King of Envy (Kings of Sin, #5)

by Ana Huang

“You’re the only person I talk to this much besides Willow.”

Dark amusement coasted through his gaze. “Jealous, srce moje?” “Yeah, right.” Heat singed my cheeks.

“Sometimes I have no choice but to speak,” Vuk said. “Those situations are rare. I don’t like wasting my words on people unless…” My heart rate picked up. “Unless?” “Unless they’re special to me.” His eyes remained on the road, but his voice was softer than I’d ever heard it.

Vuk’s hand tensed. After a moment, it relaxed again, and he tentatively curled his fingers around mine. We stayed like that for the rest of the ride.

“Vuk.” A warm smile eased the worry lines around her eyes. “Thank you so much for driving Ayana down and for…everything. You didn’t have to do any of this.”

“You’ll have to excuse me,” she said. “I’m normally not this emotional, but if you hadn’t been at the church—if you’d been a few minutes late—we wouldn’t…I wouldn’t…”

I was the CEO of a multibillion-dollar corporation and a former member of an assassins’ organization, but even I knew better than to argue with a determined mother.

I don’t mind. “I thought you hated people?” She arched a teasing brow. I shrugged. Some people. Not all.

“Dad.” Aaron crossed his arms while the rest of the table laughed. “When are you going to let that go?” “When I grow old, and my memory fails me.”

“If only we had bingo cards,” Ayana said mischievously. “Vuk is the bingo king.” I knocked a warning knee against hers under the table and earned myself a giggle. The sweet, silvery sound reverberated through me.

Tonight had been my first taste of normal since my brother died. The Kidanes weren’t my family, but they reminded me of what I missed most: warmth. Belonging. The simple pleasure of life.

But I saw the way you looked at him last night. You seemed…happy. I haven’t seen you laugh like that in a long time.”

“Joy doesn’t require the absence of grief,” my mother said. “We have the capacity to hold both at the same time. That’s part of the human experience.”

So give yourself grace for the part of you that’s human. You are allowed to feel however you feel.”

“Back to Vuk. That man jumped in front of a bullet for you,” she said a little too casually. “It was quite a save.”

And that skip in my heart when I saw him? Totally normal. His mouth tipped up when our eyes met. My lips curved in return before I remembered my mother was watching. I turned back to find a knowing smile on her face.

I smirked at the sight of my former Special Ops security chief being brought to heel by a woman half his size and twice his age.

He placed a hand on the small of my back and guided me firmly into the shop.

It’s okay. I like hearing you nerd out.

Vuk looked up from his phone, his eyebrows arching again when I thrust the bag at him. “This is for you,” I chirped. “It’s a thank-you present. For saving my life.”

You didn’t have to get me anything. “I wanted to. It’s nothing fancy, but the scent reminded me of you.”

“If you don’t like cologne, I can return it,” I said uncertainly. “Don’t feel like you have to⁠—” No. I want it. Vuk swiftly removed the bag from my grasp.

“Soft woods for the mountains, which you said you liked. A hint of rum because you run a liquor and spirits company. Vanilla, for warmth and comfort.” Which is what you mean to me.

Vuk’s small smile left my insecurities in the dust. I’d forgotten how beautiful he was when he let his guard down. His whole face softened, making him look years younger than he was.

“Thank you, srce,” he said. “I love it.” I smiled back, my giddiness taking flight.

“What does srce or srce moje mean?” I asked toward the end of our meal. “You keep calling me that.” Vuk finished his slice without answering. “Hello?” I waved my hand in front of his face. “Earth to Vuk.” He swallowed and wiped his mouth. It’s better if you don’t know.

You’re not calling me, like, little rat or something, are you?” Vuk smirked but didn’t confirm or deny.

“For someone who can be so thoughtful, you can also be a real asshole.” He shrugged. I never said I was a good person. “I didn’t say you weren’t a good person. I said you’re an asshole.”

“Ahya.” His eyes narrowed. What does that mean? I took a demure sip of water and smiled. “Look it up.” That was when it happened. He laughed. Again.

“His scars are a sign of character, but your actions are a sign that you lack basic common decency. If I were you, I’d have a harder time looking in the mirror than anyone else here. It’s not him who’s ‘ugly’—it’s you.”

Vuk was laughing again.

A teasing edge slid into my voice. “Is that what I am? A distraction?” “Among other things.”

His tone was impassive, but his eyes—his eyes burned so hot and deep,

“This.” That rough, single word was my only warning before he gripped the back of my neck and smashed that barrier to smithereens. His lips claimed mine,

We hadn’t come this far to sneak around in the dark. “No.” My voice was so husky it barely sounded like mine. “I want to see you.”

I didn’t care what strangers or society dictated. Vuk Markovic was beautiful.

Vuk slid into bed next to me. He pulled me close to him, and I allowed myself one indulgent stretch before I curled into his embrace.

it was everything. The walk through the city, the conversations, seeing her relaxed and in her element as she rambled adorably about perfume. The cologne she bought me wasn’t the most expensive or most extravagant gift I’d ever received, but it was the most thoughtful. Vanilla, for warmth and comfort.

The idea of anyone finding me warm and comforting was laughable, but she made me feel like

I could be the person she thought I was. With her, I came the closest to feeling normal.

Somehow, she’d turned my most dreaded day of the year into a memory I would cherish.

She looked so beautiful and peaceful, I wanted to etch this version of her into my brain forever.

P.S. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.

I’ll make it up to you. I promise. A fresh wave of warmth washed away my insecurities. I trusted Vuk. He wasn’t the type to play games. If he said he had an emergency, he had an emergency.

“Um, well…” He wouldn’t care that Vuk and I got together, but it seemed tacky to tell him we’d been fooling around while he’d been lying here unconscious. “It’s Vuk, isn’t it?”

“About Vuk. He’s not perfect, but when he cares about someone—truly cares

about them—he’ll go to the ends of the earth for them. Remember that the next time he pisses you off because that’s sure to happen.”

“I return from the dead and he doesn’t even have the courtesy to greet me with a ‘welcome back’ balloon.”

“If it makes you feel better, he’s more the type to bring a handle of vodka.”

“It was a pleasure being your fiancée, Jordan Ford.” His smile held all the nostalgia of our long friendship. “Back at you, Ayana Kidane.”