Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Vox

I stand with my back against the wall and watch my sister, Nova and that bitch boy dancing. They are all laughing and look like they are having the time of their lives. It must be nice not having a fucking care in the world. My phone vibrating in my pocket has me snapping out of it and pulling it out. The sight of the name on the screen has me gritting my teeth, I answer and bring it to my ear.

“Couldn’t this wait until you get back tomorrow?” I snarl.

“When you are fucking summoned, you appear. It isn’t a request, Vox, it is mandatory for all members to be present. You are not exempt from that rule!” I grind my teeth side to side, praying that I can control the anger thrumming through me.

“Yeah, well, I had shit to do,” I clip out.

“Want to walk the line as punishment, boy?” My nostrils flare.

“Why don’t we stop fucking around and speak the truth, Thomas. You want me out and my sister in so you can try and manipulate her into doing your bidding.” My words could have me killed but I am past the point of caring, Haven Saints is nothing like what it once was. It’s all politics now and helps greedy cunts line their pockets instead of hunting down fuckers who harm our town.

“You want to repeat that?” he asks in a deathly calm tone. The sight of Archer and Hayze walking toward me pull me from my downward spiral when I remember it’s not just my life I am fucking with here. If I step out of line they will pay the price for my crime.

“I’ll be at the next summons,” I force out through clenched teeth.

“That’s what I thought. Have you located the bastard fucking with us yet?” I scrub a hand down my face.

“No. We haven’t found a trace of him.” The truth is, we haven’t even been looking for the fucker trying take down the Saints, he’s doing a us favor without even knowing it.

“You find that fucking cunt!” he roars, then ends the call just as Archer and Hayze come to a halt before me.

“What’s up with you and Ez?” Hayze asks.

I fight not to roll my eyes. “Nothing, he’s just being a bitch.”

“Is that so?” I lull my head to the side to see Ezekiel glaring at me, great, it’s a family reunion.

“Fuck off, I don’t have it in me to deal with your shit,” I mutter as I turn back to watch Nova and the others and take a pull from my hip flask. Nicole and her cheer bitches are standing across the room trying to garner our attention but none of us are in the mood for their ‘ look at me’ bullshit tonight.

“We have a plan and you are ruining it, Vox,” Archer says in a firm tone that surprises me.

“How am I doing that?” I ask as I step into him, bringing us chest to chest.

“Hey,” I look over Archer’s shoulder to see Nova standing there looking uncomfortable as fuck but what pisses me off more is the fact she is talking to Ezekiel.

“What do you want?” Ez snaps.

“To know what the hell your mom was up to before?” she claps back.

Ez shrugs. “Fuck if I know,” he says dismissively.

“Well, nice to see you are still a dick.” She shoots him a filthy look before turning and heading back to the dance floor where my sister is dancing with Waylen.

“You gonna stop that shit or should I?” Archer hisses. My moment of hesitation costs me, within a second Hayze and Archer are both storming toward my sister and make a show of shouldering past Nova who stumbles in her heels. Waylen releases my sister and rushes to Nova’s side and that’s when I see it.

“Looks like you aren’t the only one pining after the bitch,” Ezekiel says from beside me. I clench my fists at my sides and slowly turn to face my best friend.

“Seems to me your mother was pining after her as well. Maybe you should check in with Mommy and see why she was crying at the sight of the bitch .” I leave him there to stew on my words as I head for Nova. I shove my flask into my pocket and choose to ignore the sight of Vivian dancing with Hayze and Archer. I'll let it slide because they saved me from breaking bitch boy's nose for touching her.

“I’m okay,” Nova says to her friend just as I arrive. She jerks her gaze to me and frowns. “Vox?” She sounds shocked and slightly worried.

“Come on,” is all I say, then grab her hand and pull her away from that punk. She doesn’t protest or fight when I whirl around and wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close. Her hands rest flat on my chest as she stares up at me, I can see the wheels turning in her head wondering what my game is.

“What are you doing?” she asks as she darts her gaze around the room, no doubt seeing all eyes are on us.

“Dancing,” I reply dryly.

“I know, dumbass, but why are you dancing with me and not your cheer squad?”

I snort. “Because thirsty bitches don’t get my dick hard.”

“And I do?” she volleys back.

“Your lips wrapped around my cock would.” Her mouth parts on a gasp and red tinges her cheeks. She drops her gaze from mine and I smirk.

“That’s not going to happen,” I hear her mumble. Having too much fun embarrassing her I push on.

“And why is that?”

She flicks her eyes back to mine and I can see the shock in her features. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh, maybe because you have been a dick to me since I arrived here and made sure that I know I am nothing but a little witch to you and your friends.”

“You’re a witch to me, not them.”

She searches my gaze for a second, trying to decipher my meaning but she won’t find what she is looking for.

“Well, I’m kind of… seeing someone anyway.” I roll my lips over my teeth and nod. Her eyes narrow. “I’m serious!” she defends.

“Never said you weren’t.”

“Well, I am so you and me, we will never happen.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, little witch.”

“Nova, we have to go.” I dart my head to the side and scowl at her friend, the cunt looks me dead in the eyes and doesn’t back down.

“Okay,” she whispers and tries to step back but I refuse to let her go. “Vox, I have to go.”

I peer down at her and shake my head. “Nexus is a cunt but he isn’t worth it.” Her brows draw in and her forehead crinkles.

“What?” she breathes out.

“Release her, now.” At the sound of Ezekiel’s voice, I am left with no choice, I drop my hold and step back. She eyes me for a moment, trying to get a read on me but she won’t, I’m already walling off my emotions and preparing. She looks from me to Ez a couple of times, then sighs and turns to her friend, who leads her outside with the palm of his hand on her lower back.

I’m gonna break that fucking hand.

“It’s done, you can’t stop it.” I ignore Ez as I nod to Hayze and Archer, letting them know it’s time. Archer grabs my sister’s hand and follows after me as I lead us out the other exit. Our limo is idling at the curb. I wait for the others to climb in and just as I’m about to follow after them I spot Nova and Waylen across the lot, she is plucking a black envelope from beneath her windshield wiper. Waylen and her share a loaded look before her gaze cuts to me.

For a second I just stand there, lost in the depths of her eyes but the trance is broken when fuck boy cuts her from my view.

Tonight is the night the real carnage begins and years’ worth of planning is finally put into motion.