HAVOC

by Debra Anastasia

  The farce was an enabler. I avoided getting like that with her to keep her safe and to keep my heart locked.

  I didn’t sleep that morning. I just flopped backwards and stared at the ceiling. I’d had sex for hours, but I wasn’t even close to satisfied.

  Chapter 36

  T

  What I knew about Albany and her role in Breston increased. My focus was sharpened every time I pictured her waving at the camera before going in to fuck Animal.

  He was out of the house by the time I was ready to go to the kitchen for coffee. Nix was gulping down a bottle of water, drenched in sweat. It was a fairly common sight. He worked out a great deal. Sometimes we would go on a jog together. I didn’t say much, and he was happy to be quiet. He was a comfortable person to be around—once you got used to the skeleton ink.

  “I need to get some deeper intel on her.”

  I didn’t have to describe who it was. Nix knew I’d be after Albany. I didn’t take seeking revenge lightly. Neither did he.

  He put the cold bottle to the side of his neck. “I was going to show you what I’d come up with so far, if you want.”

  I put my index finger in the air as a way to indicate that I was interested.

  “Can I grab a shower first? Or is it urgent?” Nix turned his hips toward the stairs.

  “Not urgent. Just important. Becca’s at work, right? Where is he? Where’s Ember?”

  Nix clicked his tongue, letting me know I was right about Becca. “He’s following Ember. She was going shopping.”

  “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  Nix was a hacker and a computer expert. I wasn’t a slouch, but he was savant level accomplished.

  I sat in the recliner that faced the few claw machines he had set up for Becca to play on when she had off time. Apparently, she was addicted.

  He was down in less than five, the tank top and sweats damp in spots that let me know he didn’t dry off completely in his haste to get down here.

  He parked himself in front of the computer and pulled up some passcode protected files. “Breston is a fairly clean enterprise. They’re wildly wealthy. They have their name on everything from shampoo to prescription Proloc.”

  I knew that much. They were a name brand and produced the latest antidepressant. Ironically, they made the drug I hated so much when I was teen. It was eventually recalled. Hell, they made my deodorant.

  “Seems like Breston Sr. is in charge. And he’s been grooming his son to take over the business someday. Of course, there are so many more people involved in that place. It’s too extensive for one person to manage.”

  “So, why are they messing with us? With Animal?” I sat forward in the chair.

  Nix put his index finger on his bottom lip. “I haven’t figured that out yet. There’s some chatter on the sites I visit, but whoever they have on their side’s very good at hiding trails.”

  “Better than you?” I was curious if he’d admit defeat.

  He looked slightly amused. “Depends on my motivation. How worried are you? Is this because they slept together, or do you have a new concern?”

  Maybe it was just that obvious—my devotion to Animal. I was like the dog that lies by the owner’s gravesite forever. Pining. Loyal.

  “He sleeps with a lot of girls. I handle it. But there’s something sinister about her. I don’t trust her. She has too much invested in this whole scenario, and I’m not sure why. She’s tripped some signals for me. Do you not feel it?” I stood and cracked my knuckles. Albany just made me want to hit something.

  “I don’t like it either. He’s trying to keep me out of shit, but I think we have to make sure he’s protected. Sometimes when you’re the king of the hill, you can’t tell when someone’s digging a tunnel underneath you.” Nix turned back to the keyboard. “I’ll find out as much as I can.”

  I stepped closer and squeezed his shoulder. “Thanks.”

  Maybe it was a personal vendetta now, but I could see her poisonous colors seeping out.

  Chapter 37

  Animal

  “Baby girl.” I rolled up next to her in the Hummer as I turned down my music.

  Ember’s megawatt smile was blinding. “Hey, future husband.” She had her headphones in and was carrying a bag from a local boutique.

  “You up to trouble?” I checked in my rearview to be sure I was out of traffic.

  “Every day I can be.” She slid her sunglasses into her hair. She was rocking a high ponytail and bright red lips today.

  “How about I give you a ride?” I leaned over and popped the door open.

