Havoc

Chapter 25

Grim

The noise in the bar faded in and out as I thought about Leo and how I was never going to see him again. Death was a normal thing in my world, but if I was honest with myself, I thought if any one of us was ever going to go, it would have been Knox because of his reckless behavior. It was why I’d hired an extra security team to watch over him—not that he knew. He was young and stupid, but I’d give up my life for him in a heartbeat. I was the oldest. It was my job to protect them, and I felt sick that I was still alive and Leo wasn’t.

“I know that look.” Elio sat down next to me. I couldn’t believe he’d come all this way to support me in the loss of my brother. I knew he had a lot to deal with back in Italy. “I can’t imagine losing one of them.” He nodded to his cousins Niccola and Vinni, who were like his brothers. “I can’t imagine how you must feel, but I do understand loss. I lost Sienna, perhaps not in death, but twice in my life I had to face that terrible feeling that I’d never see her again.” He sat back and studied those around us, then pointed in Kenna’s direction with a question.

“She’s just a distraction.”

“Perhaps no longer.” He shrugged and nodded toward Benny. He had his hand on her hip as she moved aside for someone to order at the bar. A tiny part of me clawed out from behind the curtain in my head and begged me to rip his hold off her. I squeezed the glass in my hand then put it down before I cracked it.

“All right, I’m here now as a friend. Tell me what you need me to do.” I knew he referred to Leo. “All my resources are at your service.”

I licked my lips and knew if I was going to catch whoever killed my brother, I’d need to go loud.

“Get the word out I’ll give a million US for anyone who can tell me who did it and two if they bring him to me alive.”

“Done.”

“But,” I ripped my eyes from Kenna, “I want proof.”

“Of course.” We both sat in silence. I knew Elio had a network of people who could get the word out quicky and effectively, not just here in the USA but across multiple countries. Transnational organized crime had no limits. My family were well known, and there were no borders or rules that would stop someone who wanted to hurt us.

Elio tapped his temple. “Be careful in here.” He lowered his voice. “Trigger spent most of his life lost inside his head, thanks to his father. Allen was truly a cruel man. I’d hate to lose another of my friends in that darkness. Remember, it was only the love of his woman that pulled him back from that awful place.” He glanced at Tess, who seemed to realize she was being talked about and looked over and smiled. “Leo wouldn’t want you to go full Grim Reaper.” He paused. “Well, perhaps a little.” He grinned to lighten the mood.

I appreciated that he cared. He was a lot more vocal than Trigger. I thought about our friendship over the years. I was a mix of the two of them, and maybe it was why the three of us hit it off so well. We not only meshed in the business world but also in our love of the ring.

“Just so it’s said,” I needed him to know, “I appreciate you coming, given what you’re dealing with at home.” I knew he’d finally captured Rosa and Tieri, enemies of his family he’d been hunting for years. “I’m glad you got those two. I’m sure they’re on ice until you get back.” He had to be itching to get at them for all they’d put him through. There was a side to that, though, that appealed to me, so probably to him as well. Let them sweat over what was to come.

“This is where I need to be. It’s what friends are for, Grim. You’d do the same. Besides,” he chuckled, “I believe my Sienna is enjoying her time with them.” He gave a sinister grin. “I need to let her have her fun. She suffered considerably at their hands.”

“Well, in that case, I’m happy for her.” I felt the corners of my mouth tug at the dark thought of his wife having some fun with those who had tried to destroy her life.

“I heard you have someone on ice yourself,” Elio mused, “one of the men who was involved with hurting Leal and Zhar?”

I nodded. “He’ll be our dessert after our evening drinks.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Any ideas in mind?”

“No clear plan, but you know how I love the snap of bones. It’s been too long, and I’m savoring the moment. I want it to be something we’ll all enjoy. Their pain is just what I need at the moment. Lots of pain.”

“Trigger and I, of all people, understand that need.” He nodded and looked up as

Niccola called out and held up a phone. “Mi scusi.” He slipped back into Italian as he stepped away.

“Well,” Minnie draped her arm along the back of the couch Elio had just vacated, “you want the good news or the bad news?”

I cursed inside and waited for her to tell me.

“Your bother just arrived with Calli hanging on his arm.”

