Kings & Chaos

Kings & Chaos Aventine University Book Two Sadie Hunt Blackthorn Press Contents Kings & Chaos 1. Willa 2. Willa 3. Willa 4. Willa 5. Neo 6. Willa 7. Willa 8. Rock 9. Willa 10. Willa 11. Willa 12. Oscar 13. Willa 14. Willa 15. Willa 16. Willa 17. Willa 18. Rock 19. Willa 20. Willa 21. Willa 22. Willa 23. Neo 24. Willa 25. Willa 26. Willa 27. Willa 28. Willa 29. Willa 30. Willa 31. Willa 32. Oscar 33. Willa 34. Willa 35. Willa 36. Willa 37. Willa 38. Willa 39. Willa 40. Willa 41. Neo 42. Willa 43. Willa 44. Willa 45. Willa 46. Willa 47. Willa 48. Rock 49. Willa 50. Willa 51. Willa 52. Willa 53. Willa 54. Willa 55. Neo 56. Willa 57. Willa 58. Willa Links Kings & Chaos Aventine University Book Two Sadie Hunt All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in review. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Copyright © 2023 by Michelle Zink and Zink Media All rights reserved. Chapter 1 Willa “Again,” Rock said. “Inhale, then squeeze nice and easy while you exhale.” It would have been easier to focus on the gun in my hands if he hadn’t been behind me, his dick pressed up against my ass in jeans, his muscular arms lined up with mine as he showed me how to fire the gun. I took a breath and focused on the chest of the silhouetted target at the end of the lane. I exhaled, nice and slow, and squeezed. The sound was still a shock, even with the headphones we had to wear at the shooting range. It had been two weeks since the fire at the cabin, and I’d spent both Sundays with Rock, learning to fire the weapon in my hands. Rock stepped away and pressed the button to bring the target closer. I forced myself not to look at him, because looking at him was too damn distracting. Besides, I already knew what I’d see: a blond god with shaggy hair, sea-blue eyes, a grin that could disarm the world’s biggest cynic, and a body that made me want to tear off the jeans hugging his thighs and the T-shirt that showed off the muscled landscape of his chest. I knew that’s what I’d see because I’d been trying and failing not to look at him all fucking day. The target floated toward us on an electric pulley. I held my breath as it got closer, hoping I’d hit it this time. “Look at that!” Rock said when it was close enough to see the bullet holes. “You hit the shoulder.” “I was aiming for the chest,” I grumbled, “like you said.” After everything that had happened, my instinct was to aim for the head, but Rock had told me to start with the chest since it was a bigger target. “You weren’t far off,” he said. “And at least you hit the target.” The words would have been snide coming from Neo, but they were sincere from Rock. “I think you’re ready to go it alone.” “You think?” We’d spent our first day at the range going over gun safety, reviewing the parts of the gun and the mechanics of how it worked. Then, I’d fired it a few times with Rock behind me, the sexiest fucking training wheels a girl could ask for. I’d never fired the gun alone, and I’d assumed we’d spend today practicing together. “Definitely,” he said. “I’ll be in the next lane if you have questions. Just remember the safety rules and keep practicing.” He stepped away, and I had to admit that I missed the press of his thighs behind mine, the safety of his arms wrapped around me. I had to remind myself that he wasn’t safe. None of the Kings were safe. But it was hard for my body to believe when I was wrapped in his arms and feeling like nothing in the world could touch me. Fuck me, these guys were confusing. I spent the next forty minutes firing the weapon in my hands, getting used to the recoil, the sound, the idea of shooting to kill. The last part wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I just imagined Dean Giordana and the masked man who’d dragged me into the cabin. I imagined them digging my grave, throwing my body into it, covering me with dirt. Then I imagined them doing it to Emma, to all of the missing girls. I fired again and again, letting my mind go blank of everything except the target, aiming for the chest until I started to hit it. Then I started with a fresh target and aimed for the head. When our time was up, Rock stood next to me while the target drifted up the lane. There were a few misses, but there were also several holes in the silhouette’s head. Rock beamed down at me, and I swear, it was like having the damn sun on my face. “Look at that. You’re a natural.” I smiled in spite of myself. “Thanks. Does this mean you’ll get me a gun?” It was a point of contention. My near-death at the cabin had put a lot into perspective, and the biggest thing of all was that the Kings had been right: I had to be able to protect myself. And I couldn’t do that tiptoeing around, stealing the Kings’ guns when I felt like I was in