  “I only get in cars with strangers if they have candy.” She licked her lips and I rolled my eyes.

  “Get in, jailbait.” She put her bag on the floor and climbed into the passenger seat.

  “I’m perfectly legal. Legal to date. Legal to marry. Legal to…”

  I put my hand over her mouth. “Stop. You’re the equivalent of my younger cousin.”

  She kissed my palm with a loud swack and pulled the door closed.

  I put the Hummer in drive and eased back into traffic. “Where you headed?”

  Ember ignored the question and started opening the various compartments in the vehicle. I took breaks from watching the road and navigating traffic to keep closing the doors on her.

  “You’ll blow your head off if you open the wrong thing. Hands in your lap.” I pulled one of her nosy paws off the console.

  “Can I put them in yours instead?” She was laughing already at my headshake. I knew she was teasing me, but I sensed a little bit of a crush in her, too.

  I was old for a girl like her. And Ember had oats to sew yet.

  “I was going to hang out with Jet and Finn at that Speakeasy Coffee Shop.” She finally stopped fidgeting.

  “They in school?” I clicked the blinker on, heading us in the direction she wanted to go.

  “Nah. Jet thought about it, but never filled out the forms he needed to.” She pulled her phone out and started texting.

  “Sounds like Jet’s a deadbeat.” I passed judgment.

  She snorted. “Well, maybe he wants to be in your line of work.”

  I glanced at her. That wasn’t an off-the-cuff remark. She was seeking.

  “Ember, I have a degree. And I want to get more. I think Doctor has a nice ring to it.” I circled around the block, even though we were near the coffee shop. I’d wanted to have this conversation with her for a few weeks since she’d moved in.

  “Damn. That’s great. Good for you. You’re a little bookworm. That’s so cute.” She blew a bubble and snapped it.

  I looked over my sunglasses at her. “Nothing about me is cute, baby girl.”

  She gave me her full pout. “Promises, promises.”

  “You’re trouble. You’re living in my house, under my roof—for now. I need you to go back to school. The commute is reasonable. I don’t want you wasting these years.” I pulled into the coffee store parking lot and wrangled the Hummer into two spots. I pushed the lock button to reinforce the fact that we weren’t done having this conversation yet.

  “Really? I thought that was my brother’s house?”

  I pulled my sunglasses off and dialed Nix, setting the phone to speaker. I put my finger to my lips to encourage her to stay quiet.

  “Yup, brother?” Nix answered the phone.

  “Baby, who owns the house we live in?” I watched Ember as we both listened to Nix’s reply.

  “Joint custody. You and me. Unless you want it. Then it’s all yours.” Nix sounded like he might be at a gun range, with low pops in the background.

  Ember clouded up at me and spoke, “Nix, I think you’d just agree to anything Animal says.”

  Nix laughed. “If Animal tells you something, just know I agree one hundred percent.”

  “Later, Bones.” I ended the call and slid the phone into my pocket. “You happy?”

  She huffed, “Yeah. Fine. I’ll see if I can make up the work I’ve missed. Or at least enrol
l in some late starting classes.”

  “Another thing.” I hit the lock button again as she reached for the handle.

  “Come on!” She slapped the window.

  “You’re going to have protection. People know you’re with us, which means that you need to be protected.” I used my phone again to send a text to T. With as sexy as Ember was, I wasn’t looking forward to setting up one of my men as her bodyguard. And T was literally the best I had. “She’ll be here in five.”

  I watched Ember perk up. “T?”

  I nodded.

  “Oh, that’s cool. I’ll take that in a heartbeat. Can she take classes with me?” Ember was excited.

  I frowned while I thought about it. If T hadn’t graduated, I could find out what it would take for her to be enrolled. I knew she was intelligent, but I also didn’t want to insult her with the offer. It made sense, though.

  “You like T?” I folded my arms across my chest.

  “Hell yeah. She’s awesome. And she’s not a chatterer. Like when she talks, it’s real shit. I like her. I hope she doesn’t find me too annoying?” Ember bit her bottom lip.

