Havoc

Chapter 9

Grim

“The last I heard, she was staying in with Dale. They were gonna cook together or something.” Jesse shrugged. “My guess, Minnie caught wind of this morning and convinced her to come.”

I hissed through my teeth, beyond pissed I hadn’t had a heads up she was here. My mind slipped back to that morning and what Jesse told me happened. I’d deal with Sasha, but Sonny was my real concern. Where there was shit going down, Sonny was close by.

“Want me to keep an eye on her?”

I looked around at all the people I knew. I sure as hell wasn’t about to chase after trouble. I gave him a quick nod. “Anything happens, come tell me. Hopefully, she’ll manage to go one day without getting herself in trouble.”

“Understood.” He turned to leave but stopped himself. “Grim, when have you ever known Leal to go off like that? He’s usually glued to your leg unless you give him the okay.” I looked down at Leal, who seemed completely unfazed by what happened.

“It was odd, I know. I never even saw him go.” I shrugged it off and pulled the chick back on my lap when she returned. I needed something to tame my erection.

“Ooooh, someone’s ready for some fun.” Kelly returned and started to grind on my lap, and I let myself go. determined to enjoy myself.

“Hey.” Brick sat down next to me and kicked his feet up. I eyed him and silently let out a long breath through my teeth. He seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He pursed his lips as he studied the chick on me.

“I need another minute.”

“Seriously?”

“Or maybe you should take a walk.” I warned her not to push me.

“Whatever.” She slid over to the other chair next to her chatty friend, and I gave him my full attention. I caught her pout, but she was smart enough not to say anything more. She kept a protective hand on my knee, but I ignored her.

“Vinni’s here.”

“Really?” That was news to me. Vinni was Elio’s cousin, and I hadn’t seen him in a long time.

“He pulled Trigger aside. I’m waiting to hear what’s goin’ on.”

“I am, too.” I went quiet as I thought for a moment, and the girl’s hand began to slide up my leg. I caught it and pressed it back to my knee. She got the point. I was interested in what Brick had to say.

“How much do you know about Simon?” He studied me.

“Simon Gable?”

“Yeah.” I could tell it was a loaded question.

“Not too much, just that Cameron hired him a while back. He’s quiet and doesn’t get in my way, so that’s a plus.”

“It is.” I could tell Brick needed more, so I searched my memory.

“Dad said he’s a bit of loner but is one of the best private investigators in town. He’s good at finding shit.”

“Good.” He rubbed his face.

“Why do you say that?” We never bullshitted each other with small talk; it was always straight to the point.

“Apparently, he did a job with my brother about a decade ago.”

“Really?” I knew Brick had a brother who’d disappeared. I figured the guy was probably dead and buried somewhere a long time ago. Happened all the time out in the desert. He’d been looking for him since before I even knew him. I heard from Morgan that he’d only ever had one lead, and it pointed to Mexico. Apparently, it was a dead end. “Does Simon know where he is?”

“He’s got someone working on it for me.” He looked over. “Do you trust him?”

“I don’t trust many people,” I shrugged, “but aside from the fact that he works with Cameron, he hasn’t given me a reason not to.”

“Yeah.”

“This fucking with your head?”

“Mm.” He sipped his beer. “I finally got Jilly into rehab again, not that it’ll fix anything,” he rolled his eyes as he talked about his sister, “but at least I know where she is. Thing is, it’s given me more time to think.” He paused, and a painful expression took over. “I never knew my old man, Mom was a fuckin’ waste of time, and Jilly’s been basically dead for most of my life. I guess I want to know…” He trailed off.

“I get it,” I murmured.

Brick barely talked about his personal life, so the fact he’d shared even that much meant his brother preyed heavy on his mind. “Don’t know,” he started mid-thought, “I just need this loop,” he pointed to his head, “to stop spinnin’. It’s fucking up my life.” I knew he meant Minnie. She’d hinted enough times that she was concerned about Brick.

“You and your brother have two different moms, right?

“Yeah, my mom was the other woman.” He made a disgusted face. “She got knocked up with me when my brother turned seven. Guess she showed up at one of his birthday parties with me in her arms and Jilly in her stomach. Let my brother’s mom’s family know what Dad was up to when he was away at the club. It got ugly. Jilly was only six when Mom died. That was a fucking nightmare in itself.”

“I bet.” I knew his past was rough. “At least you got Tess.” It was Brick who brought Tess to work at the club’s bar years back. They’d been good friends, and she needed a place to go. It was how Trigger met her.

“Tess was the best thing that ever happened to me, next to Min, of course.” He gave a half chuckle. “Thing is, it feels like I’m chasing someone who doesn’t want to be found, ya know?” And there lay the root of Brick’s pain. If his brother was alive, why hadn’t he ever come looking for him?

“Would you know him if you saw him? It’s been a long time.”

