Smiling Face
Havoc
“You made french toast.” Creed plops down onto a stool at the island, not even heading for a cup of coffee. My boy must be tired this morning.
“I did. Did you not sleep well?” I pour him a cup.
Creed shrugs.
That’s not good. My son usually sleeps like the dead. He’s always been a good sleeper, even as a baby. “Is there something on your mind?”
“I have this friend.”
A friend? Or is this code for a girl?
“She needs a job.”
Creed likes a girl. “There aren’t a lot of jobs in town.”
“That’s why I was thinking she could work for the club. Berzerker’s old lady usually takes care of the winter festival. Does she need help this year? Because my friend would be perfect for that job. She’s organized and reliable.”
How did I forget about the winter festival?
It raises funds for a scholarship that the club provides for one teenager in Silent Valley every year.
Creed is right. That’s way too much responsibility for her right now.
Both of them are having a hard time. It’s been suggested that we send them both somewhere with sunshine for a few weeks.
I need to talk to Berzerker about that soon.
“So what do you think, Dad? Can I tell her she has the job?”
There’s no way I’m making a sixteen-year-old girl responsible for an entire winter festival. “Give me a chance to see if I can get someone to take over the festival. Then we can see about making her an assistant or something. Don’t promise her the job yet.”
“Okay, Dad. But I know she can handle anything.”
Teenage boys and hormones.
What a wonderfully horrible time of life. I’m going to make sure Creed’s isn’t filled with pain. “Let’s talk about sex.”
“Dad! We’ve had this conversation dozens of times since I was eight. I know everything.”
“Like?”
“I know that there’s no birth control that’s a hundred percent effective, which is how you ended up with me.
And I know there is no protection that is flawless against STDs.
And I know sex needs to mean something for guys just as much as girls, no matter what my buddies might say.
Just so you know, none of them are having sex either. ”
Good to know. I’ll pass that little tidbit along.
“We aren’t stupid.”
Also good to know. I flip the french toast over and roll the sausage so it browns on the other side.
“The job is for a friend. Not a girl I like. There’s a difference. You can like a woman and be friends with her without wanting to have sex with her.”
That’s debatable, but we’ll go with it when it’s working in my favor.
“Plus, we live in too small a town. I’ve known all the girls in Silent Valley practically since we were kids. They’re like sisters to me…though a few of them are FINE.”
“Creed.”
“That was a respectful ‘fine’. Completely respectful.”
I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Before I dig myself a bigger hole, can I have one of those?” He points at the french toast.
Like that boy will eat any less than six of them. “Sure.”
My day just got busier.
***
“Can we talk for a second?” Bram asks as I walk into the clubhouse.
Odd. He’s usually working at the bookstore during the day. “Sure, what’s up?”
“It’s about the winter festival.”
There’s been a lot of worry about that going on lately. “Okay?” We walk through the clubhouse into the labyrinth.
“Do you think Berzerker’s old lady is going to be up to taking care of it on her own?”
I’m not even sure she will want to do it at all. “Why?” Even as I ask, I remember Fly talking about Bram’s date…
“There’s this woman I know who would be a perfect fit for the job, either as an assistant or running the event. She’s done a ton of charity work.”
Bram’s girlfriend has done charity work. Well, that confirms he isn’t dating my hot neighbor. The only work she’s done in her life is possibly her own nails. “We usually have people within the club run it to ensure no money goes missing.”
“That’s not an issue.”
Oh, he’s lost in this woman. “We don’t usually pay much for this position.”
“Not an issue. She’ll do it for free or whatever is offered.”
No woman works for free. Or very few women. Bram might be planning on supplementing what we pay. How into this woman is he?
Fly is waiting by my office, leaning up against the wall. There are no visible doors along the entire hallway except for one at the end…which is also a trap. We aren’t very trusting around here.
What is with men going stupid over women lately? My son included. “I’ll see what I can do and let you know as soon as possible.”
Bram nods and walks away.
“Don’t tell me you’re here about a woman?” I snap at Fly.
“Nope. Though you might wish I were. Vex called for you.”
What? No. “Vex? Are you sure?” Why would the death bringer call me? I’d prefer he didn’t know I was alive, even though we helped protect his woman not too long ago. Maybe he isn’t calling to tell me he’s going to kill me and my entire family. “What did he want?”
“He wouldn’t say, but he said it was of utmost importance that you contact him immediately.”
It just keeps getting better and better. “Was there something else you wanted to talk about?” I open the room with the secret latch and head to my desk.
“Vandal, Ryot, and Torque have settled in. Vandal is already making arrangements to throw a wild party. Ryot has been moving his car around to be seen living in it.”
Living in a car in the snow can be very dangerous. My brothers humble me with their determination. “Do we have eyes on them?”
“There’s always someone monitoring all their trackers and a team within five minutes of their locations at all times.”
Which is above and beyond since none of them have made contact with a drug dealer yet.
I dial the phone number Fly handed to me, and hope that my death isn’t imminent.
“What?” Vex is always so charming and friendly.
“This is Havoc, returning your call.”
