Twisted in Chaos (Destructive Devastation #2)

Chapter 63

“That is perfect!” Jenni squeals through the video chat with more enthusiasm than necessary. Actually, that’s her entire personality. But I’m used to it by now. We’ve officially been best friend status for what feels like weeks now.

“You think so?” I nibble my lip with uncertainty. “I want it to be perfect.”

“Girl! They’re going to love every single thing you give them. Have you seen the way they stare at you?” Jenni scoffs at me, waving her hand. “You could give them a piece of string in a box, and they’d tie you to the bed and fuck your brains out in thanks.” She giggles at that, laughing louder when my face turns red.

“God, you’re too much,” I laugh, covering my eyes. “Thanks, Jenni.”

“Girl, I got you. But I have to get packed! Elias is taking me on a vacation. About damn time. I’m ready for wine, sex, and the beach all wrapped into one.” She shimmies in the camera, showing off her beautiful smile. “Once he gets back from his meeting with your husband, we’re off to the airport.”

“Drink one for me!” I say, settling back onto my pillow with a sigh. “And have fun.”

“You know I’ll be texting you every hour of the day with pictures. I can’t leave my bestie out.” She winks at me, and we say our goodbyes.

I sigh, staring up at the ceiling of our new bedroom. It’s nothing permanent. So, it’ll do for now. But I’ll be glad when we have our own space again. A house to call our home. Not some nightclub with horny twenty-somethings gyrating on the dance floor. That was you at one point —my mind chides me snarkily. Reminding me of the time Jenni and I danced our assess off. Well, until she went and tossed her cookies down the toilet, and I got my rocks off between the three men I’m shacked up with.

Ah, this is the life.

Things have settled down over the past week since we got here. Everything we wanted was removed from the mansion, which wasn’t very much. Shepp found his paintings and moved them into storage. But if I have my way, they won’t be in storage very much longer. They’ll be on display in Shepp’s private building and maybe open to the public one day. Whatever he wants, I want to give him.

I have twenty million dollars to blow. Okay, not blow. I’m investing in our future. Jericho said he has enough funds to float us for the rest of our lives. But what’s the point of having so much money—with more on the way from my inheritance—if I can’t spoil my men? And myself? I’m paying off debts left and right and giving to the citizens I helped harm in Briar Cove. I’ve given Arrow the funds to add to his Wednesday night confessional meetings. Anyone who needs to get away from an abusive mom, dad, husband, or whatever—will now have more than enough to get started. No questions asked and no loans to repay.

Picking up my phone, I stare at the violin with a smile. Marked as shipped straight from Italy. It even includes a different version of his rare bow. I can’t wait to see the look on Jericho’s face when I hand him an exact replica of his old violin. The one he informed me that Gabriel smashed against his desk to get under his skin. He didn’t deserve that. Shit, he didn’t deserve half the treatment he got from Gabriel. So, this is me giving back to him and thanking him for pulling me away from the horrors of my life and treating me to something better.

My eyes stray to the bookshelf he installed a few days ago across the room. It’s filled with so many great reads I can’t wait to sink my teeth into. He explained he bought them for me while we were hiding at the cabin but knew I’d want them here. So, he had them shipped, and I’ve had fun arranging them between feeling run down. Most of my time has been spent resting in bed, reading books, and caring for my body.

I smile, reaching over to my end table, pulling out my newest read, “Lyrics That Burn” by Leah Steele, and placing it on my lap. Seriously, a girl could get used to this. When I’m hungry, all I have to do is text the guys, and they’ll grab me whatever I want. Or, if I’m feeling not-so-lazy, I meander into the VIP room and go into the small kitchen to snack.

Just as I’m about to dive into chapter two of my book, the door to my bedroom swings open, and I drop everything.

“J!” Sunshine squeals, running toward me and diving onto my bed.

“Sunshine,” I squeak, throwing my arms around her and holding her close. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Sunshine and I have kept up regularly. We’re always on the phone or video calling one another to talk. She’s been getting so strong and healthy living with the Antonovs, and it shows in the color of her face and the energy radiating off her body.

“Came with Mik! We’re here for a month, fixing the Grand Hotel and making it special.” She grins, pulling back. “Besides! My sister is pregnant, and I needed to hug you in person!”

After we were settled and out of danger, I called Sunshine to inform her she was going to be an aunt. She was so thrilled to know I was going to have a baby. She promised to be here as much as possible. And now, it looks like she’ll be able to visit often.

“I wish you would have told me you were coming.” Not that I’m not happy she’s here. But damn, I need a shower.

“And ruin the surprise?” She scoffs, waving her hand. “Fat chance, Sis.”

