“You were too busy telling me I owned a sex club. Caleb’s infidelity seemed somewhat irrelevant.”
It wasn’t irrelevant. Because even though she was putting on an ‘I don’t care’ front, she had to care.
“You want me to kill him?” War asked casually, as if he killed people every other day.
I didn’t take it as a joke because I knew there was a good chance War had taken a life or two in his time.
Bliss did, though. She laughed. “I’ll give you his name and details later then, shall I?”
War leaned in, resting his elbow on his knee. The move brought him closer into Bliss’s personal space, but she didn’t move back.
“Anytime, baby. Offer is always there.”
My fingers dug into the plush leather couch, fingernails stabbing into the fabric while I fought for something to say to steer this conversation around and to get War to disappear and forget that Bliss existed.
“War!”
All three of us sitting on the couch snapped our heads up at the shout from across the room. It was loud enough to be heard over the music, the chatter, and the occasional moan or cry as someone came.
Solomon struggled with an intruder in the doorway who’d managed to get through the door and the coatroom and into the main lounge area.
I recognized him. He was War’s best friend, Hawk. The two of them regularly spent their evenings at Psychos, happily chatting Rebel up when she’d let them. Hawk had come to this side of Psychos a couple of times in the past, and I knew him well enough, so even though he wasn’t on the list for tonight, I signaled to Solomon to let him in.
Solomon seemed like he’d rather run Hawk’s head into the brick wall. But it wasn’t a good idea. Hawk was a big guy, and he’d probably give Solomon a run for his money. The two of them were already creating a scene, and a fight was not the sort of entertainment we were trying to provide here.
Solomon backed up at my signal, letting Hawk go, and stepping back into the shadows he’d exploded from. Hawk shot him a dirty look and straightened his cut on his way to War’s side.
“Hawk. Meet BM.” War cringed and then laughed. “Okay, shit. Bowel Movement is not a fitting nickname for you, sweetheart.
Bliss laughed. “Anything is better than BM.” She smiled up at Hawk and extended a hand to him. “I’m Bethany-Melissa. Or Bliss. Or Disney. Take your pick.”
Her hand dropped back to her lap when Hawk completely ignored her.
He stared down at War, his face taut.
War seemed to notice at the same time I did. He sat up straight, his voice suddenly low and deadly. “Talk. What’s happened?”
Hawk shook his head. “I swear, man. I came to find you as soon as I heard… It’s your parents.”
Even with Bliss between us, the tension that froze War’s body was evident. His jaw went so rigid he could barely get words out.
A sick, dark feeling washed over me, like I knew what was coming before Hawk even said anything.
Hawk’s expression was anguished, and he had to swallow thickly before he could answer. “Their car went over the cliff up on Saint View Point. They got your mom out. She’s not conscious, but she’s alive.”
Bliss let out a gasp, and despite the fact they’d only just met, her hand landed on War’s leg in an attempt to comfort him.
If he noticed, he didn’t say anything. His gaze was locked on Hawk, waiting for him to deliver the rest of the news. “And my old man?”
“He’s dead. Murdered execution style. Gunshot to the head.”
15
BLISS
I stayed at Psychos until the very last guest left around five in the morning. And then I stood in the parking lot, staring at the black square building, backlit by a rising sun, and saw it in a whole new light.
In the space of one night, it had morphed from a slightly terrifying dive bar to an empire.
One that I owned.
I’d never had control of anything in my life. I’d spent six years bending and breaking beneath my mother’s mood swings and Jerry’s abuse. I’d spent my school years desperately trying to fit with kids who’d grown-up with silver spoons in their mouths. I’d spent my adult life so far cocooned in my father’s wealth, and then Caleb’s.
All of it had come with a price.
All of it had left me weak. Useless. Unable to stand on my own two feet.
“You seem like a woman whose just made a life-changing decision,” Nash mused from his perch on the hood of his Jeep. His long legs dangled over the headlights, and he lay back, resting on his elbows. The morning sunrise kissed his skin, and I tried not to notice how good he looked in it, despite the fact we’d been up all night.