“I think I would.”

“So, let Simon dig. What’s the harm? You won’t lose if he comes up empty. If he does find him, you win. If he tries to screw you, snap his neck. It’s a win-win, if you ask me.”

“You sound like Rail.” He chuckled and seemed to let go of the topic and relax. “Have you seen—” Suddenly, Leal stood and gave a low growl and looked off into the crowd.

He turned and looked at me, I gave a tight nod, and he raced off. Leal had been taught to sense when danger was around. It was one of the reasons I often left both of them in my suite. Leal in particular had issues with some of the people I dealt with at the hotel. I told Zhar to stay with me while his brother went off to check out the source of whatever bugged him.

“Second thought, I’ll be back.” I told Brick and ignored Kelly’s protest for me to stay. I whisked off in the direction Leal had gone with Zhar on my heels. I slowed as I lost which way to go, and Zhar took over the hunt and ran ahead.

“What the fuck!” a guy yelled, and I picked up speed.

“No, don’t.” I heard Kenna’s voice. “Stop! They won’t hurt you.” I ran behind a trailer and saw Kenna holding her hand out palm up to some guy who had a gun aimed at my dogs.

I saw red.

I didn’t break stride and drilled my fist into the side of his head. It bounced off a propane tank, and he went down. I whirled around and took in the sight. Kenna’s bra strap hung down, and her hair was messy.

“Back,” I warned the dogs, who were agitated and ready for a fight.

“Un-fucking-believable.” She tossed her hands in the air.

Was she nuts? Back here with some random guy? The stories the girls must have shared with her about these parties should’ve been enough to scare her off.

“First, they want to rip my throat out, now they want to protect me? From what?” She ran her hands through her hair as she eyed the dogs. “So, what? Now I can’t even have sex!” she yelled and looked furious enough to rip my eyes out.

I wanted to laugh, but my head spun to the point of pain, so I reached out and shoved her against the side of the trailer. She shoved me back, and I grabbed her hands and pressed my body into hers.

“Did you let him kiss your neck?” I breathed her in and felt my mind slowly untangle my murderous thoughts. “Did he scrape his teeth down your skin?” I latched on to her neck and swirled my tongue around before I sucked and scraped the way that I knew she loved.

“No,” she confessed in a moment of weakness. Good. “Where’s Kelly?” She tried to use her body to thrust me off again, but I took one of her hands and pressed it to my painful erection. Immediately, she wrapped her hand roughly around me the best she could through my jeans and squeezed hard. It was just what I needed, and I unleashed my dark side. All I could think about was getting a taste of her.

I grabbed her by the hips and lifted her on the storage trailer. She kicked off her thong and thrust herself toward me, and I pulled her close, so her knees hit my shoulders, then spread them wide.

I could feel the heat from her as I leaned forward and licked the seam of her arousal. The moment her taste hit my tongue and traveled to my brain, I turned into an animal that had just gotten the first taste of a kill. Everything in me turned hard before I dove deeper inside her, wanting it all.

“Holy shit!” she cried. Her fingers raked through my hair. My brain turned off as I lost control and fed on her. She bucked and wiggled and screamed as I held her. There was no escape for either of us. The more she screamed, the more I wanted. She wrapped her legs around my head, and the spikes of her heels clawed at my back. The sound of the strained leather only fed my addiction.

“Grim, I can’t take it!” she screamed, and I turned savage. “Yes! More!” she screamed again as she ground her sex into my mouth. This chick chased after her own death with me.

Things started to push through my mind, Leal leaving my side without permission earlier, Kenna being back here with some asshole, Sasha’s hands on her.

Stop!I pushed the intrusion away and drove all my focus back on her. But I was losing it.

I placed both hands on the top of her ass and lifted her off the trailer and sucked hard on her bud, making her fall apart in mid-air. I took every last thing I could from her then pushed her higher and savored the moment. I let her weight fall back against the side of the trailer and put my hands around her throat, then I tore them away and ripped my mouth off her with a frustrated growl. I whirled around and placed her down on the trailer bed.

I needed space. I felt caged and wild. I wanted more but knew it wouldn’t happen now. Her taste lingered on me, and I closed my eyes to control myself. I heaved in a breath and clenched my fists to try to gain some control.

She was lain out flat, her chest heaving as her fingertips dragged up and down her thighs like she still rode out her orgasm.

“Fuck.” My stomach coiled and my erection beat painfully to my heartbeat. I’d done that before, many times, but this was the first time I had a hard time stopping. I almost feared for her life.

“Anyone see Grim?” A voice that sounded like Vinni’s traveled across the trailers.

“We should go.” I eyed her.

“I’m good right here.” She rolled her head to see me, and her eyes looked relaxed and content. I envied her that look.

