Her revengeful Bastard

Kyle’s vices

*Kai*

Kyle, the future Alpha, is a reckless gambler. I know it within fifteen minutes of sitting him down at a table within my brother's casino. We meet at the entrance to the gardens and ride together in Kyle’s car, not a word spoken, as though my new friend is distracted by the possibilities of the night’s adventures.

Before long, he is going to be distracted by the lightness of his purse.

The casino is dark, loud and filled with smoke. Commoners and nobility alike frequent this place, playing against each other. The tables make all men equal.

Aaron Tempest has strict rules governing behavior at his club. Cheating isn’t tolerated. He has been known to break fingers, and has taken great pleasure in snapping an Alpha’s once.

Titles are left at the door. We have no place in the world Aaron has created within the confines of these walls. I often wondered what would happen if Aaron’s father or one of his legitimate sons walked through the door. I suspect a good many fingers might be broken.

Odd how little care those who had brought their unwanted babes to Mae Tempest’s door had taken to hide their identities. But then what weight would her words carry when compared against those spoken by someone of means, influence and power ? They all thought themselves safe against a desperate widow in need of coins in order to survive, willing to do whatever necessary to ensure her continued existence.

My father, at least, would soon learn he has been wrong to believe himself protected from his sins.

“Does your sister come here ?” Kyle asks, lifting his cards from the table to study them.

I feel a jolt of protectiveness shoot through me. A few women are gambling … not one of them ranked or even giving the appearance they have a farthing to spare, but then their currency usually involves a hiking of their skirts. “No”.

Kyle lifts his gaze to me, no doubt taken aback by my curt response. “I assume she is well”.

“She is”. I say in a clipped tone.

The man grins. “You don’t like me asking after her”.

“‘He's protective of his sisters, he is”. The bricklayer to his right offers.

Kyle looks curious. “Sisters ?”

“He got two of ’em. One’s the daintiest thing you have ever seen. The other not so much. Tall as a lamppost”. The man says.

“I would hate for Gina to stop serving you gin, Billy”. I say, my low voice directed the bricklayer’s way.

He gives me an apologetic smile. “Didn’t mean nuffin’ by it. She’s a fine woman, she is your sister. Just not to me tastes”.

“Button your lip while you’re ahead”. I warn him.

The man give a brusque nod and study his cards as though his life depends on them adding up to twenty one.

“She sounds fascinating”. Kyle says. “She wasn’t with you last night ?”

“She was otherwise occupied”. While I don’t like the inquiries regarding my sisters, I am well

aware it would make him less suspicious if I play a bit along. I signal to a nearby waiter to fill Kyle’s glass. “The woman on your arm … I assume you have an interest in her”.

Kyle downs the drink in one gulp. The glass is immediately refilled. The man seems to have an equal interest in drinking and wagering. “We’re expected to marry”.

Odd phrasing that. Before I can contemplate further, Kyle smiles wistfully. “I have adored her since we were children”.

So there is an investment there. Always more satisfying to take from a man when he has given part of himself into that which is being taken.

“Our parents were close. From the moment she was born, they saw us as a match. Ancient families, political allies and all that”.

Ancient families who fight to keep their bloodlines pure by ridding themselves of the impure who litters their dynasties. I have no plans to be gotten rid of so easily. Satisfaction is to be found in rising from the ashes.

Kyle loses the hand with relaxed aplomb. He even laughs about it, as though money means nothing to him. Easy to do when a man has never done without, has never been forced to scrape the bottom of the barrel for sustenance, has never felt hunger gnawing at his belly, the frigid winds taking up residence in his bones, or the ache of muscles pushed beyond their limits.

The future Alpha signals for more whiskey, then meets my gaze. “I have an interest in investing with you”.

“I’m not currently in need of investors”. I take satisfaction in his words, in the disappointment

washing over Kyle’s face before he downs his whiskey in one long swallow and gestures for

another pour. After the waiter fills the glass, the man simply claims the bottle and bangs it on the table, obviously determined to finish off the contents himself.

“You must have some sort of business opportunity on the horizon. You’re not known for being idle”. He burps.

I raise an eyebrow. “Gathering information about me ?”

“Merely reading the newspapers and gossip rags”. Kyle’s brow furrows. “Although I had no luck finding anything about you in the society pages”.

“Society frowns on my presence”. I give a small shrug.

A sly smile appears on his lips. “Wealth can make them overlook a great many flaws. Wealth as well as the right friends, of course. Someone who could introduce you around. Say, if he were a partner”.

