“How’s the family, George?”
George shakes his head. “You know how it goes, Jester. It’s always something when you have kids. My youngest broke her ankle at one of those trampoline parks. She had to have surgery on her growth plate. Sucks, man.”
“Goddamn.” Ain’t that ‘bout a bitch. I need to remember to send her a teddy bear or something—whatever the hell six-year-olds like these days. “Give her a hug for me and tell her Uncle Jester loves her.”
I’m like the universal funny uncle to every kid in town. Guess kids like me because, to them, I’m Mayhem’s resident clown. The one adult they can always rely on to make them laugh.
The cabaret, like the rest of Devil’s Den, is black and red. The lighting is dim, giving the room an intimate feel despite its size. As always, it’s a packed house, with Ava commanding the stage, swinging her slender body around a brass pole. The woman is a born aerial artist, with her wild, red hair flying around like flaming curls. Jamie says Ava reminds her of a Disney character named Merida from some movie calledBrave. I’ve never seen it, but I’ll take her word for it.
I nudge Havoc and jut my chin to a man sitting alone at the bar. “Look who’s here.”
Havoc scans the crowded club and grunts when he spots Roger. The guy is facing the stage, beer in hand, smug grin on his face because he’s the lucky bastard fucking Ava. Technically, he’s not just fucking her. They’re a whole item now. Have an apartment together and everything. It’s adorable.
And to think, Malice almost killed him the night of Wraith’s rescue.
That would have been a waste of a good man.
Roger came to us through Jamie. They were friends back when Jamie was homeless and living in Florida. Before she married her sadistic husband. He risked his life to help Wraith escape Gomorrah, and although he’s not Unholy, his sacrifice for one of our own makes him family.
The three of us cross the room, and when we reach the bar, I throw my arm around Roger. “What’s up, my man?”
“Heard there’s drama,” Roger yells over the music before taking a long pull from his bottle of Yuengling.
I give him a hard hip check that nearly knocks him off the stool. “Don’t worry your pretty head. It’s handled.”
Roger bats his lashes at me. “Aw, you think I’m pretty?”
God, I love this guy. Shame he rejected our offer to join the Unholy. He’d fit in perfectly with our crazy little gang. After the horrors he witnessed in Gomorrah, dude here wants to live as normal and quiet as he can in Mayhem. Yeah, okay. Good luck with that being with Ava.
“Not fuckably attractive, but in a pinch, you’ll do.”
He plucks my arm from around his shoulders and nails me with a solid shot to the gut, which I allow without retaliation because it’s Roger. “Ava likes me just fine.”
“Must be because of your personality.” I glance at the tiny redhead overshadowing the other dancer sharing the stage with her. When I look back at Roger, I let out a snort loud enough to be heard over The Offspring’s “Defy You.” “I’d bet my right nut the reason she’s with you isn’t because you got a big dick.”
Discord’s laugh is loud enough to draw the attention of almost every person in the place. “I wouldn’t make that bet, Jester.”
Roger sputters on his beer, his eyes nearly bugging out of his skull.
Havoc lifts a single brow at Discord’s remark. “I can’t wait to hear how you know the size of Roger’s cock.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not an intriguing story.” There’s a hint of disappointment in Discord’s tone. “I walked in on him and Ava when they were making use of the storage room. Not only is homeboy here packing, but he also got an impressive hip thrust.”
Color me surprised—and proud as a motherfucker.
I clap Roger on the back. “That’s my boy.”
“Jesus Christ.” Roger’s face is all sorts of red. “Is nothing private?”
Discord nods at Roger. “You’re the one who was fucking your girl in the Den’s storage room. If you wanted privacy, you should have done the deed at home.”
I point at Discord. “Exactly.”
Roger rubs his temple. “At least tell me you didn’t watch.”
“Nah, not my style.” Discord motions to me. “I’m not like this pervert.”
“Hey now.” I feign offense. “I have feelings, you know.”
