It takes a solid backbone to survive Mayhem. Since she’ll be here a while (and if I have my way, it’ll be permanent), she needs to get right with taking charge of herself now. Kerri isn’t meek. She’s quiet and thoughtful before speaking, and people often mistake her silence for timidity. Those people are wrong. Emotionally, she’s strong as an ox.
“I said, I got it.”
Without a hint of attitude or hostility, Kerri sweeps her blonde hair over her shoulder. She walks right up to Havoc and smiles in the face of his glare. “And I said, thank you, but I’m capable of fixing my own plate.”
Havoc, hilariously, doesn’t seem to know what to do with Kerri’s gentle defiance. He’s used to people being loud. Violent. I take mercy on him because I’m a good friend.
“Havoc, go.” I make a shooing motion. “Begone, demon. Go with Jester and do your Unholy business.”
His upper lip twitches, and I can’t tell if he’s suppressing a snarl or a laugh. “You get laid one time in Sanctum, and suddenly you’re Queen Shit.”
I snort out a laugh. Behind me, Kerri chokes on a gasp. Havoc stomps out of the room, but he leaves the door open after he goes. It takes all of ten seconds for Jamie to come rushing in with Ava and Tempest at her heels.
Yep. We seriously need to pump up the Tribe’s numbers because five against the Unholy is pitiful.
“Faith, my God, what happened?” Jamie, with her hand pressed to her baby bump, blinds me in a bright pink sundress. “Jester came out of here like gangbusters, and now management are locked in Crow’s office.”
Because she’s with Wraith, I can tell her everything, but she’s not alone. With secrecy in mind, I pull her aside to give her the quick and dirty version. But she stops me by holding up her hand.
“Whatever you say to me, you can say to the Tribe.” She motions to Ava and Tempest, who watch us with expressions etched with concern.
I give Jamie a curt nod. “Good, because secrets suck.”
First, I tell them what Daniel-fucking-Davenport did to me. Kerri is not happy that I kept it secret from her, and I’m sure she’ll give me shit about it once we’re alone. But then she takes over, filling in the gaps, explaining how Daniel is the supplier of onyx and how Mike told her that Connor couldn’t take the pressure of being part of Daniel’s operation. He got paranoid. Scared that the Unholy would find out after I asked about onyx. When he told Davenport he wanted out, Daniel murdered him. Cold-blooded killed him. Like, how does someone do that? Straight-up execute a twenty-five-year-old? He’s known Connor since the guy was a kid. Makes me realize how easily he could have made me…unalive. Instead, he sent me away with a severance package and a glowing recommendation.
It’s weird, since Daniel obviously possesses zero morals.
Jamie amazes me, though, how she absorbs the information without betraying a hint of emotion. Her expression remains serene, as if Kerri told her something as mundane as the weather forecast. “So we’re dealing with another madman,” she finally says. “I’m telling you ladies, I’ve about had it with this shit.”
Ava cracks her gum before dropping on the bed. “Same. The world is batshit.” Then she shrugs. “Guess it’s up to Mayhem to get rid of one more asshole.”
Tempest snorts. “Ironic, no?” Then she motions to Kerri. “Hey. Brighton. Jamie said you’re the newest member of the Tribe. That true?”
Kerri glances at me. I nod, and when she looks back at Tempest, she gives her a slight shrug. “Seems I am.”
The gorgeous brunette leans against the dresser and gives her a thorough appraisal. “Fucking awesome. We need all the members we can get. Just don’t go being all stuck up. We don’t tolerate that behavior here.”
“Ease off with the hostility,” I warn Tempest, quick to defend my friend. “Kerri may be from Brighton, but she’s nothing like those assholes.”
Tempest is a tough nut to crack. She doesn’t exactly back down, but she eases up, giving Kerri one more cautious once-over. “Yeah, I can totally see it.”
Jamie comes up beside Tempest and places a hand on her friend’s arm. “She’s one of us now, Temp.”
There’s enough subtle admonishment in her tone to have the younger woman reluctantly backing off Kerri. Apparently, Tempest has major trust issues. No worries. I get it. She’s me when I first got to Brighton, and the more I take her measure, the more I see what she tries to hide—a lifetime of pain reflected in her soulful brown eyes.
“Since there’s nothing we can do about this Davenport person tonight, let’s at least enjoy the rest of the barbecue.” Jamie places a palm over her belly. “I’m starving, and the food is almost ready.”
“Don’t forget there’s cake later,” Ava adds, clearly excited.
Tempest pushes off the dresser and says to Kerri, “It’s Discord’s birthday.”
“He’s Havoc’s younger brother, the one from the coffee shop?” Kerri asks.
“Yep.” I grab Kerri’s hands and haul her toward the door. “Come on, baby girl, time to meet the rest of the family.”
“I forget you grew up with the guys.” Tempest slides in between Kerri and me and throws her arms around us. “I bet you have so much dirt on them.”
My grin is downright devious. “Damn right, I do, and since I’m part of the Tribe, I might be persuaded to share a few juicy stories.”
