Page 270 of Chaos Kills

And it doesn’t take a fucking psychiatrist to see he’s not right in the head. Repeating over and over that Penn is going to be looking for him if he doesn’t show up to a meeting.

But Luther was around when Penn was picked up by the Feds. Except his captivity may have made him only remember shit that was right instead of everything that went wrong.

Torin called one of our doctors because the last thing we need is to answer to nurses, doctors, and cops when they see the kind of shape he’s in. We also didn’t want to give away that we took him before we figured out what the hell is going on and what we may have to do to Reeve’s mom.

It’s been a long night.

And while Luther is sedated because he wouldn’t stop thrashing around, I leave the doctors to do a full examination and give me their feedback on how bad it is and what needs to be done.

“Sinatra.” Bay’s voice slithers through my room and to my balcony outside, only causing my body to tighten because, with or without her, it’s going to be a shitshow.

Too bad she can’t call Reeve back to reality and get his crap together because she’s the cause. I could literally strangle her sometimes and then fuck her the next with how I understand both sides of the equation of their lovers’ quarrel.

I wave her in with two fingers, still giving her my back as I take a sip of my amaretto. A small breeze sweeps across my body as she comes to my side. It doesn’t take away the heat of my rage nor the burning fire that is still fuming in our lives.

“Are you okay?”

“Depends on your definition of okay,” I deadpan, before taking another generous swig of my liquor and finishing it off.

The only thing I’m hoping for is for Torin to step up and help me through this, because I’m really going to need him. Especially when I have two of my brothers getting rocked tonight.

I steal a glimpse at her, dark hair gently blowing in the wind as she looks at me for instructions on what to do. I was hard on her the other night at Emilio’s stupid-ass dinner party, but for good reason.

It’s been over a week since that night, and we still haven’t talked about it.

About how my brother, a dude I’d risk my life for, almost had her disappear off the face of the Earth.

“What is it about you that makes you tick the way you do?” I ask, thumbing the side of my glass and looking out into the darkness that’s my backyard. I brought her here tonight because I didn’t want her at Elaine’s, and I wasn’t going to send her home. She stayed with Ozzy and watched a movie while I tried to get a hold of Reeve.

Also, I thought I might be able to use her for such a feat.

“You want to get to know the real me?” she retorts gently. “You already do.”

“Then, I’m going to bet that you don’t trust me.”

She lifts her shoulders dismissively. “Not entirely.”

“Don’t make Christmases awkward, Little Terror. I actuallylikethat holiday.”

“I don’t plan on spending it with any of you.”

She’s such a shit.

Though, it doesn’t stop that I want her to. It doesn’t stop the weird and tangible awkwardness that would stifle the air when Bay and Torin are in the same room.

Especially now that I know why.

“How’s Reeve’s dad?”

“Fucked-up. He’s being examined now.”

“If there’s something?—”

“Go home, Bay,” I order gruffly because her being here doesn’t do shit. It only makes things more complicated. Especially since she has Torin and Ozzy on a leash, and neither one of them knows what to do with themself. I shouldn’t have brought her here.

Without a retort, she begins to turn back around for the door, but my stupid hand reaches out and grips her bicep, tugging her to me so our chests press up against each other.

“The next few days are going to be rough. If you hear or see Reeve, call me.” She bows her head in acknowledgment. “I’m not the best company right now.”

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