Vic hooks his thumbs in the waistband of his jeans and looks Brittany over carefully. “For the next two weeks, he'll behave as a respectful boyfriend should, but not like a trained dog, do you understand and accept?”
“I accept,” Brittany agrees, sealing her fate in blood.
“Jesus Christ,” Hael murmurs, swiping his hand over his mouth as he grimaces. There’s zero hesitation on Brittany’s end as she grabs his arm and encourages him to find his feet.
“We have a prior engagement for Friday night, so don’t expect cuddles and kisses all night long,” Vic tells Brittany with a sharp laugh. God, he’s an asshole. I stare at him and he stares right back in challenge.
“Fine,” she snaps, clearly over her groveling for the time being. She proceeds to drag her ex toward his car.
On their way past, I grab Hael, my fingers burning as they curl around his wrist.
“Don't forget about me when you're on your little date,” I say, hating the way the jealousy pulls me apart on the inside, like my bones are separating from the muscle, making my entire body ache.
“How could anyone ever forget you, Blackbird?” Hael says, the edge of his mouth curving up into a slight smirk. He flicks his honey-brown eyes my way as I release his wrist, and then turns abruptly in my direction. I don't expect him to touch me, or put up much of a fight, considering that Brittany's standing right there, and we just made a goddamn Havoc deal for him to be her boyfriend.
But, apparently, unlike Aaron, Hael is willing to test the limits.
He puts his hands on my hips and leans in close, letting his lips brush against my ear.
“I feel like we owe each other a good, long fuck. What do you think, Blackbird?”
“I think if you screw Brittany—or hell, kiss her—even once during these two weeks, I'll castrate you the way you did Donald Asher.” Hael lets out a howling laugh, and then reaches up to cup the side of my face. His thumb plays across my lower lip before he leans in and takes my mouth with his, searing me with an intensity that I didn't expect. Everything between me and Hael thus far has been … I don't want to say casual, but it hasn't been serious. This kiss is different. It's dead serious, a promise made with lips and teeth and tongue.
“This is bullshit,” Brittany whines, standing off to Hael's right. “What sort of boyfriend act is this? Is this what I'm really paying for?”
A caustic laugh slips past my lips as I pull away from Hael and move over to stand in front of her, grinning like a goddamn maniac.
“Oscar already explained this to you: we are Havoc. You are not. You can't police what I do with my own family—no bargain can ever infringe on that.”
“Blood in,” Victor says, lighting up a cigarette. “Blood out.”
Hael winks at me as he steps back, leading Brittany to the Camaro, and taking off with a squeal of tires and a cloud of dust.
I pretend like that doesn't bother me, but it does.
“Didn't realize you two were so close,” Vic murmurs as he pauses behind me.
Slowly, I turn over my shoulder to give him a sharp look.
“Then you weren't paying attention,” I quip back. He scowls at me, but that's about it. Maybe he knows what a thin line he's walking?
I might be a part of Havoc, but if he wants me to be his girl, then he better shape the fuck up.
“Oh, and I have a few things I need to tell you,” I start as Cal looks up, studying us with bright blue eyes. Victor just cocks a brow, and I feel this near-orgasmic satisfaction at the idea that I’m about to piss him off. “First, Callum and I almost had sex on Saturday, at the dance studio.” Victor’s eyes go wide, and he turns in a very slow, very scary sort of way to stare at his friend. Before Vic even gets the chance to respond, I forge on. “Second, I smashed Kali’s face into a locker until she was bloody and unconscious. We might have some extra problems with the Charter Crew this week.”
Victor’s cold, dark gaze swings back to me, but for several minutes, he says nothing, just stares down at me with an inscrutable demeanor.
“You’ve managed to surprise me, Bernadette. And I’m not one who’s easily surprised.” Vic turns and heads over to his bike, climbing on and taking