Page 255 of Chaos Kills

Dating.

She must not have heard everything. However, I use the back of my knees to push back my chair to stand so I can shake her hand.

And then I give her a firm shake.

“You head Newport,” I state matter-of-factly. “I’ve heard of you.”

“Ah, well, don’t believe everything you hear,” she retorts lightly, immediately telling me I should. “Especially when there’s a woman in power. Men don’t like that.”

“Well, Reeve is open-minded.”

She lifts her eyebrows and gives an exasperated expression, as if she doesn’t want to bother with anything he is. “That is putting it lightly, my dear.” She glimpses over her shoulder to Ramsey and snaps her fingers. “Does your father not teach you any manners, boy? Or are you just his killer who’s allowed to sit at the table?”

Ramsey doesn’t fight it, removing himself from his seat and giving it up to the newcomer. I wish I could say it’s nice to have another female, but this is one I feel as though I need to look out for.

“We were just talking about alliances,” Cairo introduces as the new subject matter of the room. “You’re not missing much.”

“I’d love to hear how both towns decide to settle their disputes,” Elaine says, looking seemingly interested in how that’s going to go down. “It’s been so long that it’ll have its challenges.”

“Are you here to referee?”

Elaine’s gaze shoots over to me, obviously not expecting I’d not be so open to talking with someone I’ve never met. “My dear, I’ve been around for a long time.”

“Too long,” Levi says under his breath, but it’s loud enough for the room. You could hear a pin drop in here.

“Everyone has to make money, Wallace,” Elaine tries to justify. “You decided to go a ghetto route where you have to run through territory like a rat trying not to get snapped in half. I wouldn’t knock my business when it’s more successful?—”

“Newport doesn’t hold a Titan seat anymore,” Levi inserts, inclining over the table to make sure his next words are crystal clear. “And we don’t talk to outsiders.”

“Unless I have the fifth seat.”

Levi smiles wickedly. “You don’t. Because trust me, if you did, you’d already be dead.” He finger-guns his index finger toward Emilio, who's still standing on the other side of the table. “By that guy over there.”

Elaine gives him a cool grin but doesn’t falter in fear.

No, she’s right.

She has been in the game for a long time. She’s used to men underestimating her, which means she should be watched more.

“You talk an awful lot for a man who doesn’t have much,” she finally states. “I’d watch it if I were you.”

“What are you going to do?” Levi retorts. “Send a ten-year-old girl to jump my dick?—”

“Enough,” Reeve clips out, squeezing the neck of the wine bottle in his hand. “You two bitches shut the hell up, and Mom, get out.”

“And take Reeve with you,” Levi tacks on immediately, really going into asshole mode tonight. “He’s worthless here.”

“He’s with me,” Cairo points out flatly. “He stays.”

“You might want to rethink that. He’s too coked out to be useful for much.”

Reeve scoffs. “I could still fuck you, Wallace.” He slices his hazels to him. “Bend over.”

“Alright,” Emilio chimes in, irritation laced in his tone. “Elaine, this is a private affair. I’ll need to ask you to leave.”

Her red-painted lips spread into a vicious smile, but she stands from her seat anyway. “I would love to discuss some possible business dealings with you. I know now isn’t the time or place, but I’d love to introduce to you what I’ve built. Reeve hasn’t shown any interest in?—”

“I’m not going to be a pimp to young girls—” Reeve starts, but Elaine quickly cuts in.

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