Havoc

Chapter 18

Grim

“I’m sorry to interrupt your evening, Grim.” Talya stared across the table at me. I hadn’t seen her since I moved back from Mexico. “But we do need to talk.”

“So you’ve said.”

“Breathe, Grim.”

“Not until you tell me how you found me here.”

“I have my ways, Grim.” At my expression, she made a face. “Oh, for God’s sake, I phoned Jim.”

“Forgive me, but you’re the last person on Earth I thought would show up here like that.” I nodded at her belly.

“Relax,” she rolled her eyes, “it’s not yours.”

“Clearly.” I waved at her to take a seat. “We’d had to have had sex for it to be mine.” Talya had been in love with someone else, but her parents would never have allowed it. When I arrived in Mexico years back, they wanted us to hook up. They were determined she’d marry a man with wealth. Over time, we’d become good friends, and we made a deal to pretend to date to keep her parents happy. It worked for me because it allowed me to develop a relationship with her family. They were big in the local drug trade.

“We’d have made gorgeous babies.” She shrugged.

“Perhaps in another lifetime.” I was fond of Talya but had no interest in being pulled into her world.

“I could use a new lifetime.” She caught a tear with the back of her finger. “Look, Grim, things aren’t good right now. As you know, my parents planned to move their business farther into Rosarito. Things took a bad turn when you left Mexico.”

“So I heard.”

“After Castillo died, it became a war. Any chance your army friends want a round two?”

“They weren’t friends of mine,” I explained, “just acquaintances.” Trigger had let Talya know about the plan to take out Castillo. He knew she held no loyalty to her parents, but she was loyal to her people. He didn’t want to risk her being in the line of fire when the hit on Castillo and his crew went down. Though she was ruthless in her own right, and not someone you’d want to bring to a family dinner, she had a heart.

“Regardless,” she handed me a piece of paper, “your ‘acquaintances’ may want to check this out the next time they use their satellites, nanny cams, or whatever they use now to know when and where we’ll be.” If she only knew just how closely they all were being watched. “It’s time for my generation to step in and take the helm.”

“I can pass it along.” I tucked the paper in my pocket.

“Grim, Papa got a call from a man a few days after you left,” she said in Spanish as some people walked by. We both knew what it could mean if anyone overheard us. The cartels’ reach was wider than anyone could imagine.

“From who?”

“I don’t know,” she leaned forward, “but this man also has a problem with you. He offered a way for Papa to cause you great hardship.”

“Which was?”

“Your hotel.” She watched my face as that sank in. “The man said there were people looking for work, and they would be more than happy to do the job. I guess they are messing about with your workers.”

“I see.” I tried to curb my temper. “Well, that’s already been dealt with, so…”

“Grim,” she squinted at me, “open your eyes. The word is out that you’re the mark. Vegas is the prize, and that pretty young thing upstairs, she’s just as connected to all of this as you are because of your family and your mutual biker friends. Someone wants to control Vegas and is determined to take you and everyone you love down. You’re tangled in a web, Grim, and the spider is heading your way.”

“Why me? Us?”

“Because you control the drugs, you have the most wealth, you’ve teamed up with the bikers and the Italian mafia, and you’re a powerful man many want to see fall. Then they will swarm in and take the spoils.”

She studied me as I digested her words.

“What’s your father’s next move?”

“That, I’m not sure,” she tapped her fingers as she thought, “but whoever it was that called him sounded like he was going to see this through to the end.”

“Did he have an accent?”

“To me or to you?” She smirked. “He sounded like you.”

Fuck, that narrows it down.

“Grim, on a whole other subject.” She suddenly looked unsure. “Do you know where Eric is?” She rubbed her belly.

“Is Eric the father?”

She paused as though she wanted to control her emotions then nodded.

Oh, fuck.

“It’s the only reason I’m keeping it,” she admitted. My chest tightened. I felt grief. This would not go well for either of them. “Do you know where he is?” she asked again.

“No,” I lied, and I knew she caught it. She nodded a few times as she processed why I would lie. Fuck. I didn’t like the position I was in. “Talya, did Eric ever say anything to you? Anything to explain where he went?”

“No. But I know Eric loved me.”

“He does,” I corrected. I didn’t know the real Eric, but I knew the day I saw him with all his Blackstone army friends that he loved her.

“Something tells me that he won’t be coming back anytime soon.”

“Not in the way you’d think.” I should shut my mouth. I’d already crossed a line.

“Okay.” She took a deep breath.

“What do your parents think?”

“They don’t know.” More tears fell. “I left when I started to show.” She rubbed her belly again, clearly in love with the part that was Eric. “Their only daughter pregnant by a man who worked for Castillo?” She forced a dark laugh. “I just need some time to figure this out.”

