Our president lets the teenagers slip away with a disgruntled sigh, then turns to address me.
“Good cop, bad cop? Hard and fast? Or fuck with them slow?” I prod.
“Hard and fast. Let me find out exactly what they’re here for first, and then you’re welcome to shut their shit down. If he sells it, I don’t want it.”
“Even if what they have is beneficial to us?” We still claw our way out of the shit and could use any cash Matthias can front up with. But even so, I’m pretty damn sure Chaos isn’t at the stage of beggars not being choosers.
“Don’t care. I’d rather attend mass every Sunday than get into bed with Matthias again.”
I snort a laugh as I get off my bike and shake out the legs of my jeans, one at a time. “Best we go get this squared away then, huh?” Because I’ve got other mysteries I’d rather attend to.
Ones that involve thick, wavy hair and warm caramel eyes.
Matthias spins as we approach the porch; his sister feigns ignorance as she continues to thumb her phone. “Since when am I kept on the doorstep like a dog, Chaos?”
“Since you fucked us over and left a gaping hole in our bank balance,” our president calls back. He sets a boot on the first step with a thud.
The harlot looks up from her screen.
“We’re all here now, so let’s skip the previous pleasantries and cut to the chase. What brings you by today, Matty?” Chaos climbs up to the troublemaker’s level and stares him down from his five-inch advantage.
Matthias’s sister slips her phone back in her purse, fluffing her hair over one shoulder in the process.
“I’ve got a proposition for you on how I can repay the debt.” He shoves the tips of his fingers into his jean pockets, and rockson the soles of his feet. Circus positively salivates at Matty’s shaky words that drip with false bravado. “But I think it’s only respectful for us to have the conversation in private, don’t you think?”
Chaos bites the edge of his bottom lip, transforming his mouth into a cruel smirk. “I don’t have any respect left for you, so talk.”
Matty glances back at his sister, which I find curious, and then shakes out a frustrated, yet apprehensive, laugh. “Look, fucker. I’m here, willing to overlook how you fuckin’ treated me last time we talked. For my sister’s sake, how about we take this inside. If not me, have some respect for the lady.”
“Is the lady in the room with us?” Crow quips.
Matthias snaps his neck around to glare at our Treasurer, jaw set firm. Asshole knows better than to poke the bear.
“Doesshehave a name?” Chaos asks.
The honey-trap launches from her chair to her brother’s side, grabbing Matthias’s arm in a coy, look-after-me-I’m-delicate show of bullshit while she eye-fucks Chaos. “Danica. Pleasure to meet you.” She extends coffin-tipped nails toward him.
Which he promptly ignores.
I roll my eyes and catch Crow’s amused look.They fall hard and fast every time.Fucking Chaos has been breaking hearts since the day he was born.
To my amusement, he goes right back to addressing Matthias. “You’ve got five minutes to tell me why the fuck I can’t miss this golden opportunity you’ve brought to my door. And I’m warning you, I haven’t had breakfast, and I’m hungry. So the longer this drags on, the less amenable I’m likely to be.”
I slip behind Chaos and jump up to settle myself on the rail for the show.
Matthias shakes his sister off and draws a deep breath before he spits out the biggest goddamn joke I’ve heard in a fucking while. “A brothel.”
Chaos blinks slowly and then repeats, “A brothel.”
Matthias nods.
Circus takes a seat on the porch floor, enormous grin splitting his mouth wide as he settles his back against the railing. He watches the interaction with the fascination of a toddler who waits for ice cream.
“You realize brothels are illegal now, right?” Crow asks.
“You realize everything you assholes do has always been illegal?” The fuckweed counters.
“But it’s notourbrothel,” Chaos points out, tilting his head. “It’s yours.”
