CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CLOVER
While Raina and the Gods went to campus for the day, the Angels and I headed to the mall to do some necessary shopping. The mafia guys that had been watching the house came with us to act as a security detail. I had to admit, I did feel a lot better knowing they were around.
I sure didn’t enjoy having to use some of my student loan money to buy more clothing. We were waiting to hear from the fire department about when we could go into the house and check on our things. Most of the house was okay, although there was some smoke and water damage that would have to be properly cleaned. Since the house was a rental, the owner had to be notified about the situation as well.
“Looks like we’re moving,” Daire said after getting off the phone to the landlord. “Once they determine it was arson, he’s not going to want us to stay there once it’s fixed up. We’re a liability now.”
“Well, we are. We’ll wait for this all to blow over, and then we’ll find a new place.” Cash was matter of fact about it. “All that matters is we’re alive and safe. I don’t give a shit about the house.”
It was late afternoon when we got back to the Gods’ house. Daire went to take a shower while I put away a few groceries that we bought. I didn’t want to be eating the Gods’ food without giving back.
Raina and Gage were the first to arrive after their classes were done for the day. The latest news on campus was that nobody knew anything about the dead man in the restroom. If the police knew his identity or anything else about him, they weren’t sharing. Luckily, nobody seemed to link me to any of it. The campus security cameras were in high traffic areas. Main halls and entry points. Nothing that should indicate I’d been in the restroom with him.
Gage disappeared upstairs. The Angels were in the basement, doing their best to stay out of the Gods’ way. It gave Raina and I time to hang out alone.
She promptly went to the pantry in search of a snack. Spying the double stuffed Oreos I’d bought, she let out a little squeal and grabbed the package. “Did you buy these? Do you mind?”
“Yeah, I bought them earlier today. Go hard. A bag of cookies is the least I can do after you guys took us in.” I was more than happy to share with my best friend. Even though our guys were still divided in many ways, we were starting to feel like a big family.
Raina tore open the bag of cookies, stuffing one in her mouth. “Oh my god, so good. Want some?”
I laughed, shaking my head at her ridiculous enthusiasm. “No, I’m good. I had lunch while we were out.”
She fished a joint out of her bra and tossed it on the counter. “Here. Spark that up.”
I gladly did as instructed. I took a large puff, coughing as it hit my lungs. We plopped down on the couch in the living room together, chatting about school and gossiping about fellow students.
“I think Lyra is catching on,” Raina said between bites of cookie. “She’s starting to suspect that Jet had something to do with Ryan’s disappearance, although I’m not sure she realizes the guy is dead.”
Feeling high and at ease, I thoughtfully munched a cookie. “Deep down she knows the truth. Jet is obsessed with her. Between you and me, I think part of her likes it. She’s had plenty of opportunities to get rid of him. She’s protective of him, even though he’s awful.”
Raina nodded, considering my statement. “You’re probably right. Eventually, he’ll force her to make a decision. Nobody can do that for her.”
I understood what it was like to have feelings for someone when everything in you said that it was wrong. I’d been there. Sometimes the heart wanted what the brain was firmly against. Logic and emotion weren’t always on the same page.
A few minutes later, Gage stormed down the stairs. His hair was damp, his expression livid. “Who the hell used all of the hot water?”
Raina shrugged. “We didn’t use any.”
Gage went to the basement door, jerking it open. He shouted down the stairs. “Which one of you dumb fucks used all of the hot water? Other people need to use it, you know.”
Daire ascended the stairs, shoving past Gage as he reached the main floor. “I took a shower. It wasn’t that long. Wasn’t actually that hot either. Maybe your hot water tank sucks.”
Raina and I exchanged a look. I should have known staying here wouldn’t work out. Having these guys crammed in the house together was a recipe for violence and chaos.
“Are you going to pay for that hot water you used?” Gage asked, following Daire into the living room. “Maybe we need to work out a payment system here.”
“Come on, guys,” Raina spoke up. “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours yet. Is this really necessary?”
Gage’s eyes flashed with anger. Being two different colors made them both intriguing and intimidating. “If I can’t come home and take a hot shower without it turning cold partway through, then we have a big fucking problem that needs to be dealt with. I say we lay down some ground rules. Now.”
