Bonus Scene
Bohnes
**This scene is set after the final epilogue in the last book of my complete series, ‘The Havoc Boys’, which also takes place in the Prescott neighborhood.
If you haven’t read both series, you might not know all the characters involved.
Consider checking it out, and keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming Kickstarter project that, if successful, will get us another book set in Prescott… **
After Scarlett disappears into the bathhouse with Miss Blackbird, I’m left to stand in silence with Widow and Alexei.
All three of us are violently curious about our new friends, studying the five men like we’re still unsure whether they’re friends or foes.
Neither. Trouble. A mess I don’t want to get involved in.
One of them, dressed in a blue hoodie and shorts, excuses himself under the premise of finding a tree to piss on.
Cute.
We know he’s planning on snooping around. He knows that we know.
The feigned civility between our two groups continues.
“You have no problem with your woman being naked in front of so many people?” one of the men asks.
This one’s the boss. I can smell it on him the way one wolf scents the piss of another.
The dynamic is different with these people.
Bernadette isn’t like Scarlett. No. This guy seems used to having the final word.
“I have complete faith in my wife.” I force a huge, rictus smile, something grotesque that puts several of the other men on their toes.
They trust me as little as I trust them.
If needed, in a battle of four against five, we could take these boys.
One of us might be killed in the process though.
The odds aren’t overly favorable, just tilted toward us.
That bothers me.
“For my eyes only.” The lead guy crosses his arms over his broad chest, black eyes locked on mine. He knows I’m the one worth paying the most attention to. “I’m Vic, by the way. And you’re Kellin.”
“To you, I’m Bohnes,” I reply silkily, turning my head to glance at Widow.
He’s got his eyes on the one with the curly brown hair.
Alexei is locked in a stare-down with the one in glasses, with ink all the way up to his chin.
Nobody is looking at the fourth, the one with the red hair. That’s a mistake.
A crash explodes on my right as Ash tumbles through the eaves, locked in combat with the guy in the blue hoodie.
They look like cats, rising to their feet and beginning to circle.
“Who is this?” demands the man in the glasses, sounding like he’s surprised to be surprised.
I’m not.
I knew Ash would handle this brat when he snuck off.
“There are plenty of trees to piss on around here that don’t grow in the attic of our bathhouse.
Care to explain yourself…Callum Park?” I smile as my use of the guy’s name causes him to freeze.
His blue eyes say he wants to kill me. “Yes, I know who all of you are. I’m impressed that you sensed someone hiding up there.
Most don’t. For that, I’m going to extend you some respect.
Take a few steps back.” I stop smiling. “Now.”
“Our house, our rules.” Widow is understandably protective of Ash, pacing the length of the bathhouse in agitation. “We won’t ask a second time.”
Callum looks to his boss, Victor, for confirmation. At a nod, the entire Havoc crew moves away from us. Ash steps up beside me, using his pale fingers to adjust his face mask. With these men here, he won’t be taking it off.
Even now, years later, if anyone in Prescott is ever caught squealing about our secrets, they’re handled.
It makes perfect sense that these people, a group as intimate with the Prescott neighborhood as we once were, don’t remember us. Not really. It’s like how Scarlett and I only ever knew small things about Maverick, the Nightmare who wrote out the sign.
“Who on earth is this?” the one in the glasses asks, once again sounding shocked to be shocked. This man, Oscar, I’ve heard from my contacts around town that he’s used to knowing everything about Prescott.
Not us though. He doesn’t know shit about us.
“Do you think we need to answer that question?” Widow replies, not out of line with his response but more hostile than he needs to be.
These people want our help. They’re going to behave or we’re simply going to ignore them.
If we choose not to help them, they’ll leave.
Or we’ll kill them. Havoc understands that, I think.
“He’s just security,” I say mildly. Ash is obviously not just security.
He was crawling around in the ceiling of the building where our wife is naked.
Any of those Havoc boys is smart enough to make that connection.
I smile menacingly at our guests. “Why are you here? What the fuck does Bernadette want with Scarlett?”
“Why are you asking when you already know?” This one is Aaron, curly brown hair tucked under a beanie that makes him look years younger than I know that he is. “Some of your contacts aren’t as loyal as you think. We know you’ve been told what we’re looking for.”