  “I’ve known T a long time. She dislikes assholes. And you’re a pain in the ass, but a nice one.” I looked around the area and saw Ember’s two friends in the coffee shop looking out. Jet had spotted us, but was pretending like he hadn’t.

  He was a young kid, but had street smarts. If he weren’t involved with Ember, I would’ve probably dangled a few carrots his way to see if I could get him in my employ. If he was hanging around her, the less trouble he got in, the better.

  I watched as a familiar Lincoln parked across the street. I looked from Ember to the old man and back as he got out of his car.

  This wasn’t my intention, not today. Merck was crossing the road with a massive grin. Father and most likely daughter were about to meet, and there was no way of gracefully stopping it. Sometimes fate decided.

  Chapter 38

  Animal

  I told Ember to stay put and opened my driver’s side door. I met Merck with a big bear hug. He aged well. Just looked a smidge wrinkled, hair a little thinner—but he was a good-looking guy still. We greeted each other and caught up quickly. I walked around the Hummer with him so we were standing on the sidewalk. I glanced around and saw T. She was waiting until I beckoned for her, seamlessly slipping into the look out task, keeping watch over me.

  I could make out Ember’s silhouette in the dark, tinted windows of the Hummer.

  Merck seemed to be following my gaze. “You’re lucky you’ve got a cop on your side, because that tint is illegal, young man.”

  He was joking with me, the laughter coming easy. I wondered if Merck knew Ember was living with me. How much did he keep track of the little girl he was pretty sure was his?

  I stepped to the side to block his view. “What’ve you been up to? I haven’t seen you around?”

  “Took Kinsey to see her family out west.” His eyes took on the dull glaze that they usually did when he spoke of his wife. I believed in loyalty, but Merck’s devotion to his loveless marriage was something I couldn’t understand.

  He might not know that Ember had left Dorothy’s. Or maybe he assumed she was in college.

  “Um. Hey, just a heads- up…”

  The door behind me snapped ajar. I watched as Merck’s jaw fell open. Nix had mentioned that Ember looked so much like his mom it was eerie at times. I heard him whisper Elise’s name.

  Ember slipped under my arm and kissed my cheek. “As much as I like being your prisoner, I have people to meet.”

  I didn’t look at Ember but watched as Merck registered it all. That Ember was in my Hummer. That she was here. I saw confusion at the familiarity Ember and I had. I pulled her against my side when she went to move away.

  It was time they met. “Ember, meet Merck. He’s family to me.”

  I watched in my peripheral as Ember turned her face to his and put her attention on him. Pain and ache flashed in his eyes.

  “Hey, Mr. Merck. Any friend of Animal’s is a friend of mine. It’s nice to meet you.” She held out her hand for a shake.

  Merck looked from her face to mine, and then down at her hand like it was a snake. Ember looked from me to Merck as her hand hung there awkwardly.

  I was just about to smooth the moment over with a joke, when Merck held out his hand and gently took hers in his.

  I watched him swallow. He swayed a bit on his feet. T was behind him, just off to the side, as if she was waiting for a bus. But she knew what was going down. She’d put it all together.

  He said nothing. Ember giggled, pumping his hand once. “Okay. Catch you around.”

  She slid between Merck and me and turned her back to him while she gave me a what the hell stare.

  T watched as I nodded in Ember’s direction. That was all I had to do. T would stay on Ember until I told her otherwise.

  I stepped next to Merck and put my arm around his shoulder. “Hey, let’s get in my vehicle.”

  He nodded at me, his face completely conflicted. I opened my passenger door and he got in.

  After I was settled next to him, I let him process for a bit. We could see Ember at the table with her friends from where we were parked. She was animated and laughing.

  Finally he spoke, “She looks just like her. Just like her.”

  “That’s what Nix says, too.” I folded my hands on the steering wheel. I’d stay with him until he was ready to move.

  We sat in silence for a while as Merck indulged in watching her. The tinted windows gave him that freedom.

