Havok: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance - Riley Rollins Page 0,113

her hand on my shoulder. "What say I help you get dressed and we get some chicken noodle soup?"

I mustered a smile for her. "Okay, let's give it a shot."

We made it down the hall to the kitchen and sat at our usual spot at the black-and-white checkered countertop. The Italian cook, who I now knew as Luigi, brought out two bowls of steaming hot soup with saltines. "Feel better," he said with a sympathetic smile.

The soup was tasty and rejuvenating, and my stomach began to calm down as Ash and I sat, talked, and ate.

But halfway through our meal, a dangerous-looking group of five or six men burst into the mess hall, loud and raucous. They commandeered two tables near the entrance. One of them, a greasy-looking kid who looked like a bad impression of Elvis, kicked back in a chair and threw his muddy boots on the table. The stench of alcohol reached my nose from across the room.

Next to me, Ashlynn groaned quietly. "Don't give 'em attention. Just finish your soup and we'll go."

"You know these guys?" I whispered back.

"Yeah. Mean drunks that come by here every week after dropping off crank for their club."

"Which club?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

"Demons."

I nearly spilled a spoonful of salty broth and noodles into my lap. "Oh my God," I said, feeling my skin prickle. "A Demon tried to kill Axl. And me."

Ashlynn's eyes widened in alarm. "What?!"

I put the spoon down into my unfinished bowl of soup, quietly. "We need to go," I whispered. "I'll explain later."

Ashlynn nodded.

We stood up and walked toward the exit. I looked straight ahead, not making eye contact with the boisterous men. But I could tell they noticed us. Before we got to the door, the young greasy-looking one crossed the room and blocked our path.

"In a rush, ladies?" I looked into his beady eyes, which sparkled insincerely. His skin was a mess and his teeth were crooked and yellowed. His breath stank of booze and cigarettes.

Ashlynn, who'd been following behind me, stepped up next to me. "Get outta our way, Ford."

"Nah," he said with a dirty grin, "I don't think so. How you been, baby? And who's your little friend?"

"I'd watch your fucking mouth if I were you," Ash said. "She's Archer's old lady. Fuck with her and Big Mikey'll cut your puny dick off."

"Shut up, bitch," Ford snarled.

A week ago, I'd have been intimidated by this guy's crude behavior. But by now, I'd seen worse. My intuition told me this guy was a little bitch under a fake "tough guy" persona.

"Back off," I said. My lips seemed to be doing the talking for me. "Get outta the way, or Axl will kill you like he killed your buddy at Four Corners."

Ford's eyes swiveled to me, angry. But behind his anger, there was confusion. I had a read on him. My street smarts were catching up to my book smarts. He was just a scared little piglet, a follower who didn't really know what the hell was going on.

"The hell you talkin' about?"

By now, we'd caught the attention of the other Demons, and another one walked up to us. He was tall, ripped, and had a hard jawline and a military-looking high 'n tight haircut. Clearly the leader. Ford's posturing diminished as the bigger man approached, his behavior changing from aggressive to deferential. It was easy to tell who was really in charge here.

"Hey boss," said Ford, looking up at the taller man, "This bitch was saying—"

The taller man spoke over Ford, cutting him off. "I heard. Now git." He flicked his head, ordering Ford to scram, who obeyed after giving me and Ashlynn one last dirty look.

"Listen," said the man, lowering his voice, "I heard about that bullshit with your old man. Listen. I couldn't give less of a fuck about the Sons of Chaos," he said, "Ain't got no particular love or hate for 'em. But there's nothin' I fuckin' hate worse than a sell-out." He moved in closer toward us, lowering his voice even further so his guys wouldn't overhear. "The Demon who shot up your old man was paid off. We don't love the Sons, but we also ain't tryin' to start a war with 'em. He was a lone wolf."

I nodded. "We know it was a Son who paid off your guy. I don't think Axl blames your MC for this."

He nodded and stood up straight. "Good. But understand. After I heard about this bullshit, I put