“If I ever could find Eric,” I cleared my throat, “would you like me to pass along anything?”

“No.” She shut me down flat. “I need to think. Maybe sometime. I’ll let you know.” She stood, and I joined her. She hesitated for a moment then leaned over and hugged me. “Be careful. There is a lot of darkness around you right now, and I’m scared you can’t see it all.”

“Thanks, Talya. You know I care for you. Look after yourself and…” I nodded at her belly.

“Yes. But, Grim,” she pulled back and stared up at me with such concern that I almost reached out for her, “please keep my baby a secret until you hear from me. I’ve already put a target on my back talking to you, let alone having Eric’s baby.”

“I will.” I intended to keep that promise; my loyalty was with Talya, not Eric.

“I’m going to my cousin’s place in Mexico City.” She pulled out an envelope with Eric’s name written on it and handed it to me. “Por favor, when you hear from me, get this to him.”

“Okay.”

“We never spoke, and I was never here.” She turned on her heel and left without a backward glance.

I caught Jesse’s worried expression as he approached me. “Well, that was unexpected.”

“Her father Jerry was behind my hotel shit,” I grunted and pulled my jacket off the chair and shoved my arm in the sleeve. It was too tight. Leo must have my jacket. “The fucker still made a play after all I’d done for him over there.” We moved through the bar and into the already open elevator. Two women giggled at us, and from the smell of them they’d been out at the bars. I hit our floor number and glanced at Jesse. “I think it’s time we sent him a message.”

“I think so.”

“We’ve been warned countless times about,” a giggle from behind us reminded me we weren’t alone, “how we’re a mark. I think it’s time we send them all a message.”

“Light some shit up?” Jesse’s eyes twinkled. “I’ll make some calls.”

“Good,” I huffed, and my mind spun with the night’s events. The doors opened, and the tipsy chicks stumbled out. They waved as the doors shut.

“And she’s pregnant?” Jesse whispered, no doubt terrified it was mine.

“She is.” I eyed him when I felt he’d held his breath long enough. “Eric Noah’s the father.”

“Oh, thank fuck!” His hand hit his chest, and I turned to look at him. “Sorry, boss, but you’ve got something much better going on with Kenna.”

I had to agree but then felt my walls shoot up. “She’s fun, but that’s where it ends.”

“Sure, boss.” He chuckled as we headed down the hall. I stopped at Leo’s door and went to knock but stopped myself. I heard something crash and chuckled to myself. This was our last night of vacation, Leo and Paige could use the fun.

“Leo’s got a good thing going.” Jesse smirked.

“Yeah, and so do I. Which room?” I asked Jason as he joined us.

“She’s in yours.” His face was unreadable.

Excellent.

“Call you later.” Jesse waved as I slipped into the suite. I heard Jesse’s door close next to mine.

The room was dark and, to my surprise, rain beat at the windows. I tossed my jacket on the bench and saw Kenna on the couch. She watched the rain as it poured down the massive windows. We rarely got to enjoy that in Vegas. Her dress hung over the dining room chair, and she was in one of my dress shirts. So, she hadn’t gone to her own room yet. Interesting.

“Hey,” I called softly. I wasn’t sure if she had heard me come in.

“Oh,” she swiped her cheeks quickly with her hand as she stood, “I, ah, I wanted you to know that both contracts are submitted. Your father’s beyond happy with your progress, and he can’t wait to celebrate when we get back.” Typical Kenna, dove right into business.

“Good.” I tossed my phone and keycard on the tall bar top. “Nice shirt.” I eyed her nipples as they poked through the fine Italian fabric.

“I needed to change but didn’t want to risk missing you before you went to bed.” She came close and joined me at the bar. She leaned over and rested her arms on the marble slab. I enjoyed the way my shirt exposed the bottom of her ass. “Grim,” she swallowed, “I think maybe we should end the physical part of us.”

I felt a flash of anger at the thought. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” she tried to sound confident, “though these last few days have been great, I think maybe we should end it now. While things are good. I mean, so many things are coming at us. We need to focus on that. You know, Secrets and Chef Trahan and everything.” She was all over the place. “Besides, you’ve got some other things to worry about now.”

“Such as?”

“Grim.”

“Kenna?”

“Don’t be an asshole.” She sighed loudly, and I stepped closer. “If the baby is yours, I don’t want to get in that way of that.”

“It’s not mine,” I purred and slipped my hand under the shirt to feel the back of her smooth thigh. I was happy she wasn’t wearing any panties.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Quite.” I tugged her against me.

