Page 94 of Chaos Kills

“Sometimes it’s the best and safest?—”

“Lastwarning and then I’m popping you in the balls,” I warn easily because, my God. “You’ll promise to come back to me unscathed and without a warrant for your arrest.”

“I promise.”

I inhale, still hating the idea. “I’ll hold down the fort.”

“Speaking of that…” He removes his fingers from my chin and takes our hands to his chest. “I need you to know something.”

My stomach knots at the seriousness of his tone, and I can’t get any words out because they’re too busy being strangled to death.

“The Nameless.”

“I…know who they are.”

“But you don’t knowwhothey are.”

Right.

I heave my body upward. “Obviously, because?—”

“I know every single person by name and who’s involved. And since we don’t make them get stupid ass matching tattoos, anyone who is tied in will have a black mole on their neck until I’m gone.”

“A what?”

“You know what a mole is, Astor.”

I frown. “Why would?—”

“You don’t feel safe here. But I want you to know how many people support us in this venture. How many are around us. It’s more than you think. And we don’t do tattoos and shit because of the obvious. But they will mark their throats temporarily with a pen or marker until I’m back.”

Is he wanting to stay?

“Okay,” I say instead. “I’ll…keep my eyes open, I guess. But a lot of people have freckles and?—”

“On the left side.”

Specific.

“You don’t need to have them do that,” I retort softly. “I trust that you have shit under control.”

“I know you do.” He squeezes my hand. “But just look.”

“Okay.”

“That’s my girl.” He brings my hand up to his lips and presses a soft kiss to it before letting it go. “Now, let’s grab the girls and I’ll buy you cheeseburgers for your fat ass.”

Dick.

TWENTY-THREE

bay

I couldn’t thinkof another place to meet besides a coffee shop where Nessa couldn’t start her shit, even though she still could anyway.

A steaming hot cup of medium brew sits in front of me, but I can’t bring myself to drink it. I’m anxious for our meeting, and it took me several pleas and text messages for her to give up on being a stubborn-ass and hear me out.

This isn’t going to go well.

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