Victory at Prescott High (The Havoc Boys #5) - C.M. Stunich Page 0,58

my direction. “But you’re just going to tip him off that you’re up to something. You’ll have to send someone to Mason Miller, and I can tell you right now: Stacey would never let one of us do something that dangerous. It’s not happening. If that’s your initiation requirement, we’ll all pass on Havoc’s offer.”

I think on that for a moment as Tiff looks me up and down and flips her beaded braids over one shoulder.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asks, and I glance over at her, my own brow raised in response. “You got a pussy, don’t you? Why don’t you meet with Mason?”

Hael laughs, and all eyes turn to him.

“Not a chance in fucking hell of that happening,” he says and several of the girls hiss in response.

“What? We’re disposable, but your girl isn’t? Look, we always send two girls to every job for safety. We can do that, give you an escort. But we’re not putting one of our ladies in a closed room with Mason Miller.” Vera stands up and looks from me to Hael. “Anyway, are y’all going to help with Stacey’s funeral? Her broke-ass daddy won’t even claim her body. And we need money to give her the send-off she deserves.”

“We’ll pay for it,” I say before Hael can intervene. “Think about what I said, okay? The invitation to join Havoc stands, even without the Mason thing.” I head for the door and Hael rises to his feet to follow.

Several of the girls whistle at his retreating ass as we head out the door and down the curving staircase to the first floor.

“Did you ever sleep with Stacey?” I ask him abruptly, and he laughs. “No, seriously. You … or any of the other guys?”

“Virgin Dick wasn’t sleeping with anyone,” Hael adds with another chuckle. “Aaron either. But you knew that, right? You’re talking about me and Vic and Cal.”

“Well, did you?” I ask, not caring if jealousy taints my voice for a moment. It’s just me and him in the lobby of Vera’s aunt’s apartment building. I use the term lobby very loosely, too. Mostly, it’s just a square box with some doors and a staircase at either end, an overflowing trash can in one corner, and a desk where a security guard might’ve sat once upon a time.

“Not Stacey or any of her girls,” Hael promises, making an X over his heart. “You know that old saying, don’t shit where you eat? I fucked a lot of Fuller girls, a few Oak Valley brats. Everybody knows Prescott chicks are trouble.” He tousles my hair and I slap his hand away, but I’m relieved to hear that. I’m not sure that I could work with a girl who’d seen my man’s dick. “Blackbird …” he warns, grabbing me by the shoulders before I step outside.

We both pause as the notes of an unfamiliar song echo from upstairs, trailing from the open door of the apartment.

“For Stacey!” I hear, and then the sound of a champagne bottle being popped. After a moment, I recognize the song that’s being played and snort. It’s “Straight Outta Vagina” by Pussy Riot. Seems fitting, to be honest.

“What?” I ask when I realize that Hael is still staring at me like I’ve lost the fucking plot.

“You’re not meeting with Mason,” he tells me, a warning note in his voice that says he’ll compromise on some things but not this. “Blackbird, you just lost our baby—”

“It was barely anything,” I mumble, but Hael squeezes my shoulders even harder, leaning down to look into my eyes. His brown ones darken with the severity of the situation.

“You’re not putting your life at risk for this stupid war. I’d just as soon pack up and leave. As much respect as I have for Prescott, as amazing as having that money would be, it isn’t worth it if you’re not around. You hear me?”

I just stare back at him, but the wheels in my mind are still turning.

It’d be even better if I got into a room with Mason. Because then, I could make certain that only one of us walks out of that room alive.

“Fuck,” Hael curses, gritting his teeth as he releases me and stands up. “Wait until Vic hears about this.” He turns away from me abruptly and heads for the front doors, shoving open the glass and calling out to Victor.

By the time I join him, I can already see that he’s filled Vic in on the situation.

“It isn’t happening,”