“I’ll keep that in mind”. I give him a small nod.

Kyle seems rather displeased that I don’t jump on the offer. But it will be a cold day in hell before I take any action that will put coins in his pockets.

Although I can certainly see why Kyle seems desperate for money. He has no luck at all at the games, losing far more hands than he wins. His glass is continually refilled with whiskey and tossed back. A man who doesn’t keep a clear head when gambling gets no sympathy from me when he finds himself with an empty purse. By the time Kyle discovers himself in that position, his reasoning ability has deserted him, and he is certain the next hand will reverse his fortunes.

With his signature on a sheet of foolscap, my brother loans Kyle five hundred dollars, which he promptly loses. I doubt it will be the first marker Aaron collects. If Kyle had been able to keep his head from lolling about, Aaron might have loaned him more, but Aaron Tempest does possess a small amount of scruples.

I gather up the future Alpha. “Come along, let’s get you home”.

“I’ve yet to win back my losses”. He drawls.

“Another night, perhaps”. I tell him.

Kyle might be on the verge of nodding. Instead when his head goes back, his eyes slam closed, and he promptly crashes to the floor. I kneel beside him, checking for a pulse. Still alive.

“He’s a drunkard”. Aaron says from just over my shoulder.

I glance up. “Apparently”.

“What are you going to do with him ?” He asks.

“Tonight I’ll see him home safely”. But one night in the future, I will not be so accommodating and Kyle can remain wherever he falls.

I stand to the side while a couple of Aaron’s men trundle Kyle inside the waiting car.

“Christ, you two look alike”. Aaron whispers beside me. “I don’t understand how he can’t see the resemblance”.

I shake my head lightly. “Those on the top never truly look into the faces of those they consider beneath them. Besides, the beard helps. And he’s not looking for a resemblance. You are”.

“Like you and Kyle, Dion and I have the same father and different mothers but we do not resemble each other, not the least. But the two of you … almost like twins”. He says.

“We both look like our father. That will serve me well when the time comes”. I grin. “But you and Dion look more alike than you want to admit”.

He nods. “How long before that happens ?”

“Not long”. I hold up two fingers. “I’ll take the marker”.

Aaron slips it between my extended fingers. I tuck it into a pocket and pat it lovingly. “Now that he knows where the place is, he’s bound to come here without me in the future. Keep a watch over him and send word when he does. His vices will lead to his downfall”.

“And the girl ?” He raises a brow.

I smile slowly, wolfishly. “I’ll be the path to her downfall”.

Leaving my brother where he stands, I climb into the car and settle myself on the seat beside Kyle. It is dim inside the car. Just as well. I don’t want to have to take note of the similarities between us, I don't want to be forced to acknowledge I am related to this man, who has been raised within our father’s shadow.

The resentment boils anew and I tamp it down. I don’t want to contemplate that if my father had farmed me out to another woman, I might not be here now; I might be rotting in the soil instead.

My father. I need another word for the man who has sired me. Devil’s spawn perhaps.

The car comes to a halt in front of a rather modest town house. I was surprised the first time I saw it. Kyle and Anna will live here, I suppose ... Eventually. When they marry. If they marry.

I leap out of the car, then reach back in to drag out my half brother. Another word that doesn’t quite fit the meaning. I have brothers … none of whom carry the same blood as I do, but I would die for each of them without remorse, regret or hesitation. This one, though, this one to whom I actually have a familial bond …

I hand him over to the waiting servant. “Take care of him”.

I want to bite my tongue at the words. What does it matter to me how he is handled, gently or roughly ?

“Can I give you a ride somewhere, sir ?” The driver asks.

“No, thanks. I’ll walk.” I am familiar with the neighborhood, and have been strolling through it quite a bit lately.

Not even an hour later, I am standing outside my fathers residence. My thoughts should be turned toward the Alpha. Instead, I focus on the one room with a light shining in the window on the upper floor, and I wonder if that chamber belongs to Miss Anna. Moreover, I wonder what she might be doing. Reading, embroidering, penning a love letter to Kyle. The latter doesn’t sit well with me. Does she know her precious boyfriend is prone to abusing spirits, to signing away portions of his inheritance for a few more minutes at the gaming tables ?

I wonder if in ruining her, I might actually be saving her.

My laughter echo around me, then I turn on my heel and begin striding down the lane. Kai Tempest has never saved a soul in his life. I am certainly not going to start with her.