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“Fucking Az-hole.” She murmured as she scrambled inside and settled next to Leighton in the far back row.

I was so busy watching her that I’d missed Craig and Joey arriving. Joey’s head popped into the sliding door, and the confusion on his face made it clear he’d caught what Victoria had said.

“What did he do now?” He asked as he climbed into the middle row and closed the door.

“What did who do?” Craig asked as he claimed the front passenger seat.

“I told her that she looked good in my hoodie, is all.” I said with a shrug and started the van.

“Oh, so you’re speaking to me now?” Victoria demanded, one brow raised at Joey.

Joey ducked his head a bit, wincing slightly at her tone. It felt like the entire vehicle was waiting to see what happened next, but he just sat there momentarily wringing his hands. Knowing we were on a time crunch, I pulled out of the driveway and started down the road, keeping one eye on things in the rearview.

“Listen, I…” He started and then trailed off. “I know that I’ve been…"

“A fucking child?” Leighton supplied.

“Off your fucking rocker?” Craig added at the same time.

“A whole ass problem?” I called over my shoulder.

“That’s… all fair.” Joey said, cringing again as he turned to face Victoria. “Yes. All of that. I haven’t been handling, well, at all. I know you didn’t mean to get anyone in the mess we ended up in, and I’m… I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting around everyone.”

My gaze shot to the rearview to gauge Victoria’s expression. Her lips pursed, and she took a deep breath before blowing it out slowly.

“Okay,” She said. “I can forgive the way you’ve been acting because I know first hand how grief can mess a person up. It makes you act in ways you’d never act otherwise. Just… no more, okay? We can work through this together.”

“Yeah…” He said slowly, turning away from her and looking out the window falling back into silence.

Something about the entire exchange didn’t sit right with me. Joey’s apology sounded genuine, but it was… off. And the easy way, Victoria let it all go. I made a mental note to speak with her about it when we had time. Joey had been a big enough dickhead she should have been making him grovel. Her easyforgiveness caused my mind to slip to Benson, and I couldn’t help but wonder how far she’d let Joey push her.

The rest of the drive went by in silence that continued as we stepped out of the van into the gravel parking lot of the warehouse. Phil was waiting just by the entrance for us, but Helen hadn’t arrived yet.

“Got everything you asked for, Boss.” Phil said as we made our way inside. “I’ve got snipers on the top floor in case–”

“It’s Helen, Phil. You really think she’s going to double cross us? Even if she felt like it, she’s not bringing soldiers, she can’t kill all five of us by herself.”

“And I’m the Queen of England,” Phil scoffed. “You may not think we need em, but I wanted every contingency prepared for. Helen ain’t your problem. Candy is; that crazy bitch. How Craig stuck his dick in that woman for two years before he got tired of her particular brand of insanity is beyond me.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking either. Maybe I was fucking drunk the whole time and missed it.” Craig said with a shrug just as a large black SUV with fully blacked out windows, towing a small trailer behind it, pulled up before us.

“Look alive,” I said, and we fell into position around Victoria as naturally as breathing while we waited. The engine cut as Helen opened the passenger door and stepped out, with Mel climbing out of the driver’s seat. I spotted someone in the backseat, but they didn’t make a move to get out of the SUV.

“Gentlemen, and Victoria. It’s good to see you all well.” Helen said, her tone polite but not overly friendly.

“Helen, always a pleasure. I hope these few weeks have been less… eventful for you.” Victoria said smoothly, holding her head up. I raised a brow but let it go.

“Our guests I take it?” I asked, motioning toward the trailer.

“Sedated.” Mel chimed in, motioning for Joey and Leighton to follow her as she moved to the trailer. The pair followed Mel as she opened the door, which burst open with force. Candy launched herself from the trailer and straight at Joey as the door knocked Mel backward. Joey and Candy fell to the ground as she shrieked something unintelligible. Joey worked to protect his head as she pummeled him from above.

“I thought you said she was sedated!” Leighton bellowed as he rushed forward and snatched Candy’s hair, jerking her hard enough to pull her off Joey. Candy twisted in his grasp and flung a fist out blindly toward him. “Not today, wildcat.” he snapped as he slapped her across the face hard enough for the sound to echo through the parking lot.

Candy hissed and spit, her arms flailing like she didn’t care what she hit as long as she hit something. Whatever they’d sedated her with wasn’t adequate, but it seemed they were prepared. Mel got her feet under her and raced to the driver’s side door, flinging it open and reaching inside before emerging with a hypodermic needle in hand.

“Hold the crazy bitch still, Leighton.” Mel snapped as she tried to get close.

“What the fuck do you think I’m trying to do?” He yelled back as he worked to wrap his free arm around Candy’s neck, pulling her into a headlock, his other hand still fisted in her hair. “Any day now, Mel. Fuck! The bitchbit me!”