Great. Her sister’s here. I spotted them. Knox had his back to us as he chatted to someone. I hadn’t spoken to him since I’d punched him at the meeting.

“And the good?”

“I lied about that. It’s worse. You’re about to have a visitor. She’ll be here in about five seconds.”

“Who?” I wasn’t ready to deal with anyone else. It had been a bad enough day.

“Your skin tag of an ex.” Shit. Jenelle. “You want me to kick the vagina flap out or run interference for ya? Oops, too late.”

I stilled as Jenelle’s hands slid over my shoulders before she leaned down to kiss my cheek.

“Oh, baby, I just heard about Leo. It’s just terrible.” I closed my eyes and controlled my temper. “What can I do?” She moved around the couch and sat on my lap then wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Getting off his lap would be a start,” Minnie muttered, and Jenelle threw her a dirty look.

“Jenelle,” I pushed her hips away from me, “off.”

She pouted and swiveled to sit next to me, obviously not registering my tone. Shit, woman, read the room.

“Grim,” she ran a hand over my leg, and I rubbed my head as I tried to think, “why don’t we go to your place and get a drink? I know I can make you feel better if you let me try.”

I pushed to my feet and whirled around.

“Jenelle, I need you to back off.” I stalked away from her. I caught Minnie’s grin and knew she and Tess would be only too happy to help. I stopped at my usual corner of the bar, and the bartender immediately came over. I pointed to the Lagavulin, and he nodded. I needed something different, and the strong, peaty taste of that single malt seemed perfect for my mood. “Three fingers.” He didn’t miss beat and filled the glass with a good three ounces then tapped in a little extra. Thank god someone was able to read a room.

“Anything else? Mr. Gates?”

“No.” He’d know to put it on my tab, as usual, but I tossed an extra twenty down. He thanked me and was smart enough not to linger. I sipped my drink and let my head have a moment. I forced out the noise and tried to push back the anger that had consumed me since Leo’s death. I allowed myself a few moments to look around. Fucking Jenelle had the most impeccable timing. She’d always seemed so blind to how I felt. She couldn’t take a hint when it smacked in her the face. I watched as Minnie and Tess seemed to have her pinned at the table. I turned away and scanned the crowd.

What the fuck was he doing here? Simon watched Kenna from a spot near the door. My mind went back to my conversation with Dad. I didn’t trust him. He sure as hell wasn’t welcome up here in my space. Anyone connected to Cameron Tame was my enemy. Well, I guessed I made a few exceptions. I glanced over at Kenna. My eyes then went to her sister, and I closed my eyes briefly as I fought the pain yet again. My anger burned hotter than ever. The whole damn Tame family was nothing but trouble. Look where it got Leo. I took another swig of the strong scotch and tried to calm myself before I did anything I’d regret.

Knox’s voice found me. “Hey.” I ground my teeth; I wasn’t ready to deal with him. I wanted to be alone. “Grim?”

I refused to look at him and hoped he’d get the hint. I just took another drink and stared into the glass.

“Look, I know things were said the other night, and I know things haven’t been great since you got back from Mexico, but are we good?”

I ignored him and watched as Simon moved closer to Kenna, and I felt my temper rise, if that was even possible. I felt my brother’s eyes on me, and he sighed and turned to look in the same direction I did.

My head went back to the video Hanna had taken and wondered what the rest of the conversation had been between Simon and Sasha that day. As far as I was concerned, he was just another predator in the grass until proven otherwise, and I didn’t like the fact that he seemed to have his sights on Kenna. An unexpected wave of what felt like jealousy took over, and I tried to stomp back the need to protect. I’d never shared that it was Simon on the video talking to Sasha with anyone but Dad.

“Grim, will you just listen? I know you think I’ll never measure up to Leo, but I want to try. I hope you’ll give me a chance.”

“This isn’t the time, Knox,” I warned.

“Look, I just wanted to say things are getting more serious with Calli, and I was thinking that maybe she and I could be something more. I know now isn’t the time, but I could use some brotherly—” I held up a hand to him as Simon went to the bar and a moment later threw back a shot while glaring at Benny, who had put his hand on Kenna’s shoulder. They both laughed at something. He seemed to make a decision and pushed his glasses up his nose and took a step in their direction.

Fuck that.