“I’m not leaving you alone.” I reached up and pulled her down to the ground. She pressed her hands against my arms to stabilize herself.

“My panties?” She held out her hand like it was back to business as usual. I ran my gaze down her gorgeous body and snagged her thong. I gave her a look and tucked it in my pocket.

“Fine.” She brushed by but couldn’t hide the fact she had shaky legs. We walked to where the others were gathered around the firepit. Vinni was there in conversation with Brick.

“Vinni, what brings you to the party tonight?”

“I wanted to thank you. Well, Elio does, too, but he wanted to personally ensure Tieri got back to Italy.”

“Understood.” I knew that feeling. There were some things you just needed to do yourself. I eyed Kenna. She had made her way over to Rail, who laughed at something Trigger said.

“Which brings me to this.” Vinni turned to address the group. “Once Elio gets what he needs from Tieri and Rosa, we’re going to hold a party to celebrate an end to a very long chapter. It will be in Italy, so I hope you can come.” He looked at Trigger as he said it, and Trig held up his beer with a nod.

“Fuck, yeah,” Rail called, and the rest of the group shouted their excitement. We all knew the story of what happened back in Italy with the Capri family, and this celebration was overdue.

“Count me in.” I nodded politely. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Happy to hear it.” He raised the phone in his hand to eye the screen, and I caught the incoming caller. “Excuse me.” He stepped away. “Hey, Wyatt.” I caught his happy expression. I spotted an empty chair next to Kenna and sat in it.

“By the way,” Minnie held up a half bottle of champagne and grinned over at me, “Kenna’s here.”

“Thanks a lot, Min.” I glared at her. I reached down and patted Zhar who had bumped my hand for attention. Leal was still on edge but listened when I told him to sit. I scratched his ear, and he leaned into me. I knew they both wished they’d been able to draw blood back there. I felt their pain; we all needed a good de-stressor.

“Any word on the son-of-a-bitch who keeps callin’ ’er?” Trigger looked over at Kenna, who laughed with Rail again, then his eyes were back on me.

“She hasn’t mentioned it.”

“She’s nearly naked.” Tess chuckled as she leaned over Trigger’s lap. “Where would she put a phone? Besides, she told me she needed a night. Can’t we give her that?”

“Yeah.” Trigger sipped his drink, and she smirked at him like there was some inside joke going on.

“Oh, fuck, Min,” she hissed across the group, “this should be good.” I turned to see what they referred to.

“Trigger,” I lifted my whiskey glass to my lips, “please tell me he’s not DR.”

“I didn’t patch him in.” There were only a handful of times I’d seen Trigger truly smile, and this was one of them. I kicked my leg up to rest my ankle on my knee and stroked Zhar’s head as I watched.

“Oh, come on,” Kenna muttered as she turned her body toward me. “You’re dead, Tess,” she hissed.

“I’m sorry.” She giggled. “That’s Dillon. We introduced him to Kenna earlier.” Tess filled me in. “Grim, help her out.” I looked down at Leal, who yawned.

“Don’t you have something to do?” I said to the pup, but he only offered me a disinterested huff. “I get it.” I chuckled. I did notice he hadn’t taken his eyes off Kenna, though. Interesting.

“Keep moving, man.” I waved Dillon off as he looked at Kenna. He pulled in his chin and looked a bit confused but knew better than to approach.

“Kenna,” Minnie took her attention, “I wanted to ask you about Yen Hong and that new clothing line he’s thinking of bringing to the US.” I sat back and tuned out their conversation.

It didn’t take long for a few more guys to spot Kenna and start to migrate over like the cockroaches they were. It was the rules of the party. If you didn’t have a chick on your lap or a man to give them a death stare when they looked at you, you were fair game. And Kenna’s scent was in the air, blowing in their direction.

“Ah, shit,” Tess grunted. “Oz is here. He’s got a habit of being hands on, and most of the hang-around chicks at the club steer clear.” She turned to Trigger. “Babe, maybe you should put the word out she’s taken.”

“We got eyes on ’im.” Trigger attempted to ease her nerves. Leal got to his feet.

Good boy.

I’d never claimed a girl while I was at this party. I wanted the freedom to do whoever I wanted when the urge took me. An alien thought came to me that I did feel some sort of protective vibe when it came to Kenna. I tried to shake it off. Most likely, it was just that the worst of the worst of the DR and their friends were sniffing around her. She wasn’t like one of the women who often came to these things. She was different. Or maybe it was just where I’d had my mouth a few minutes back.

I tapped the armrest of the chair as I thought of all the ways I could kill the lookie-loos. They’d scattered when Oz appeared, but I knew they weren’t far.

“Hey, boss,” Jesse said quietly. I leaned a little toward him. “I hear Sonny’s been asking where Kenna is.”

“I see.” I cleared my throat and wished I also could get a night off from all the shit going on.

