Page 75 of Royal Havoc

Nothing I have to say is good. All of it’s going to hurt her. But none of the bullshit matters now that she’s back. I don’t care if I have to chain her up for the rest of her life. I won’t lose her again.

“Suddenly, you’ve got nothing to say?” she questions innocently, fluttering her lashes.

I’ll be surprised if this whole fucking bar doesn’t go up in flames.

Once Zeke has wrangled Carney’s screaming ass from the room and we’re alone, I hesitantly step towards her.

She pulls what I think is half a joint from her cleavage and lights up. “Are you going to listen to what I have to say?” I ask, treading lightly.

She leans back on one of the sinks. “You’ve got three hits, then I’m leaving,” she rasps, trying to hold the toxic smoke in her lungs.

“You already know I had to sign a paper. We discussed this in the car. The four signed an agreement.” I remind her.

She laughs, smoke escaping from her mouth. “You lying sack of dog shit. She wasn’t a gift. You picked her off of some piece of shit list and had her boxed up all neat and pretty and shipped to you. That’s what Zoey meant about her going away. The bitch doesn’t belong here!” she shouts.

“I didn’t pick her. Her bloodline’s from town. She was next on the list. Her money picked her.”

“I should’ve set your ass on fire that first day you broke into the cottage,” she purrs, taking another hit and holding it in.

I take a deep breath, trying my best to stay calm. “None of this matters. She’ll be gone by the end of the weekend,” I try to reason, stating the facts.

“Is that supposed to make it all better? You throwing her away like trash? When you get tired of me, are you going to throw me away, too?” she asks, dropping the weed on the floor and stomping it with her boot. Stepping towards me, tiny flames dancing in her caramel eyes. “Fuck you, I’m ditching your ass first,” she seethes, storming towards me to leave.

“I told you I won’t lose you again,” I grit, stepping in front of her.

“Our lives aren’t a game!” she shouts in my face.

“Then stop making it one!” I shout back, seizing the second of shock it causes, throwing her over my shoulder.

“Let me go, you fucking psycho!”

“Zeke, get the back door and help me tie her up,” I order, carrying her kicking and screaming down the hall to the back exit.

Once we’re at the car, Zeke helps me restrain her hands and feet before we put her in the backseat.

“Can you drive? You smashed a bunch of shots,” Zeke asks.

“I’m good. Keep your phone on,” I warn before sliding into the driver’s seat.

thirty-nine

Sweet Psycho

Tulip: 2015 Age: 18

My palm sweats as I tightly fist my key, tiptoeing across the hall. Silently, I unlock B’s door and slip inside, making sure to lock it behind me.

It’s not that I’m worried about getting in trouble. The Doc and Dan know I have a master key. I’m trying not to draw any attention so that Dan will leave us alone. My plan requires privacy. Otherwise, Dan might see more of me than he ever wanted to.

Brock’s sitting at his desk reading. “I thought you changed your mind,” he says, closing his book.

My eyes fall to his forearm, tracing the word I carved into his skin. Reminding me of the night we traded secrets.

“You’re mine. I’ll never change my mind,” I answer, meeting his questioning stare.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks, his brows dip as he examines my face.

I walk to the desk, raising myself to sit on it in front of him. “Do you really think Ollie will get us out of here?” I ask quietly, needing to say what’s been on my mind all day.