“We’ll talk later.” I brushed by Knox and blocked Simon’s approach. With my back to him, I hooked Kenna around the waist and pulled her away from Benny. “We need to talk.”

“Hello to you, too.”

I ignored her tone. “You need to leave.”

“Excuse me?” She laughed. She pulled in her chin and stared up at me. “Who do you think you are?” I knew she was appalled at my behavior, but I didn’t care.

“Kenna, just come.” My hand flexed on her hip, and she allowed me to draw her away from the bar a few steps. The heat from her body hit me in a wave, and I drew in her scent. Shit. I felt an intense need to throw her down, and I shook myself. “Let’s not forget you’re being watched and?—”

“So, what? I should go back to my suite and hide when I have a motorcycle club, the Italian mafia, and the Vegas Reaper,” she pressed a finger into my chest, “two feet away from me? She studied my face. “Something tells me I’m safer here than in my lonely suite.” Her gaze flickered for a hair of second, and I found myself wondering how she was doing with everything. I had enough sense to know she’d been shaken by all that had happened but just as quickly reined it in. “I don’t think I’m being watched anymore. I haven’t had any texts since the desert. Besides, Rail tried to bait him, but nothing happened.”

“That’s news to me.”

“Everything okay?” Benny came up to us. His eyes dropped to my hand that was still on her hip.

“No.” I glared at him.

“Yes,” Kenna smiled warmly at him, “we just need a moment.”

“Kenna,” I warned, “you need to leave.”

She glared at me, and I pulled her in closer to me as I saw Calli’s face and knew she had just spotted Kenna. Fuck! Just my luck. Two hardheaded sisters about to go at it.

“Maybe I’m the one who should leave.” Benny read the situation, or maybe he noticed Kenna didn’t pull away.

“That would be a good idea,” I agreed.

“Grim, seriously?” Kenna put a hand on her hip.

“I gave you an order,” I reminded her. Her cheeks flushed as she swallowed back her comment. She turned to address Benny.

“I’m sorry for his rudeness and the fact that he thinks he can order me around.” She cut her eyes back to me for a moment. “He’s delusional at times and just needs to be put in his place. If you could excuse us, I’ll be back in a moment.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me to follow, but her sister stepped in our path.

“Oh, look what’s at the bar.” Calli snickered. “I thought you said we hadn’t ordered any adult entertainment tonight, babe,” she tossed over her shoulder to Knox, who wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

“Really, Calli, now?” Kenna rolled her eyes and looked at Knox. “You could do so much better, Knox.”

“Enough.” I couldn’t take their arguing. I pressed my hands against Kenna’s waist and steered her away from them to the far corner where it was slightly quieter.

“When I give you an order, I expect you to follow it,” I said through clenched teeth.

She whirled around and stuck a finger in my face. “When are you going to get it through your thick skull that I don’t take orders from you?” she yelled, and I saw Benny make a hasty retreat toward the exit.

“I need you to listen, for Christ’s sake.” I gritted my teeth and tried to restrain myself from choking her. “We’re leaving. We have someone to deal with.” I allowed myself a moment of satisfaction at the thought of inflicting great pain on that waste of space downstairs. It would give me just what I needed, if only for a while. “I want you to go back to my suite and wait for me there.”

“I’ve got a friend here. I can’t ditch Benny two nights in a row.”

“He just left.” I raised an eyebrow. “Unlike some people, he can take a hint.”

Her shoulders sagged as she shook her head in defeat. “Damn you, Grim, your hints are far from subtle. You use your big scary—” she paused and moved her hand around “—ness, to lead people to believe I’m yours. When I’m not. Why do you do that?” She stared right at me, and I threw my wall up so her words couldn’t affect me. “You need to learn to back off and stop playing mind games with everyone.”

I rubbed my chin and took a moment as I eyed Simon, who watched us from the bar.

So, I played dirty. I didn’t care.

“Look, Kenna, I’d like you to go to my place, because as much as I can’t believe it, you worked your way past Leal’s defenses, and I think it would do him some good to see you. He was shot, after all, and is still healing.”

Her face softened, and I knew I had her. It wasn’t a complete lie; I’d never seen anyone get as close to Leal as she had.

She lowered her head and took a deep breath. “What about Zhar? How will he handle me being there?”