I grin. “Well, that’s true. So, how are things? You’re doing good?”

She nods and tells me about her time in Miami with the Antonovs and what they’ve been up to. It seems like she’s settling into her new role as mafia queen over an extensive empire. I don’t know how she does it, but she slipped into it quickly.

“Have you heard from Mom?” Sunny asks, settling in beside me.

I wrinkle my nose. “Not for a few days or so. I think… I think she fell back into it, Sunny. So, prepare yourself for…” For what? I’m not entirely sure. My mom could get back into drugs, take up her old life, and ride off into the sunset like she always wanted. Or she could continue to get sober in rehab. Only time will tell.

“Yeah, I hadn’t heard from her either. I was hoping she was getting better.” Her face crinkles.

“She’s an addict, Sunny. It happens, okay? We can only hope she goes back for the help she needs. We can only do so much,” I say, blowing out a breath.

One day, my mom will be clean. But she’s still fighting it, from what I can tell.

“I know.” Sadness pulls down her lips, and tears glisten in her eyes. “It’s hard, J. I feel like I should care what happens to her, but my whole life…” She shakes her head, sniffling.

Putting my arm around her shoulders, I kiss her cheek. “I know. It’s hard to wrap your head around it. She’s still your mom, but she’s done so many bad things over the years. I understand. You can still worry about her and want the best for her, but also, you can keep your distance. We don’t have to see her or track her down. She’s an adult.” It hurts to say those words. Even though Sable ruined our lives over many years under her roof with her drug use, she’s still our mother. I’d hate for her to end up in a bad way. But on the other side of things, I’d rather not have her in my life anymore.

“Thanks, J. That actually helps. Mik mentioned something about making sure she was still in rehab, and then she’d be off to a halfway house to continue her treatments or whatever. I just…” She shakes her head, leaning on me. “It’ll always just be me and you, right?”

“Pinky swears and promises?” I murmur, holding up my pinky.

“Pinky swears and promises,” she retorts quickly, wrapping her pinky around mine.

Sunshine and I lie around for a few hours, catching up until it’s time for her to go to dinner.

“I love you!” I say, holding her tight.

“I love you, too!” she whispers, dragging out of our hug. “I’ll see you soon!” She smiles, waving as she takes Mik’s hand.

“We’ll be around more often,” Mik offers. “As always, it was a pleasure,” he says, nodding to each of us before he takes his leave.

“You know, I was skeptical about all this,” Elias says, looking between the four of us. “But I can see this alliance will work wonders for this city. And our pockets.” He smirks, shaking our hands before taking his leave, too.

“Have a good vacation!” I shout, waving a hand.

Elias smirks over his shoulder. “I’m sure my wife will let you know every single thing we do. I do hope she keeps some things private.”

I smirk. “We’re best friends, Elias. Nothing is sacred.”

He shakes his head. “Have fun blowing up the mansion.” And with that, he leaves through the VIP door and disappears.

“Now, how about our special event?” Jericho asks.

“Let’s fucking do it!” Arrow whoops, throwing his fist in the air.

I grin. “Let’s go blow up the mansion.”

“Okay! Everything is all set,” Arrow says, beaming and coming to stand beside the three of us a good distance from the mansion. “Now, if we press this button, it’ll fucking blow. Bigger than that asshole who strapped a bomb to himself and blew up on our lawn,” Arrow chuckles, handing the black remote with a large red button to Jericho.

Jericho stares at it with furrowed brows. “I don’t think it was ever a home,” he says, squaring his shoulders. “It was a house of horrors, courtesy of Gabriel and then of Grace’s abandonment.

It was a prison for Journey,” he grits that part out before blowing out a breath to calm himself down.

“It was never a home,” Arrow says, shaking his head. “It was where I landed when my dad thought he was doing the right thing. The only good that came out of this was all of you.”

“How sweet,” Shepp quips. “It was a place I was brought to after my dad died. Fuck, I think I spent more time here as a kid than at home. In a way, Gabe saved me. But fuck him. Fuck this place.” Shepp holds up his middle finger, waving it in the air.

“Fuck this place!” Arrow hoots, throwing up both his middle fingers.

“Fuck this place.” I grin, holding up my middle fingers.

Jericho stares for a millisecond before hitting the red button hard. “Fuck this place!” he shouts over the boom of the explosion, eradicating the place that made all our lives hell. He tosses the remote to the ground, holding up his middle fingers.

The blaze takes the mansion quickly, burning through the walls and whatever we left behind. When the fire smothers away, all that stands are the ashes of a place two evil people resided in—a place that was never a home.

“Now, onto our future,” Jericho says, taking my hand.

“To our new future,” I whisper.