I plan on making Luke see how awesome I’m doing, even if it means faking it until I make it.
I back away from the door on instinct as Luke saunters toward the house with an arrogance that walks ten feet ahead of him. With each step he takes, my heart beats faster, harder, until I swear it’s going to crack my sternum. And then he’s inside, and he smells sensational. Of spice and woods and everything deliciously taboo. Like Mayhem itself scented his suntanned skin. Thankfully, he lingers near the door, but he’s still too close, with a crooked grin tugging at his lips.
Lips I can still taste.
“Thanks for the invite.” His voice is sin with an underlying hint of humor.
“Behave,” Havoc warns.
Luke winks at me when he answers Havoc. “Always.”
How difficult is it to poke out a person’s eyeballs?
“Just doing my civic duty.” I give him the sweetest grin. “There’s a law against leaving animals in a car on a hot day.”
I’m sure Havoc’s grunt is the closest he’ll come to a genuine laugh. “Goddamn, Faith, it’s good to have you back.”
After Havoc’s initial once-over of me, his gaze barely dips below my chin. Asshole over there, however, gives me a lazy assessment, his scrutiny like lava on my skin. I want to dive beneath the floorboards to escape his gaze, but I pretend to ignore him and focus my attention on Havoc.
“Hell yeah, it is.” I nod to the kitchen. “Sorry, I don’t have much to offer given this mess.” I gesture to the stacks of boxes scattered around the freshly painted room. With my focus on getting the essential rooms organized and livable, I neglected to unpack where I’m less likely to spend my time. “I only have bottled water and Landshark.”
“No, thanks, I’m good,” Havoc answers.
“I’ll take a Landshark.”
I shoot Luke a regretful expression. “Oh, sorry, I’m all out.”
He looks ready to burst into laughter. “You offered Havoc something to drink.”
“Allow me to clarify. I’m all out foryou.” Then to Havoc, “How about we get to why you’re here, because although I’m thrilled to see you, the faster we get to business, the quicker you’ll take the trash with you when you leave.”
“Harsh.” Luke has the audacity to look wounded. “What happened to being polite to guests?”
“You’re not a guest,” I clarify. “You’re an anal wart. An oozing, irritating, anal wart on the ass of society.”
Rather than take the remark as an insult, Luke gives my nasty remark a round of applause. “Wow. I’ve been called a lot of things. But an anal wart? There’s a first.” He strolls the room, examining the labeling on each box. “Need help unpacking? I’m free for the rest of the day.”
I would love the help… from anyone other than him. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
My stomach flutters when Luke drapes an arm around my shoulder. “Just being neighborly, Fizzle.”
That name on his lips makes me want to vomit. I shimmy out from beneath his arm and put distance between us. “As I said, thanks but no thanks.”
Havoc leans his enormous body against the wall and folds his arms across his massive chest. Like when I first saw him in the coffee shop, I can’t stop my gaze from drifting to his scars. Pride kept me from repairing our friendship. He may have had Luke, Wraith, and Malice, but I was the only person he trusted with his darkest secrets.
“I have a question. You’ll be honest in your answer.” Like the rest of him, Havoc’s voice matured over the years. It got deeper, richer, reminding me of a threatening, distant storm. “We’ll see if you’re still a shitty liar.”
Dishonesty takes too much energy. Lying is also one of the worst things a person can do, so no, I don’t do it—even if the truth is awful. “Stop with the theatrics and ask.”
The corners of his mouth turn up in a hint of a smile, and I swear to God, I almost die of shock. Caleb “Havoc” Taylor. Grinning. It must be snowing in hell.
“This is official Unholy business. It’s coming directly from Crow.” His expression darkens, and that storm seems to inch closer. “When you were living in Brighton, were you part of the drug scene?”
Part of me wants to punch him in the face for insulting me. I saw what drugs did to his family. He and I agreed we would never touch that crap. I kept my end of the bargain, and by the tension in his body, Havoc, I assume, did as well.
I furrow my brows and notch my chin, furious that he put such little stock in my promise. “How dare you ask me that.”
Havoc drops his arms and steps toward me, his eyes twin pools of rage. “I warned you about lying, Faith.”
