Page 112 of Chaos Kills

“Bay, babe…congratulations on your win. I can’t say I’m surprised.”

I wish it wasn’t the case, but I’m speechless. Matteo was the last person I thought— Well, I don’t think about him at all, if I can help it.

“I have something of yours,mi reina,” he remarks simply. “You might want to come get it.”

Of mine.

For the love of Christ.

“What do you want, asshole?” I leer through my fear. “You’re using other chicks to fuckin’ talk to?—”

“Chill,” he orders gruffly. “Don’t make me upset.”

I try to settle into a state of calm, but that’s like reaching for a star and holding it in the palm of my hand. It’s like bringing Dad back.

“What do you want?” The question is rancid on my tongue, but I have a feeling that something is terribly wrong right now.

“It’s not about what I want,” Matteo mutters. “The question is do you want it? I have an outsider at one of my little shindigs who I thought was one of your strays. Dark shady hair, hooped nose ring…dude goes by Reeve Stanton.”

Sheer dread fills my veins because this is exactly what Matteo feeds off of. He has something of mine, and he knows I’m going to come get it.

“Where is he?”

Really not good.

“He’s at the Breeze Bar. You remember the place, don’t you?”

Almost too well.

It was the place where Matteo and his guys always hung out and played pool. It was also, on occasion, the place where Torin would hunt me down just to get me alone for a few minutes.

“Don’t touch him,” I command. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“It’ll take you twenty, sweetheart.”

“Then you must not remember how well I drive, De Leon.”

“You’re going to take Holly with you,” Matteo orders. “No need to bring or call anyone else to keep you company. You know how much strangers make me nervous.”

I clench my teeth as Holly steps around the back of Dad’s car. A surge of possessiveness takes hold of my brain, and I pop the glove compartment open. Levi’s Glock is in my palm by the time Holly rudely yanks open the passenger door.

Then, she’s greeted by my new friend.

“Um, Matteo…” she says nervously, eyes almost bulging from her head. “She…um, has a gun.”

“Bay…” Matteo warns, but I can hear the amusement in his voice. “Don’t shoot the poor girl.”

“I’m in daddy’s car, sweetheart. There’s no way some hoe is sitting in the front seat.”

“Then drop it off and Holly?—”

“Think, Matteo. I just raced this bitch, and we’re not back at the line yet. Then, she’s driving back in my car? Not gonna work.”

And I need time.

There’s no way I’m not heading in there without backup.

“And what do you expect me to do with your pet,mi reina?”

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