With a roll of her eyes, Raina gave an annoyed sigh. “Don’t make me play dirty, Gage. They’re guests in our home. Stop being such a dick.”
Turning his fierce stare on her, Gage strode over to where she sat on the couch. He stroked a hand gently through her hair before tightly fisting a handful. “Sounds like you’re looking for a fight, Cherry Pie. Be careful. You know how much I love a good fight.”
“We won’t stay long,” I said. “We can go to a motel or something.”
“No. You’re not going anywhere until you’re damn well good and ready.” Raina held Gage’s gaze, a silent battle ensuing between them. “Back down, Gage. This isn’t the time.”
He released her hair with a vicious smile. “You’re right. We’ll continue this discussion later.” To Daire he said, “Next time I shower first. You get the leftovers.”
“Sure. Whatever you say.” Daire feigned a yawn. He sat next to me, slinging an arm around my shoulders.
Raina did her best to change the topic of discussion. She started to discuss supper options, suggesting that we order from a local pasta place. That didn’t stop the two guys from shooting silent glares at one another. Having so many intense personalities in one house was proving difficult already.
When Havoc and Knight got home an hour later, the bickering and nonsense escalated. Cash and Blaze came upstairs, filling the main floor with far too many male egos. They argued over what we should order for supper. When Raina pointed out that they could stop being lazy assholes and cook, there was an uproar of protests.
Ignoring all of them, Raina went with the pasta place she had originally suggested. I chewed my lip nervously. Being here was already risky enough. These guys had barely learned to tolerate one another, and now they were all crammed under one roof. It meant a lot to me that they all got along, at least well enough to maintain the peace for Raina and me.
The Gods sat around the kitchen table while they ate. The Angels and me occupied the living room furniture. Raina suggested that we have a few drinks. Something to relieve everyone’s tension. Before we could even consider it, all six guys received a text message simultaneously.
“Uh oh.” Raina leaned over to peek at Knight’s phone. “Is it my dad? What does he want?”
It had to be Desmond for all six of them to receive a message at once. They were all part of his crime organization now. That meant when he needed them, they had to go. They all enjoyed it though. Being part of such a powerful operation gave them a chance to do what they did best.
“He has a job for us,” Havoc said, eyeing his phone screen. “He wants us to go get back some stolen goods. This should be fun.”
“All of you?” I glanced nervously at my Angels.
Daire nodded. “Yeah, all of us. No worries, Angel. We’ve got this.”
The thought of being separated from them, even for a little while, made me antsy. This wasn’t a good time for us to be apart. Blaze seemed to feel it too.
“Is that a good idea?” he asked. “Maybe we shouldn’t leave Clover right now.”
“No, it’s cool,” Raina piped up. “Clover will be safe here. We have armed guards outside. It will give the two of us a chance to hang out without you idiots arguing and pissing me off.”
It wasn’t my safety that I worried about. Letting my men go off to a dangerous situation where anything might happen made my stomach flip. I knew they could take care of themselves. Things had just been so chaotic lately. I wasn’t feeling so confident these days.
“I’m sure we won’t be long,” Havoc said, taking his plate to the dishwasher. “We’ll have each other’s backs out there.”
This was something they’d agreed to when they joined Desmond’s organization. The mafia called, and they must answer. Having the time alone with Raina would be nice. Everything should be fine.
All three Angels paused to kiss me as they left. I swallowed down the urge to beg them not to go. Something didn’t feel right. I didn’t want them to leave.
Deciding that I was being ridiculous, I kept my concerns to myself. They didn’t need to be worrying about me while they had to be focused.
“Be careful,” I said as they left the house. I glanced over at the black sedan parked out front. Two mafia men sat inside, watching as the six guys filed out of the house.
Raina closed the door behind them and locked it. “Don’t worry about them, Clover. My dad wouldn’t send them if he didn’t think they could handle it. Should we watch a movie? Have some drinks? Oh, we should order one of those to die for cheese cakes from that little mom and pop shop on the north side. You know the one?”
Forcing a smile onto my face, I nodded along as Raina rambled. She didn’t seem to be concerned at all. So I wouldn’t be either.