“He’ll follow his brother’s lead,” I reassured her. “He’ll warm up if Leal does.”

“Fine,” she looked away, “for Leal.”

“For Leal.” I hid that I was pleased I won. “Jesse will take you down.”

“I think I can manage.”

I opened my mouth to protest but shut it again. I needed to pick my battles. “Fine.” I walked her to the elevator to ensure Simon had no opportunity to approach her.

“Grim,” she turned as she stepped inside, “I…” Then she shook her head. “Actually, never mind.” She dropped her hands as the doors closed.

“Ready to spill some blood?” Brick asked from behind me. “I know I am.”

“Yeah.” I immediately shifted my brain to what I needed to do. I heard the others come up behind us.

“We’re all here,” Jesse let me know.

“All right, and Jesse?”

“Yeah, boss.” He moved to stand in front of me.

“Simon’s at the bar.”

Jesse nodded. “I’ll get Jason to watch him.” He made a call as we headed downstairs.

* * *

My friendsall leaned against the wall as they waited in anticipation to see what kind of entertainment I’d bring them. I was known to be a tad theatrical with my kills. After all, with Trigger and Elio’s reputation for their own inventive styles, I had to keep up. I smiled at the memory of a few momentous pieces. I could have used the mine, but dropping someone into that dark abyss and simply hearing them scream for help just didn’t seem ruthless enough. No, I needed more.

“Who hired you?” I directed my question to the piece of shit who stood tied to a heavy cinder block by one of his legs. His face was badly beaten, and he cradled one of his arms I’d had a bit of fun with as my introduction to the event. As much as I wanted to beat him until his last breath, I needed to feed my internal hunger for revenge for my boys and Darcy. Not to mention my company deserved something a little different, and who was I to deny them that? Something a little extra, particularly for Leal.

The man boldly chuckled, and I mentally rolled my eyes. They always had a set of balls until they saw what I would bring to the table.

I studied my watch and for half a moment wondered what Kenna was up to in my place. Her scent had worn off my bedding from when she’d lain with Leal, and I secretly hoped she’d lie down with him again so it would return. The scent of that woman did wonders for my head.

“Jesse.” I flicked my hand, and he turned on the water. It gushed from the side of the wall and pooled at the man’s feet, thanks to the slope in the floor.

“I’ll take a drowning any day.” He looked unimpressed, and I just smiled and let him think drowning was all he’d have to endure.

I looked around at my friends. Trigger watched, expressionless, while Elio whispered something to Niccola with a smile. Rail shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he ran his mouth to Brick about all the possibilities I might come up with. I could feel the anticipation build. Unlike the battered fool before me, they knew me well.

“One Gates down, four to go.” The man snickered and drew my attention back to him. My eyes clouded as a loud, ear-piercing ring filled my head.

“Jesse,” I called again. My voice was laced with a menacing darkness, and the mood in the room changed as I slowly let the reaper in.

A door slid open, and a sixteen-hundred-pound Nile crocodile wove his way into the room. He looked exceptionally pissed off and swung his head left then right as it looked around for its next meal. His handler and team provided a safe barrier for me and the others.

The croc suddenly set his unblinking reptilian stare on the bloody man who stood in three feet of water.

“Fuck me,” Rail said gleefully. “It’s like Christmas and a Sunday picnic all rolled into one.”

“How could you know?” The man’s suddenly terrified expression latched on to mine. There was obviously something I wasn’t getting, and it made me wonder. “That’s impossible!”

I kept my expression unfazed as I tried to read his mind. I glanced at Jesse and caught the same interest in his face as he gave me a quick glance.

“I’ll ask you one more time.” I kept my tone even. “Who hired you to go after my dogs?”

He eyed the croc as it sank under the water and licked his lips, then he looked at me as if weighing his options.

“Ah…” The handler looked unsure. I knew he wondered if he should step in and stop the kill. “It’s a matter of seconds now, Mr. Gates.”

I opened my arms as if to say you have seconds left to live.

“It’s poetic, really,” his battered face nodded, “to be killed by one of our own.” The croc lunged and snapped his jaws around his hips and rolled with him under the water. The huge jaws tore his body apart as he violently shook him like a toy. The water turned red as he slammed his body hard and his torso was severed from his legs.

