Chapter 22

Chapter 22 :

“Dad is so mad at you right now,” Rebecca practically sang as she dropped onto Madden’s couch and plucked one of the ripe go-go berries out of the dish on the coffee table. “But that’s nothing compared to how pissed off mom is. You’re so done for, brother. Can I have your bike when you’re gone?”

He snorted and crossed his arms, leaning back against his trophy cabinet across from where she was sitting. He’d learned a long time ago that while his sister was a dummy, always keeping her well within his sights when she was around his things was the way to go.

Case in point, she was after his hoverbike despite being unable to drive one.

Hell, bitch didn’t even have a license.

“You’re eight days too late,” he drawled, still salty over that whole ordeal.

“What do you mean?” Her eyes went wide, but even her surprise couldn’t mask the flash of maniacal glee she felt along with it. “No! Don’t tell me you crashed it?” She covered her mouth with both hands, laughter spilling past her lips. “That’s your prize possession.”

No duh, that was why she wanted it.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

Madden shrugged. “Buy a new one.”

The old one was totally trashed, reduced to little more than scrap metal. If Berga hadn’t shot that guy in the head, Madden would have. He’d already put in an order for a replacement, a newer model with a few extras thrown in for him to help soften the blow. Custom work like that, unfortunately, took time, which was why he was still waiting even though it’d been a week.

“What are you using right now? Are you just…not racing?”

“I have other bikes.” His collection was extensive, to say the least.

“Yeah, sure, but you’re stubborn. You refuse to use just anything in an official race.”

He sighed. “I called off all the events I was going to take part in and am using a couple of the others just to ride around for fun, happy?”

“I know you well, little brother.” She rested on the plush leather couch, bringing the bowl of fruit with her this time. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. You missed family dinner this past Sunday. After the stunt you pulled with the gala, I thought for sure you’d come home to grovel, but no. What were you thinking? All you’ve done was make them angrier.”

“Our parents will get over it.”

“Will they?”

“What other choice do they have?” Madden said. “It’s not like they can magically start relying on you.”

Her eyes narrowed and she tossed one of the go-gos at him, the fruit pinging against the center of his chest. “I’m just as talented as you are.”

“Sure, in the nursing field.” Which Madden knew very little to nothing about. It also wasn’t a job he’d ever had any interest in. “As far as everything else goes…” He laughed and caught the next go-go tossed his way, popping it into his mouth and giving it a pointed crunch that had them both snickering.

“Well, let’s hear it. What could possibly keep my perfect little brother from the traditional family dinners? You haven’t missed a single one our entire lives. Remember when you came down with the flu and still insisted on attending? So, where were you?”

Fucking Berga.

“There are rumors, you know,” this time when she took another fruit, she refused to meet his gaze, “ about you and the Butcher.”

“I—”

“See him from time to time,” a new voice stated, and they both turned to find Berga strolling in through the back door. He slipped out of his lab coat, folded it over an arm, and carefully placed it on one of the stools by the bar. His movements were meticulous but also pointed as he moved toward the mini fridge and grabbed a can of beer for himself.

“Been here often, huh?” Rebecca drawled, eyeing Berga down with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

“Once or twice.” Berga sipped lightly at his drink but left it at that.

“I’m curious if it’s what I told Yuze to say at the gala, or what you told those idiots the night they attacked that’s caused the news to spread like wildfire,” Madden said.

“So, for the record, you’re not so bluntly pointing out that since I made a public statement first, it’s most likely my fault we’re the topic of gossip throughout the city?”

“Are you denying it?”

The Butcher considered and then decided on, “No.”

Rebecca let out a low whistle. “Hey, guys, I’m still here, remember?”

“Would you like another drink?” Berga offered, holding up the can he was sipping from to indicate he’d grab her a beer from the fridge.

“Don’t drink anything he hands you,” Madden warned, only partially joking. He eyed Berga down warningly. A dark, disgusting part of him couldn’t help but wonder if Berga would have chosen differently that night if Rebecca had been present.

Would he have asked her to fuck him instead and kicked Madden aside?

Would the two of them now be exploring a possible relationship together?

