Page 116 of Havoc

“Deflect all you want.” Chaos rolls his eyes, returning to his computer. “Havoc still tells you way too much shit.”

I laugh, not arguing with him this time. After all, he’s right. I understand there’s a line Levi is supposed to keep between what he tells me and what is a secret due to it being club business. But he’s terrible about it, and I’m grateful. We tell each other everything. Trust is something I value after so much else was stolen from us. We don’t keep secrets from each other.

Steel might not appreciate that as much as I do, but if it bothers him, he has yet to say anything to Levi aboutit. After all, from what I’ve gathered hanging out with the girls, Levi isn’t the only member who keeps his old lady in the loop more than he should.

Chaos slams his laptop shut, grunting.

“You look awfully stressed for sitting in the middle of a strip club.”

He drags his hand through his hair. “I’m working.”

“That’s so unlike you. I can see why you might be stressed having to do something more than stare at breasts.”

“Very funny.” He glares, turning his focus to the stage.

But even as he watches the stripper bend in half, there’s not a hint of enjoyment on his face.

“I’m sorry.” I start to feel bad when I sense that what he’s working through must be serious. “I’m here if you need to talk.”

“I’m fine,” he says, not sounding fine at all. “It’s just family shit.”

“Something I know a little about.” Especially after my father was arrested by federal agents, and the only time I’ve seen him these past three months was through a glass wall. “I’m guessing the court-ordered mediation didn’t help the situation with your brother?”

He shakes his head. “He’s there, and I’m here. Unless that changes, things aren’t looking good. But heading to Texas will look suspicious with all eyes on our strip club operations at the moment. Can’t do that to my brothers.”

“But you want to?”

“It would make it easier.”

“If it comes down to it, will you leave the club to stop your brother from parceling out your family’s land?”

I’ve avoided asking him that question up until this point. But I sense it’s a question Chaos will need to ask himself sooner rather than later. His loyalty to the club is strong, but this is blood. And even if he and his father were at odds, Chaos admitted to me that the land was originally his grandfather’s, and that’s why he’s fighting for it.

“I—” His answer cuts short as his gaze snags over my shoulder. “What the fuck?”

I follow his line of sight until I spot a girl walking into the strip club. Her narrowed eyes scan the room. And when her gaze finally lands on Chaos, she seems to have found who she is looking for because she starts to walk in his direction.

Her long, black hair hangs in thick waves that almost reach her waist. She’s a storm of darkness and beauty. Her eyes are the shade of gray of thunderclouds right before they rip the earth to pieces. She’s wearing all black, except for a splash of red lipstick.

“Do you know her?” I turn back to Chaos, who seems to be staring at her fishnet-covered legs.

“Unfortunately,” he says.

But there’s more emotion in that single word than he probably realizes.

Chaos’s eyes lift as he watches her cross the room, and I swear she’s all he sees. The closer she gets, the more his face hardens. But beneath his cold expression is a softness in his eyes that I’ve never seen.

From the other side of the room, Levi meets my gaze before quickly glancing between the girl and Chaos. I sense his silent question, but I just shrug because I have no idea what’s going on.

The girl stops at my side, offering me a forced smile before turning her full attention to Chaos.

She’s short. Chaos is sitting on a barstool, and he still meets her at eye level. But her fierceness fills the room. She’s a viper ready to strike as she rolls her shoulders back and stares at him. A beautifully lethal weapon.

Her gaze quickly scans the room, pausing only for a second on the stripper onstage before landing on Chaos. “Hello, Dean.”

“You know only my mother calls me that, Willa.” His tone is no softer than hers.

I shift back in my seat to avoid the tension reaching a pinnacle between them.