A sense of unease dampened my enjoyment as I watched the man being ripped limb from limb by those incredible jaws. What had he meant?

“Jesse.”

“On it, boss.”

I knew Jesse would already be on the new information, and as he left, Elio and Trigger approached.

“Fucking first.” Trigger flipped his long forelock back with a swipe of his hand.

“Impressive,” Elio agreed. We all watched as the croc finished up. His handler waved his men off to let the reptilian beast finish his meal.

“Shall we meet later to discuss this rather interesting new information?” Elio looked at me then at Trigger.

“Give me a little time,” I needed time to process, “then I’d appreciate the help.”

Instead of bringing me a little peace, I felt wound up and worse off than before. I didn’t look back as I left and headed for my place. By sunup, there wouldn’t be a trace of what had taken place with the croc. The man who had hurt my boys and killed Darcy had been erased from this Earth, and the croc would go back to his tank until his special skills were needed again. I should feel a lot better, but the words he’d spoken with such acceptance replayed in my head.

I burst through the doors of my suite to find the living room empty. She better not have fucking left! The bedroom was empty, but Leal lay resting on his bed with Zhar not far from him. They both looked up at me but stayed where they were. I could smell her perfume and knew she’d been there.

“Where is she, boy?” I gave Leal’s head a pat. He yawned and let his head flop back down. Zhar’s ears perked up and twitched to let me know he wanted attention, too.

“You’re back.” She stepped out of the bathroom, and I made a show to drop my gaze slowly down her front. She was still in her pink dress, and it showed off her breasts perfectly. “How was your meeting?” She made a nod toward my battered hand. “Successful?”

I ditched my jacket and undid the first few buttons on my dress shirt.

“Yes, but not rewarding.” I watched her slowly make her way to the door. “Where are you going?”

She patted Zhar’s head. Clearly, they’d made some progress while I was gone. Then she leaned down and patted Leal after he let out a pathetic whimper. “I’m going home.”

“No.”

“Yes.” She didn’t miss a beat and slipped out into the hallway. I followed her.

“Kenna.”

“Grim.”

This wasn’t the day to mess with me, and my temper heated again. I reached out, grabbed her waist, and pushed her against the wall.

“Grim!” I slammed my lips to hers and devoured her mouth. She began to protest, but she gave in, and I felt her response when I pulled her hips into me. I showed her just how much I needed her.

“My head’s so fucked up,” I confessed when I let her catch her breath. “It’s like the darkness is consuming me and I need a way to release it.”

“Who did those orange panties belong to?”

“Kelly.” I saw her face twist with disgust. “I didn’t sleep with her. She came with Knox’s side chick, stripped down, but nothing happened. I kicked her out.” I paused. “I swear.”

She stared at me intensely for a moment then pushed me back with both hands until I met the opposite wall, and she kissed me hard then pulled away from me. As I watched, she reached over her shoulder and gracefully unzipped her dress and slowly peeled it off her body. It dropped at her feet, and she stepped out of it.

“I promised myself,” she said quietly, “that I would help you get through this tragedy in any way I could. If this is what you need…”

She turned toward my bedroom in her lacy panties, and the sight of her cheeks as they glowed in the red under-light made my breath hitch. I let my head fall back against the wall as guilt took over my thoughts and reminded me why I’d kept my distance from her in the first place.

Lust won out, and before I knew what I was doing, my belt was undone, and my painful erection found relief. She lay face down over the edge of my bed, her gorgeous ass on display. She had kept her heels on and had flung her bra over my pillow. I slid my hand over her bare ass and fought to rein myself in a bit, but her smooth skin drew my head into a trance. I didn’t check to see if she was ready. I knew Kenna was always ready when I was near. History had proven that. I lined up and plunged all the way in. A shiver shot across my skin as she pushed back with a moan. “Fuckkkk.” I grabbed her hips and slammed back in, then out, then in again. I leaned down and licked her spine then morphed it into a kiss at the nape of her neck. I forgot how much I needed to be inside this woman that I couldn’t help but taste her.

I got on my knees above her and pressed her hard into the bed as I pumped against her. The sounds she made drove me mad, and the need to feed filled my head. She fisted the sheets and held on as I stabilized myself then thrust so hard it made her scream. I lost track of time as I fed, but I couldn’t seem to get deep enough, or fast enough. I just built and built, but release wouldn’t come. I heard her voice but not the words. Her fists pounded against the mattress, and it finally got through to me that she was having trouble breathing from that angle.