Was he seriously getting jealous over his own moronic sister?

“Relax,” Berga took a can from the mini fridge and brought it over anyway, setting it down in front of her. “I’m not going to drug her drink.”

“Thanks.” Rebecca ate another piece of fruit and reached for the can.

“I drugged the berries.”

She coughed and spit it out in her palm immediately, and Madden stood unsure of what to do.

“Good Light.” Berga laughed. And laughed.

And laughed some more.

“You Odells are so gullible. I wasn’t even here when you served the fruit, and I haven’t been anywhere near the bowl. How could I possibly have done something to it?”

“That is so not funny!” Rebecca said, but she was smiling now and gave a sigh of relief. “I didn’t know you could tease people.”

“I’m not very good at it,” Berga replied. “More often than not, it comes off threatening.”

“Yeah, to be honest, you’re absolutely terrifying. It’s nice knowing you have a cute side too.”

“I’m happy you think so.” The Butcher smiled at her a little broadly.

Madden didn’t feel the same way. He was used to watching the other man fumble to make connections with others, but here the two of them were, their repertoire instantly clicking with ease.

He didn’t like. Didn’t like the idea of someone else getting along so well with the Butcher. Especially considering the circumstances.

“Do you want to fuck my sister?”

Berga blinked at him. “What?”

“Do you want to have sex with—Ow!” One of the couch pillows slapped him across the cheek and plopped to the floor at his feet with a thud. He glared at Rebecca. “What the hell?!”

“Quit asking shitty questions,” she stated, rolling her eyes before turning to Berga. “Forgive my idiot brother, he’s supposed to be the family genius, but he can be seriously dense sometimes, you know?”

“Oh,” the corners of Berga’s mouth quirked upward, “I know.”

“Anyway,” she stood with a flourish and set the bowl down on the table, snatching up the beer, “since you now need to ream him out for sharing your secret relationship, I’ll get going. Make sure you don’t miss the next family dinner or mom and dad will kill you, little brother.”

“Fuck off,” Madden grumbled, still a bit sour that she’d made him seem like a kid fighting with his sibling by tossing that pillow. The Butcher seemed to care about stuff like that, about not coming off childish.

She stuck out her tongue at him and then winked at Berga before humming as she practically skipped to the back exit where the Butcher had just come from.

“I’m pretty much interested in men, just to be clear,” Berga stated. “And no, I don’t want to have sex with Rebecca. What an odd thing to worry about.”

“It’s just, you seemed to like her just now.”

“Yes, because she’s your family and I want to get along. How many people exactly,” Berga drawled, drawing Madden’s attention off his traitorous sister and back his way, “did you tell about us?”

“Baby—”

“Don’t baby me.”

“Butcher,” he corrected. “It’s not like that. Some people found out when I sent Yuze in my place to an event. You were unconscious at the time and I didn’t want to leave you alone, that’s all.”

“If that were all, they wouldn’t have had to know the reason for your absence.”

“So I made sure they were made aware.” He shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. Kelevra doesn’t care about our relationship anyway. My parents…Honestly, I have no idea how they feel because, as you’ve heard, I skipped out on family dinner. It doesn’t matter what they think anyway. They aren’t important.” They couldn’t technically control Ma dden, in any case. Not when he was the best friend of the Imperial Prince.

Berga rubbed at his temple. “Baikal Void will not feel the same way as Kelevra Diar. I made a mistake that night when I warned people away from you.”

“How can you be so sure?” His mood instantly soured, but he kept his composure.

“Because I am. Flix says—”

He snorted. “Flix again.”

“This is serious.”

“So am I. All you ever do is talk about Flix.”

“Sure, but all I ever fuck is you, so,” he mimicked the shrug Madden had only just given. “It’s too late to deny it now. I’ll have to do damage control.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure it’s made its way throughout the entire Brumal by now, and look? You haven’t been summoned and scolded so—Hey! Where are you going?” Madden shot forward and grabbed onto his arm when Berga meant to leave.

“I have to talk to Baikal,” he said. “It seemed like he was fishing for a confession the other day. If I put this off any longer, it’ll only make things worse.”

