Maverick and Sadie were in the shower fucking and didn’t hear our calls.
“Eww,” we say in unison, both screwing up our faces at the imagery attacking our brain cells.
Maverick chuckles. “Yeah, well, sorry for traumatizing you both. But everyone’s fine. The club’s fine. There’s been no sign of Cartel activity. We’re coming up with a plan of counterattack. Honestly, everything is okay, Clover. I promise.”
“So, we’re safe?” Clover asks, wiping at her eyes.
“You’re safe, little sis. We’re all safe.”
She lets out a long, shaky breath. “Well, that was a long, few anxious hours of my life I never want to repeat.”
I look at her tear-streaked face, think about the kiss we just shared, and about how we’ve both completely lost our shit in the past twenty-four hours.
“Yeah,” I agree. “Mav, you wanna stay on the line and talkto Clo for a bit. I think she needs to spend some time with her brother.”
Clover smiles up at me, reaches out and squeezes my hand, mouthingthank youas I hand her cell back to her.
“Yeah, I wanna hear all about the cool places you guys have seen. What’s been happening so far, Clo? Tell meallabout it?” I hear Mav say as I walk off, needing a moment to myself.
Running my fingers through my hair, I draw in a deep breath as a soft ‘meow’ draws my attention, and I glimpse down, seeing Dracula circling my feet as I walk. “You sure you wanna hang with us, lil’ dude? We seem to be dramatic?” I say as I move to the edge of the road and plop down on my ass staring out over the desert, the sun is almost set now.
He nuzzles into my side, like he’s chosen a life of chaos with Clover and me. So, I take a risk, moving my hand out to pet his head, and for the first time, the little shit doesn’t hiss at me. Risking a glance over at Clover, I see her sitting in the passenger seat, talking to her brother, the biggest smile crossing her face as she chats happily, and I can’t help the warmth that engulfs me.
For the first time since this nightmare started, it doesn’t seem as if Vegas is the end of the world anymore. Maybe heading there will be the start of something exciting for Clover and me.
Dracula nuzzles into my side again, and I chuckle. “Yeah, okay, you’re not that bad. Let’s make a pact, you and me, cat. Let’s make sure Clo has the best time in Vegas, okay?”
Dracula glances up at me, his yellow eyes shining bright in the darkening light, and he nuzzles into my side again, a soft purr escaping him this time.
A slow smile hits the corner of my lips, and I nod. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Chapter Five
CLOVER
“… and then Phoenix and this psychotic cat got into this wrestling match, and we’re still waiting to see if Phoenix has rabies or not,” I say, laughing despite everything as I tell Maverick about the last couple of days. “I should probably check the scratch on his hand, now that I think about it.”
My brother’s deep chuckle rumbles through the phone, and the sound is like medicine to my soul. For the first time in hours, I can actually breathe without feeling as if my chest is caving in.
“Sounds about right,” Maverick says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Phoenix always was a pain in the ass when it came to taking care of things.”
I glance over at Phoenix, who’s sitting on the edge of the road with Dracula, the psychotic cat, curled against his side. The sight makes something warm expand in my chest. He’s scratching behind the cat’s ears, his face relaxed in a way I haven’t seen since this damn nightmare started.
“He’s not so bad, you know,” I murmur down the line. “Phoenix, I mean. Even if he does drive like an old woman most of the time.”
Maverick’s quiet for a moment, and I know the conversation is about to turn. “Clo, I need to tell you something.”
The warmth in my chest instantly turns cold as ice. “What?”
“Everyone’s okay,” he interrupts firmly. “The club is handling it, but it looks like shit is going to get real hectic. Nighthawk, the woman who killed Livvy, is here.”
“What?”I blurt out.
“No, it’s fine… I think. She’s here with Haven. Fuck knows why, but Poppy adores her, even though she knows she’s thewoman who killed her mother. I willneverunderstand the dynamics of these birds,” he mumbles.
“Jesus.” My eyes widen in surprise. “Okay, so why the hectic?”
He exhales down the line. “Nighthawk is giving us snippets, but she’s still holding shit in, I can tell. Javier has shit planned. His roots thread deep, Clo. I’m just glad you’re not here right now.”