“Leo told him that she was having dinner with your mother.” Then he chuckled. “By the way, it was your mom’s idea for him to say that.”

“Good.” I nodded. I was pleased Mom thought of that. She and Kenna were close enough that it was believable. I was still pissed that Sonny hadn’t given up; the guy was relentless. I breathed through the anger that boiled inside me. Why was he targeting her? To get to me? Because she hadn’t been involved until just recently. What had changed?

“I hate to add this, but there’s more.” Jesse cleared his throat, and I knew I wasn’t going to like this one either. “Leo said something made Cameron lose his shit. Worse than normal. He pulled Sonny into his office, and when he left, he ordered his men to move out. Something not right there.”

“Fuckin’ isn’t.” Trigger had been listening and spoke up. “Meet in my trailer in ten.” We nodded in agreement.

“What a fucking shit storm,” I hissed under my breath to Trigger as Jesse stepped back. “I knew that was going to be crazy, but things are fucking spiraling.”

“Ah, Grim.” Tess nodded over my shoulder, and I saw Oz about to approach. Leal instantly stood in front of Kenna with a warning to back off.

I clamped my hand down on Kenna’s thigh and made a circle of eye contact with those around to make it known she was taken. I was still pent up from earlier, and I had no desire to deal with a bunch of assholes.

“I didn’t know you belonged to the reaper.” Oz addressed Kenna directly and avoided eye contact with me. “You like the heavy, dark shit?”

“You’ve no idea.” Kenna ran her hand up my arm.

“What trailer’s yours?” Oz never went down easy.

“Mine,” I answered sharply, and his gaze cut over to me.

“I see.” He didn’t back away, and I knew he pushed the line with me because of the guys who watched. Oz had an ego that often needed to be brought into check.

“I’m glad you do.” I lifted an eyebrow and tilted my head at him, and he raised his hands but looked at Kenna.

“If you change your mind, I like dark ’n dirty, too.” He leered at her then turned and walked off. I glared at the others who hovered, and they finally got the hint. Kenna was off limits; it wasn’t going to happen.

“Come with me.” I pulled Kenna to her feet and walked her over to the picnic table in front of Trigger’s trailer. Once we were away from the others, I stood in front of her. “I have a meeting in there. Stay here until I’m finished.”

“Excuse me!” She folded her arms, and her eyes shot flames. “I appreciate your help getting rid of Oz, but I’m?—”

“Going to stay the fuck right here,” I interrupted. “Kenna, just do as you’re told.”

“Champagne, anyone?” Minnie plunked herself down at the table, and Tess joined her. “Don’t even bother arguing, Kenna. Girl, moments like this, it’s best we just stay here. Ask Tess.”

“It’s true. The moment the guys aren’t here, shit starts.”

“Fine.” Kenna sighed and sat next to Tess.

“Let’s go.” Trigger hiked himself up the step into the trailer.

“Boys.” I made a hand motion, and both dogs sat near the girls. I did a quick scan of the area then joined the others inside.

Trigger, Brick, Rail, Morgan, and Jesse all waited as I came in. Triggers huge tailer was simple but high end. These parties rarely slowed, but I knew the guys and their women would often settle in here late at night to hang out.

“Jesse.” Trigger looked at him to share what he knew.

“I’m waiting on something else, but this just came through from Gavin.” Jesse connected his phone to Trigger’s big eighty-inch TV, and we watched the footage from the security cameras. “Something pissed Cameron off tonight, which brought Sonny to his office.” We watched as Sonny arrived with three of my security team. They made sure he went into Cameron’s office then settled to wait in the hall.

“Doing their job,” I added, pleased my team did as they were trained to do. Jesse nodded.

“They were in there for maybe four minutes,” Jesse narrated. We saw the door fly open, and Sonny looking fit to kill. “Then Sonny left. He seemed even more upset than Cameron was.” The camera feed switched to the elevator where Sonny made a call asking for someone to ping Matt’s cell.

“So, he did find out about Matt’s death tonight.” Jesse looked at me, and I knew we were in for something wild when we got back to Vegas. Matt and Sonny had been close for years. “Okay,” I let my mind go, “if Sonny found out about his business partner being dead, that would explain Sonny’s behavior but not Cameron’s. Something’s not adding up.”

Brick addressed the whole room. “Maybe Cameron had Matt on retainer. That would explain why he’d be upset he lost another client.”

“Matt has a lawyer, Peterson and Lowell,” I answered. “They’re in Chicago.”

“Oh, shit,” Jesse pulled our focus to him again, “look what I just got. This is the last time we can find any video footage on Matt Myers.” He switched the TV to an outside feed, and Brick instantly tuned in. We watched as Matt and two other men walked inside Minnie’s club.

“Fuck me.” Brick hurried to the door and pushed it open. “Minnie, get in here.”