In Peace Lies Havoc (Midnight Mayhem 1)

I roll my eyes, puffing on my smoke. “Mom needs to chill. She’s getting old. She needs a new hobby. She wants my Aston Martin. Well, she can take it.”

Dad laughs, a full throat chuckle after a while, shaking his head. “Man, you boys really are going to be the death of her.”

I shrug. “Is that all?”

“No.” Dad clears his throat. “This King and Persephone thing. It full swing?”

I freeze. I don’t want to say no, but I don’t want to say yes either. “It’s where it needs to be right now.”

Dad searches my eyes, finding the answer he so desperately wanted between the words I didn’t speak. “Well, bring her home for Christmas anyway. I’m sure we are going to have a full table like every year.”

I shrug. “She’d come anyway. Delila has become far too attached.”

“Just Delila?” Dad cocks a brow, just as Delila interrupts us from behind.

“If you’re both done, we’re ready to carry on our discussions.”

We both are still chuckling as I make my way back into the room. I’m halted, momentarily, when my eyes come to P, who is sitting on the sofa, laughing with Kohen. The fuck? Kohen isn’t funny at all. He’s about as funny as The Joker.

I pause, watching as her head tilts back, flashing her teeth and the small dimple in her left cheek. The air shifts between them as P reaches inside of her pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. Kohen’s Joker smile vanishes instantly as he slowly reaches out to take the paper. He nods at her appreciatively before carefully putting it into his pocket. I know how I feel about P, but my feelings toward this one girl have never been the issue. It’s what I would do for her that scares me, and I don’t scare easily.

I slowly sink back onto the sofa beside P, who flops her leg over my lap. I lean back, running my finger over my upper lip and watch her and Kohen talk, moving fluidly through their conversations. When Delila calls for our attention, Kohen turns around and winks at me over his shoulder.

Fucker.

I trust my brother to an extent, but I don’t trust anyone with P, much less him.

“So, it’s settled.” Delila claps her hands. “We will conduct a plan to take back the power they think they have.”

“And what’s that?” my mom says, ignoring everyone. My mother is like the Dark Queen. No one pushes her boundaries but my brother, my father, and me. Everyone else cowers in her presence, and with good reason. There are some pretty rough stories that float around about my mother and her attaining my father’s attention.

Delila grins. “Well, I think we cage all their best acts. How about we start there?”

“So close to Christmas?” Maya asks, her eyebrow cocked. “That’s a bit rough. Even for you, Mother.”

Delila sneers at her, before addressing us again. “Because it’s Christmas. I’m feeling… light.”

“I have a better plan,” Maya says, leaning forward on her elbows. “We put someone in that they don’t know is with us.”

I freeze.

Delila snaps at Maya. “They know you’re Mayhem, Maya. Stop talking. All that weed is going to your brain.”

“Not me.” Maya rolls her eyes. “Someone new!”

Oh no.

“Absolutely fucking not.” Delila’s eyes swing between Maya and me, and I find myself standing and making my way over to Saskia and Callan, further protecting them. “No.” After giving the dove drawing to Kohen, I found I was right, and it had something to do with him and my sister. I don’t know what, but Kohen’s whole vibe dropped when he saw the familiar drawing. He placed it in his pocket with a smile. Had I earned a smile from the one who doesn’t possess a soul?

“Okay! Well, how about this?” Delila’s voice breaks through. “After New Year’s, we’ll walk through this again. The fact is, something is happening, and we need to take control.” Delila’s eyes drift to Maya before coming back to me softly. I see the apology in her eyes. It’s already settled. One of my own will be going undercover, and there’s not a fucking thing I can do about it.

Shit!

“I need to dance.” I turn, leaving the room and passing all of the adults. I love Delila—she has taken me under her wing more times than I can count—but I can’t agree with this. Not ever. I can’t agree to put one of my girls or Kenan into the pit of hell.

I’m pushing out the door when my harem follows behind me.

“Are you okay, Perse?” Saskia asks, stepping beside me.

“Yeah,” I answer, walking back toward the compound. “I just need to dance. Let off some steam.”

Kenan comes up on the other side with Callan beside him. “You know, we’ll be okay if one of us has to go.”

“Fuck that!” Kenan scoffs. “Have you heard of Patience?” We’re making our way out of the clearing now and I take a sharp turn for the tent, knowing I have some clothes there.