“Not to point out the obvious, but since we’ve been having sex, you haven’t worn a condom. I told you I took protection and we both know we’re clean, but was she? Protected, I mean. How can you be so sure?”

“First,” I swatted her ass hard enough to make her head stop spinning with nonsense, “you’re the only woman I haven’t used a condom with in a very long time. And second,” I sat her up on the bar and moved between her legs, “Talya and I never had sex. She’s in love with the guy who got her pregnant.”

“Really?” She bit her bottom lip, and I leaned in and kissed her neck.

“Really.” I drew in her skin to mark my spot. Everything inside of me hardened, and my head went light with her taste. I quickly undid the few buttons that blocked her bare skin from me.

“Grim, why don’t you wear a condom with me?”

“I want to feel all of you.” I knew she’d said something, but I didn’t hear her, I had a one-track mind—to be in this woman. I grabbed her breast and caught her nipple with my lips as I used my free hand to ditch my pants. Her fingers tangled in my hair and pulled as she gave in to me. There was no need to prime her first. She was ready, and her body shimmered in what little light there was in the room. I lifted her hips and brought her forward and cried out as I pushed into her.

I wrapped her legs around me and carried her to the pool table where I laid her flat out in front of me. “Lose the shirt.” I helped rid her of it. I lifted her legs straight up and wrapped an arm around them, giving me a different feel. I moved in and out a few times and felt a wild thrill rush through me. Her breasts bounced and her lips parted as I got as deep as I could. She was wild as she moved against me. I saw her need was as strong as mine.

“And if I was to get pregnant?” Her words barely registered as I felt my eyes roll back in my head. I swore her body sucked me in tighter at each thrust.

“I’m not going to stop fucking you, if that’s what you’re wondering.” I was so captivated in that moment I could hardly form a word. Her face twisted and a sheen of sweat broke out over her forehead with her efforts. All I knew was I needed even more. I let go of her legs, reached back for a pillow, and pushed it under her lower back. She moaned and bucked as I went even deeper inside her. She had to reach back and hold on. I went wild at the sight of her then flipped her over to take her from behind. She clawed the felt and cried but took everything I gave her.

“Fuck, woman,” I palmed her ass and increased my attack on her, “you drive me to madness.”

Her sounds of delight as she finally let go drew me to a headspace I’d never achieved before, and everything inside me tightened then exploded in white hot light. It was pure bliss and serenity rolled into one. I wrapped my arms around her waist for an anchor as I tried to hold on to the best feeling of my life.

When I could see straight and my lungs returned to normal, I peeled off Kenna and helped her to stand, then I took her chin in my hand and looked into her exhausted eyes. Then I scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom and laid her down on the bed. I crawled in next to her and slipped back inside.

“Just when I didn’t think it could get any better,” she murmured in a dreamy voice, “you go and do that.” She reached back and patted my hip.

“Remember that when you’re talking shit about ending our physical relationship.” I drew her closer to me and locked her in place with an arm. I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with the scent of her shampoo. I was totally relaxed as I relished the moment of us being alone and me back inside her.

Her breathing evened out, and just when I thought she’d fallen asleep, she whispered, “It’s all fun and games until one of us finds someone to fall in love with.”

I stilled at her words; my insides twisted with a sudden insane jealousy. I tried to brush away the foreign feeling that invaded my body, but it didn’t work.

Shit.

* * *

Kenna had woken before me,and I was pissed to find myself in an empty bed. I quickly showered, changed, and packed my suitcase after I stomped through the suite and realized she was gone. I cursed when I read the note that I found on the bar top. I’d had other plans for her.

Meet you downstairs. - Kenna

I swiped the keycard off the table and headed downstairs where she and Jesse sat with the other two security guys as they enjoyed their coffee.

“Coffee, black with a dash of sugar.” Kenna handed me a cup as I joined them.

“Thanks.”

She questioned my mood. “How could you possibly be grumpy, this early in the morning?”

“I wasn’t finished with you yet.” I didn’t care who listened at that point. Jesse snorted into his mug but wisely didn’t comment.

“There’s always tonight.” She lifted a brow.

“Nice to see you listened.”

“Well,” she leaned in, “you put up a good fight.”

“I do love a good fight with you.” I hooked her waist and smashed my lips to hers.

“Grim,” she whispered when I let her go, “careful. People might get the wrong impression.” “What? That we’re fucking?” I chuckled but as I said it, something pinged in my chest, and I had to look away from her.

“Anyway,” she brushed off my comment as she looked around, “where’re Leo and Paige? She said she’d be down for coffee before we all left for the airport.”