“I need a john tonight. I’m willing to pay for two of your men’s services.”
What? “I’m assuming you don’t mean a guy named John. None of my guys see prostitutes.”
“Well, for tonight, they need to pretend to be one. And if they touch the woman more than necessary, I’m pretty sure they’ll be flayed alive.”
That doesn’t sound like a great opportunity. “Um.”
“We’re taking down the biggest prostitution ring in Urbium. Are you in or out?”
I mute the phone and turn to Fly. “Wanna pretend to be a john tonight? It might get you tortured to death.”
“Sounds like fun. I’m in.”
My brothers are definitely crazy. “We’re in.”
“I’ll send you the details. Tell them not to be late. If she gets picked up by another man, the conversation you have with me will be nothing compared to what Max Rage will do to you.”
Vex can’t be talking about Massimo Vincenti. Except that’s the only man to go by the name Max Rage…Does he have a woman?
This day is just getting worse and worse.
My next call is to the man who might kill Fly. “Vincenti.”
“What do you want? Right now isn’t a good time.”
“My men are supposed to be buying the attention of your woman tonight.”
“Fea…you know where Fiona is. Tell me.”
Doesn’t Max know where his woman is? “Vex called to make the arrangements. All I have is a time and a street corner. I just wanted to assure you that my men would be respectful of your woman when they pay for her services.” Everything about that sentence sounds wrong.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”
“We can contact Vex and cancel.” He might cancel us, though. Vex might kill us, but Vincentis are known to draw out the pain when it comes to their women.
Max sighs. “Don’t. You’re going to be where Vex says when he says it. But you’re also going to contact me with the location. I want to know everything that happens. And if things go wonky, you lock her down and get her somewhere safe. I don’t care what she says or what Vex says.”
Next time Vex calls, I’m not answering. Or I’m going to go on vacation far, far away.
***
“Dad, I can’t believe Fly did that!!! It was so cool that he helped rescue all those women.”
We pull into the garage.
“I’m starving.” Creed is always starving.
“You should have had some food at the clubhouse while you waited for me.”
He shakes his head. “I wasn’t hungry then. The pizza should be here any minute.” It’s odd for Creed to ever not be hungry. He’ll probably make up for it by eating an entire pizza before bed.
“Go set the table while I take out the trash.” I start to wheel the can out when the neighbor’s garage door opens.
Out steps the hot neighbor in silk pajamas and a robe. Could anyone possibly wear anything any more impractical? Creed needs to see this…No way does my teenage boy need to see this woman in her pajamas. I can’t ever unsee it.
The woman is a scourge on humanity. A temptress.
She pulls her robe closer to her body and tries dragging her garbage can down.
Only she’s got the wheels up instead of rolling it on them.
It’s painful to watch such beautiful ineptitude.
Don’t do it. Don’t do it. “Here, let me.” I storm over to her, leaving mine in the middle of the driveway. “You have it the wrong way. What, is this your first time taking out the trash?”
She blushes.
“Really? You’ve never taken the trash out before?” Not surprising. “Women like you…”
“Excuse me?”
Do not think about how much prettier she is when she’s angry. I flip the can. “It works like this.” Stupid woman.
“Thank you,” she says as I storm off.
Why does that woman irritate me so much? Creed’s right, I shouldn’t hate her because she doesn’t make the choices I would.
But seriously, walking around in silk pajamas, even if they aren’t especially revealing pajamas, in the middle of winter is just ridiculous unless she’s trying to flaunt herself.
How could she know that I would drive up just now?
I’m just getting irritated at her over nothing. As I set my own garbage can at the end of the driveway, the pizza delivery kid comes to a stop by me.
“Hey, Havoc.”
“Hey.” I hand the kid a fifty and take my pizza boxes. “Tell your dad I said hi.”
“Will do. Have a nice night.” The kid speeds off.
I turn around and find the hot neighbor glaring at me. What is her problem?
Her angry eyes follow me as I walk up to my door. “What is your problem?” The words burst out.
“I don’t have a problem,” her mouth says one thing, but her eyes say something else.
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t. I had some lemon and miso-glazed salmon for dinner. Your son, it seems, hasn’t had anything, and it’s after ten o’clock at night. A growing boy needs healthy, well-balanced meals.”
She didn’t.
But she did.
After I just helped her. “Woman, are you crazy? I’m feeding my son.”
“Yes. I can see that.” But that isn’t stopping her from judging.
“People eat pizza. Even stuck-up city dwellers must on occasion partake of it.”
“I might be stuck-up, but at least I’m not—”
The front door opens, and Creed pops his head out. “Everything okay? I heard shouting. Oh, hey, Greer.” The kid smiles and waves at her.
“Hey, Creed.”
Where did her angry face go? Now she’s all smiles and friendly.
“Oh, good, the pizza’s here. I’m starving. I probably should have had some of the pot roast earlier like you said.” There’s no way Creed wasn’t listening in on the security system. “Pizza’s getting cold. Let’s eat, Dad. Night, Greer.”
“Night, Creed.”
I stomp inside, muttering, “That woman is so rude.”