk.
“Everett was with him. And LaToria. Raul wouldn’t be stupid enough to go after Cedric and his people on his own.”
Ji-Su frowned in confusion as he looked at Solan. He needed help understanding. “You’re fine with it? With what they do?”
Solan answered without hesitation. His gaze direct, he nodded once.
“Yes.”
“How? Most people don’t use violence and murder to solve their problems. How did you adjust to it?”
Solan’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t realize that you didn’t know.”
“Know what?”
“My family is a crime family as well. In fact, my sister took over as the head of the Kane organization after my parents died. I’ve been around this world my whole life. Before I ever met Everett. I don’t personally get involved in any violence, but over the years I’ve either witnessed or heard about a few... unsavory things.”
“I see.” That explained the confident way Solan carried himself. He wondered how he’d ended up as Everett’s blood pet.
“I’m sure it has to be hard for you being thrown into this type of situation without prior experience.”
Ji-Su nodded. “It is. I don’t know how I’m supposed to see Raul now. How doyousee Everett and the others?”
Solan took a moment before answering, as if he were taking care to choose the right words.
“I don’t pretend that my people are better than the other bad guys. Maybe in some ways they are. But at the end of the day, they are criminals. Everett has killed for me. And I know that he would do it again. Hell, if it came down to it, I would kill for him too.”
“Why did Everett kill for you?” Ji-Su asked.
“Long story short, another vampire was obsessed with me. He tried to kidnap me but thankfully Everett got there in time to stop him.”
“Raul said that Cedric was fixated on me and that he wanted to hurt me.”
“Raul was correct.”
When Ji-Su didn’t respond, Solan tilted his head to the side to study him.
“But you don’t think that was worth Raul killing him.”
Ji-Su put his face in his hands and groaned with frustration. Was taking someone’s life, even to protect someone, ever the right thing to do? He thought about it while Solan quietly waited. But when he dropped his hands, he still didn’t have an answer to that question. “I don’t know,” he answered Solan.
Solan’s calm, concerned expression suddenly tightened into something hard, almost fierce.
“Would you rather Cedric have grabbed you one night and you had to hope that Raul was able to save you before Cedric drained you dry?”
“No! Of course not.” The thought of being alone with Cedric again terrified him. He remembered the shock he’d been in that last night Cedric had fed from him and the way he’d instinctively known he had to escape. He didn’t ever want to be in that position again. He shook his head. “I wish Cedric would have left me alone.”
“Yeah, that would have been the best outcome. Unfortunately, some people are just plain evil and want to hurt others for their own enjoyment. Everett might be ruthless, but he doesn’t kill for the hell of it. And I don’t believe Raul does either.” Solan pursed his lips for a moment before he continued. “I have to ask. Has Raul ever hurt or in any way harmed you? Because if he has, then none of the rest of this conversation matters. I’ll walk you out of here myself if he’s put a hand on you.”
“Not once. He’s always been careful with me.” So careful that he’d been holding back during sex, but he wasn’t going to tell Solan that.