Page 87 of The Destruction You Desire

"Careful there, Luc. You're starting to sound like Kane."

"Never. Although I assume he has experience with that kind of activity."

She narrows her eyes on me. It's no secret that Kane was a member of the Harrow Creek Hawks and has probably put more bodies in the ground than I care to think about.

"The less you know the better."

"Well, that's not exactly reassuring," I deadpan.

"It wasn't meant to be. But he's done with all that. If you need help with anything, then you wanna go to the Harrises."

I stare at her in disbelief. "You're not actually suggesting that I—"

"Do what you need to do, Luc. I hated Brett before all of this. It would hardly be a waste to society."

"Who are you and what have you done with my sweet best friend?"

"I had a reality check, Luc. Life is messy and ugly. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do."

She pushes to stand from the chair and walks over.

"If you need anything, call me, yeah? And no more hiding."

"Whatever you say,Mom."

She rolls her eyes at me.

"I'm going to look after Kayden for a couple of hours so Fee can be at the hospital for Libby and Peyton. I'll be done by eight." She winks, ensuring I miss the hidden meaning in her words. "And if you see Lee, slap him upside the head for me and tell him to get his shit together. You've both got big decisions to make and being continually fucked up ain't getting either of you anywhere."

She drops a kiss to my cheek before disappearing from my room and leaving me alone once more, only I'm much more sober and my room looks a hell of a lot better.

I get dressed and head out of the house, knowing that I've got shit that needs dealing with. Most importantly, I need to get rid of Peyton's fucking job, so she has no reason to step foot back in that place ever again.

The parking lot is quiet when I pull up, and as I make my way through the bar toward Bry, who I swear lives behind the thing, I find it just as empty.

"Evening. How's it going?"

Bry knows the basics after I called when we first got to Atlanta to let them know Peyton wouldn't be at work. And I've also been here drinking since I got sent back, so he's well aware that shit ain't great right now. He should just be grateful that those cunts, or my father, weren't here when I was because I was gunning for a fight.

"Yeah, you know. Julian here?"

"Yeah, he's out back."

With a nod, I take off in the direction of the staff-only door I walked through the night I came to find Peyton.

Fuck, that night feels like a lifetime ago.

I step into his office without knocking, although I really wish I fucking did when I find a pair of heels and fishnet-wrapped legs sticking out from under his desk.

He's sitting in his chair with his head tipped back in pleasure and his eyes tightly closed.

Clearing my throat, his head flies forward, his eyes widening in shock.

"We need to talk," I state, not willing to wait for him to finish.

"Get the fuck out," he barks at whoever it is under his desk.

The girl backs out, wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand before turning to me.