  “All this time, I mean, you must have seen her?”

  Vivacious. Ember lit the whole shop up. People turned their bodies toward her, like flowers to the sun.

  T sat at a table a few down from the crew, watchful. It gave me peace to know she was on it. I could focus on Merck.

  “I had to stop. When she was a kid, it hurt so much. And I was having a real problem not fighting for her. Getting involved.” He rubbed his chin.

  It wasn’t for me to judge. He had to get by in whatever way made sense to him.

  “I mean, what if I got involved and she wasn’t mine? I just…shit, I’ve made mistakes. Maybe.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  “That girl would love a father.”

  I saw the future. This headstrong young lady getting to know the man next to me, who was harder on himself than he needed to be. He was a good man and put his neck on the line for me many times.

  He looked at me like I’d said something shocking. “It’s too late. She’s grown.”

  I shrugged. I wasn’t interested in telling him how to live his life. But this girl, Nix’s sister, she was getting under my skin. Despite her big personality and confidence, I knew that she felt a touch lost. It made sense. She lived with an aunt. One that didn’t seem to mother her up too much. She wasn’t allowed to know her brother. Had no idea who her father was. Or if it was Nix’s nightmare, deceased dad.

  “It’s never too late to love someone.” I fiddled with my sunglasses.

  We were quiet for another fifteen minutes before he spoke again, “How’s her brother?”

  “Nix is good. In love. Happy. It’s nice.”

  I saw a smile inch up on his face. “That’s nice. Kid deserves happy things. His mother wanted him to have good things.”

  “You know, you have an in with me. Whenever you want. I know you’ve always wanted a kid.”

  Merck’s eyebrows drew together. “I have you.”

  I felt my heart kick-start. “Yeah, of course. But you could have her, too. She’d be lucky to know you. She’s dropped out of school. I’m trying to force her back into it. Just a little guidance, you know?”

  “I’ve been scared for so long—to screw up, maybe I can’t imagine making it right.” Merck rubbed his hands on his dad jeans.

  “Come on now. You’re a hero. You’ve protected this city for years and years. She’d be proud to know you. You want me to ste
al some hair from her brush? She’s living with Nix and me.” I kind of regretted offering that because that felt like a betrayal of Ember.

  He shook his head. “I always believed she was mine. I wouldn’t need proof. I mean, if she wanted it, of course.”

  He was starting to think about it. And that was good.

  “You want to come to dinner? Tell her in a safe space?” I snuck a peek at him and watched his familiar face go through a kaleidoscope of emotions.

  I knew he thought about Kinsey, who was still with us despite all of the health issues she faced.

  “I could come to dinner?” He was testing the thought out. I didn’t want to seem too anxious.

  I wanted Merck to have a win. And Ember was headstrong, but an open soul. I had suspicions that a reveal of information and identity would go well.

  “Where’s her aunt?” Merck was picturing all the different outcomes now, like a cop would.

  “She’s still at her house, pissed. She wants Ember to get married. She’s mad that Ember’s living with us.” I put my sunglasses in the cup holder.

  I watched as he weighed Aunt Dorothy’s concerns while tilting his head back and forth.

  I spared him from having to pass judgment. “We recognize it’s not ideal. I’ve got T on her as security.”

  Merck snapped his head around. “T? The T? Your T?”

  Then I was full-on grinning. “Yeah. She’s back. We’re cool. She’s…talented.” I tried to remember that Merck was the other side of the law.

  I pointed her out to Merck.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s wonderful news. I always liked T. Glad she’s back.” Merck grabbed my shoulder and squeezed.

  “Yeah, it’s great.” I didn’t bring up that I smashed her heart to smithereens on the regular like a fucking asshole. “How about Sunday? For dinner?”

  “I think I can manage that. I’ll have Kinsey’s sister come sit with her.” He looked terrified.

  “Send me a text how you want it to go down. Do you want Nix and me to tell her, and then you show up—you want to be the one to tell her? Think on it. Don’t decide now.”