“Were you raised in a barn?” Alexei replies, sighing as he studies Ash, like he’s checking him for injuries.
None that any of us can see. Callum is lucky.
If he’d stabbed Ash, Alexei would’ve shoved batrachotoxin in his neck.
“You’re standing on our property for the simple reason that our wife has a soft spot for Prescott girls.
That’s it. We have no other reason to entertain you. This is a favor.”
“Holy shit,” the redheaded Havoc boy murmurs.
Hael, that’s his name. He likes vintage cars.
His eyes are slanted in the direction of the garage, its sliding door pushed wide to show off our pretty little collection.
The Chevelle is right there in the front, framed perfectly in the doorway.
“That’s one sexy ass fuckin’ car. You guys are no joke, man.
We’ve heard stories of your girl and all the crazy shit you used to get into in Prescott. ”
Hael’s laughter cools down the temperature. His boss, Vic, gives him a look before returning his attention to me.
“If Bernadette doesn’t come out of there in about…
fifteen minutes. We’re going to get agitated.
Can you make sure she knows that?” Vic uncrosses his arms, letting them relax by his sides with a sigh.
He cracks his knuckles, obviously agitated already.
His wife—if that’s what she is—appears to enjoy tormenting him as much as mine does us.
Scarlett, you know we hate it when you take long baths without us.
It’s because Havoc is here that we have to stand outside like this. Widow is still upset about it, leaning his black-clad form against the side of the building and glaring with burnished gold eyes.
“If she’s not out in fifteen, I’ll call for Basti and have him deliver the message,” he says, trusting Scarlett to handle the situation.
But also, the only thing we know about Bernadette is that she runs the criminal underground in Prescott with these guys.
Isn’t this a risk we shouldn’t take at all?
I’m not thrilled by the arrangement. This is me taking a backseat when what I really want to do is grab the wheel.
“You don’t recognize him?” Callum asks Oscar, the pair of them fixed on Ash and the sudden realization that all of the rumours about Scarlett Force and her three lovers, well, that’s just a poor game of telephone amongst the gossip network.
“I don’t.” Oscar’s words are short, clipped. The implication behind them is: but I will.
“If you figure it out, remember to keep your mouths shut. I imagine you’re pretty protective of your own? So are we.” I lean back against the wall with Ash on one side, Widow on the other. Alexei is standing between us and Havoc.
“We’re blocking them from their version of Scarlett,” Ash whispers, like he’s just realized where all of the hostility is coming from. “God, I hope this doesn’t take fifteen minutes.” He’s fidgeting with his sword, like he’s not sure how close to violence we actually are.
“We’re more rational than they might think, eh, Boss?
” Hael turns to Vic with his brow lifted, but their leader can’t seem to keep his attention off the doors to the bathhouse.
He’s undoubtedly aware of how dangerous it is in there for Bernadette.
She’s surrounded by the Crimson Crew. If we wanted her dead, she would be.
Vic looks right at me. “Do you think Scarlett will agree to help Bernadette?”
“If it were up to me, I’d refuse.” I shrug both shoulders. Uncaring. Truly, this means nothing to me other than that it’s a disruption. This is why I like graveyards: all the people are dead, so they don’t bother you.
“May I give you a piece of advice?” Alexei begins, stepping up to Vic and meeting him like an equal. “Don’t get involved with the family at all. For any reason. If you have even a single other choice, don’t.”
Vic studies Widow carefully. Ash. Alexei.
Me, again.
“This is taking forever.” Widow is right up close to my ear, frustrated because we could be inside, soaking in hot spring water and ogling our wife’s tits.
It’s fucking cold out here, and I’m starved.
This shit is interrupting our dinner. “I was up all last night working on the Stingray, and I’m tired as shit.
I’m not in the mood to make new friends. ”
“I can’t believe he found me up there. Pretty sure we surprised each other when he ran into me.
” Ash reaches up to adjust his own beanie, tearing it off and leaving fussy black hair in its place.
“I’m frustrated with myself. It was obvious what he was doing when he first walked off. How did I miss him?”
“Were you thinking he’d come through the vent up top?” I ask and Ash nods, realizing his mistake.