“Worse how.”

“He won’t like the two of us together. If he orders me to stop seeing you—”

“You’d do it?” He dropped his hand. “Just like that?”

Berga’s brow furrowed. “Wouldn’t you? If Kelevra demanded you stop seeing me? ”

“I…” Wasn’t sure, actually. He should do it. Kel was his leader, and he was honor-bound to listen to him, but… “We agreed we’d figure out what this really is between us. I don’t want to end it until we do.”

Madden didn’t want to end it, period.

“Why am I trying to hold onto someone who doesn’t want me?” he mumbled to himself.

“I want you,” Berga corrected. “You have no idea how complicated you’ve made things for us, though. Idiot.”

“Wow.”

Berga went to his lab coat and pulled a small black box from his pocket, tossing it to Madden with a huff. “Here.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a gift. During my research, I learned it’s customary to bring gifts to your lover.”

Before he could stop himself, he was grinning like the idiot he’d just been accused of being. “Really? Cute.”

Madden opened the box and took in the two small black orbs. “Earrings?”

“They reminded me of your eyes,” Berga explained. “You have really nice eyes. They suck people in and make them forget things for a while.”

It was a morose way of putting it, but he wasn’t about to complain. Madden removed the gold hoops he had in and replaced them, rubbing his thumbs over the smooth surface of the tiny studs. “How do they look? ”

“Great.” Berga cleared his throat and glanced away.

“Are you embarrassed?” Why did he like that so much? “I didn’t get you anything.”

“You could give me that.” Berga pointed to the spot between his legs, but before Madden could take even a single step toward him, he added, “Later. I really have to go and find Baikal now.”

“How about after our first date then?” he suggested, chuckling when that gave Berga pause. “What? We haven’t had one yet. We should.” He tapped his chin. “What should we do? Movies? They’re playing some pretty filthy ones over at the Seaside. Are you into porn?”

Madden didn’t watch it often, since there was always a willing warm body whenever he felt like it, but it could be fun to watch it with the Butcher. To see what his reactions might be viewing other people getting it on.

“What do you usually do for fun?” Berga asked, cutting through the fantasy brewing in Madden’s mind.

“Ride, mostly.” He didn’t really have any other hobbies aside from that one.

“Let’s do that then,” Berga said.

“You want to…ride hoverbikes? As a date?” Madden gave him a once-over. “You do recall I’m a pro racer, right?”

“Don’t think I can keep up with you?” Berga clicked his tongue. “How about this? A bet. One lap around the main course. Winner takes all. ”

“What do you consider all ?”

“If you win, I’ll tell everyone in the Brumal we’re dating, consequences be damned. If I win, we make sure everyone knows we’re just having fun with each other and it’s nothing serious.”

Madden’s eyes narrowed. “Is that what you think, Butcher? That we’re nothing serious?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” he said. “It matters what Baikal and the Brumal elders think. Things are…tough over there right now. He only just took the throne from his father, and there are still older members keeping their eyes peeled for any mistake they can call him out for. Our true loyalty is meant to be with our organizations. Not with each other. You know that.”

He did, but that didn’t change anything for him.

Maybe that was selfish.

Maybe he didn’t really care one way or the other.

If he happened to make things harder for Baikal? Who cared. The guy was still the Dominus, he’d figure his shit out. The only thing that truly mattered to Madden was Berga. Since he was willing to make this bet, did that mean he wanted to expose them every bit as much as Madden did?

He couldn’t actually believe he’d beat Madden in a race. That would be ridiculous. Hell, he could count on one hand how many times he’d lost since opening the Docks. The Butcher didn’t stand a chance .

That had to be it then. The Butcher must be using this as an excuse, a way out for himself. A way to force his hand into admitting this thing between them was real and thriving.

If that’s what he wanted, Madden was more than happy to oblige.

“All right,” he said. “It’s a deal. Wednesday evening. There’s nothing official happening here that night. We’ll race, and then I’ll take you out to dinner.”

Berga nodded his head. “It’s a date.”

It was.

And it was also one step closer to Madden owning the Butcher, completely, and openly.