“They’re probably going at it again,” I huffed and glanced at my watch. I shook my head as I remembered he’d taken a bottle of champagne to his room. “Let’s go get him, Jesse.” I waved for him to follow while the other two guys stayed with Kenna.

“I’m glad we’re heading back,” I admitted. “I’m ready for a few bouts in the ring once we’re settled.”

“I would’ve thought you’d have worked out a few kinks on this trip.” Jesse grinned, and I swatted him on the back.

“I’m still a little amped up.” I laughed. “I could’ve gone another round before coffee.” I shot him a grin, feeling pleased with all the fuckery I had gotten this trip.

“Leo!” I knocked on his door. “Get your ass up. You’re late!”

“I take it you smoothed things over with Kenna, then?” Jesse matched my grin as he sipped his coffee.

“When have you ever questioned my sex life?” I waited for Leo to drag his ass to the door.

“Never, but this isn’t just about sex, my friend.” He laughed, knowing he was getting under my skin. “I’m thinkin’ it’s more than that.”

“Well, thanks for the heads up.” I banged on the door again. “Come on, man.” I pulled out his spare keycard and held it up to the screen.

“You can deflect all you want, boss,” Jesse started in again as I pushed the door open, “but I’ve never seen you care about anyone the way you do about Kenna.”

A sudden surge of adrenaline tore through me, even as the blood from my head plummeted to my feet.

Instantly, we both pulled our weapons, and I stood frozen as Jesse swept through the suite. I locked eyes with my brother. But Leo’s stare was lifeless.

“Clear.” Jesse’s voice sounded miles away.

“No.” My arm fell as my weapon suddenly became too heavy to hold. I dropped to my knees near my brother and tried to make sense of what I was seeing.

“What the fuck?” Jesse was at my side.

Leo lay on the floor in the center of what looked like the middle of a compass, legs in positions that were inhuman. He looked like he’d been stripped bare and draped in white linen. A bundle of sage smoked beside him, and animal bones and bowls of chicken feet and hair defined the circle. A knife protruded from his chest.

“What the fuck?” Jesse repeated in disbelief.

The blade was buried in the center of my brother’s heart.

“It’s like some kind of crazy voodoo ritual,” Jesse whispered.

My brother was an offering to the gods; my brother was a sacrifice.

My body slowly shut down. Inside my brain, I felt the doors slam shut one by one. Pain flooded my head. Then I felt myself harden as I knelt and studied my little brother. There was no time to mourn.

“Oh, God!” Kenna’s cry registered with me as she came into the room, “Grim?” She covered her mouth as she stepped into my line of vision. I could barely look at her; I was rooted in space. “Leo.” She swallowed back a sob as Jesse went to her. “Who could do this? Why?”

“Jesse,” I ordered. He turned her away, but she pushed past him and made a strange sound. I tilted my head and studied her as she bent over to look more closely at Leo.

“Don’t touch anything!” Jesse grabbed her arm.

“Wait,” she blurted but pulled her hand back. She seemed to focus on Jesse’s arm. “Oh, my God.” Kenna’s horrified expression made me wonder what she saw that I didn’t. I looked at the scribble of lines without emotion.

“What?” Jesse glanced at me then back at her.

“I think I know that symbol,” she whispered and pulled out her phone to snap the morbid photo.

Anger rushed through my blood and filled the emptiness that had taken hold inside me. The possibility she could possibly know anything about what had happened in this God forsaken hellhole burned.

“How could you know anything?” My voice boomed through the room, and she jumped.

“I,” she stumbled as tears flowed down her cheeks, “I might be wrong, but?—”

“Jesse, get her the fuck out of here. Get her to the airport. Send her home.” I couldn’t breathe.

“Grim,” Jesse said softly, and I glared at him and warned him to tread carefully, not to say anything other than yes, boss. “What about the situation back home? Should she go back alone?”

Fuck.

“Give her two men.” I turned my back to them.

“Go with Jason, Kenna.” I heard her crying softly as Jesse spoke to Jason, then he came back inside.

“Grim,” Jesse’s voice made me focus for a moment. He put a hand on my shoulder. “Paige.” I turned and looked where he pointed toward the window. She lay naked, half-buried in a pile of clothes on the floor. I spotted my jacket next to her.

Jesse was on the phone then. As he made a few calls, I tried hard to pull myself together. I needed to take action; I knew things needed to be done.

Something stuck out from the breast pocket, and I forced myself up off the floor and walked toward it. I removed a handkerchief from my pocket and picked it up. The Hanged Man tarot card. What the hell? A memory from the night before rushed back. The man who bumped into me at the bar. I flipped it over and saw a signature on the back as Jesse came to my side.

“Leo took my jacket last night. My God, this was meant for me, not him.”