I flipped her over as concern filled me, but only for a split second as I saw the expression in her eyes, and as her legs wrapped around me, I knew she had the same desperate need. Her face and breasts were slick with sweat, and it came to me as I took what I wanted that she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. My urge to break her, to have her submit to me became all-consuming, but at the same time I knew I fed off her hate.

“More.” She pushed herself frantically against me. I knew I was one step away from losing all sense of her safety. “Give me more,” she screamed and took my hand and wrapped it around her throat. “Lose yourself with me.”

Her words got through to me, in spite of my wild thoughts, I quickly pulled back from her and put my hands to my head as a sharp pain drilled behind my eyes.

“Grim?” she whispered. “What’s wrong?”

I dropped my hands and glared at her as though she wasn’t the person who could bring me release in this fucked up world. “What’s wrong?” I repeated and felt my temper rush to the surface as Leo’s lifeless body flashed in front of me. “What’s wrong is I can’t believe I chose you over saving my brother!”

“What the hell did you just say to me?” She pushed herself upright and covered her breasts with an arm.

“I heard something crash!” I snapped. “Fuck knows what was happening in that moment when I stood there, right outside his room, but all I could think about was getting to you.”

“Okay,” she stood almost in slow motion, as if she thought I’d break, “but Grim, Leo wasn’t killed because you chose me. He was killed because people were after you.”

“He was killed,” I corrected her, “because he took my jacket. They marked me at the bar, he took my jacket, flashed the mark around in the lobby to Paige and everyone else. He probably wondered what it was. Then they followed him all the way up to his room and killed him. It should have been me dead in that room. Butchered like some animal.” I could feel the sob deep in my chest and swallowed hard.

Her face paled and her eyes watered. “Oh, Grim. I had no idea.” She cleared her throat. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why do I need to tell you anything?” Hurt filled my chest and dug its painful claws into my flesh with the realization that I would never see my brother again and it was my fault.

“You were only there because I needed to win over a client.” I hated that she was crying. Why should she be the one crying? “And,” I wanted her to hurt as much as I did, “I wanted you along to fulfill my tastes in the bedroom. You’re good for that.”

Her face recoiled in shock as my words sank in. I knew it was the lowest of blows, but misery loved misery.

“Wow.” She pushed by me to grab her dress and shoes. “I get that you’re hurting, Grim,” she sniffed, “but that was low.”

“I could go lower,” slipped from my lips.

She turned to look over her shoulder as she pulled on my dress shirt. “Oh, yeah?” She wrapped it around her body and came to stand in front of me. Her chin was raised in defiance, and I knew she wanted a fight. If that was what she wanted, I wasn’t about to back down. We were too far into this now. “Let’s hear what you have to say.”

I let the gates of hell open inside my head and let the dam that I’d been holding back since Leo’s death flow out without a care.

“You’ve got a pretty face and big tits. It’s why your father uses you to win over his clients. It’s what my father sees too, and why I keep you around. I?—”

Crack! She slapped me across the face, and a deep thrill vibrated through me. A slow menacing smirk spread across my lips. I felt alive.

“That’s right. You might think it’s your brains, Kenna, but even your sister can see who you really are.”

Tears streamed down her white face, and part of me screamed to repair the damage I’d just done, but I couldn’t. I was too far gone and just wanted to ease the terrible guilt I felt. I ignored every warning inside me as I lashed out blindly. I wanted to tear her apart the way the croc had ripped up that piece of shit who had hurt my dogs. I wanted her to feel the pain I felt.

“Congratulations,” she managed to say, though her voice was raspy and barely above a whisper, “you’ve just managed to hurt me worse than anyone in this world.”

I thought she’d say more. I thought she’d fight, but she just stepped around me, opened the door, and disappeared down the hall. I stood there a moment then pulled on my pants and sank into the couch.

Zhar pushed his nose under my hand and rested his head on my thigh. Then Leal whimpered and got up. He hobbled to the open door and looked at the direction she’d taken and whined. He awkwardly sat and waited as if she was going to come back.

“She’s gone, Leal. She’s not coming back.”