Page 85 of Heirs of Havoc

“It’s all my fault, Nani.” She rubs her hand down my arm, but that isn’t enough to stop these tears or take any of this back.

“Love will make you do crazy things.”

“Love?” I snort, sucking back tears. Nani picks up a box of tissues from the floor, passing one to me. I swipe at my face, pushing my curls away. “I don’t think it’s love, Nani.” This is far from love. This is a fucking disaster.

“Well, it’s at least infatuation,” she says. “You miss your shifts. You’re unusually late and when you saw Feliks working here well, the look on your face was enough to give you away.” My brows lower and she laughs. How is she this calm in her smashed-up shop? “When they came to help me lock up a few nights when I was on my own, they bickered about you. So, something tells me it’s not just Feliks and that can be a lot for one girl.”

Woah. Nani knows way too much. Wait. “They—they helped you?”

“Well, you weren’t around.” And that Caribbean sass is back.

“I’m sorry, Nani, it’s been ... a lot.” She's a far cry from my father. “Can I stay with you tonight? We can talk about how to get your shop running again.” Nani’s hand falls from my shoulder. She takes a second. She never takes a second. “What? What is it?”

Nani sighs, leaning against the broken counter. “With the shop down again, I can’t afford to stay here, Mia. The richer side of town is spreading over the ravine and I can’t afford it. I put the house up for sale.”

“Wait—” Her words make my world muffle.

“Hey, with Clementine growing, it already has offers. So, I’m going to stay with my daughter up north for a while until I can get back on my feet.”

“You’re leaving?” The pain in my chest returns. The tightness. Desperation. Then my face hardens. “I’ll give you the money, Nani.” Her furry brows knit. With how much I told her I needed this job, I’m sure she’s confused. But if it takes stealing from my father to get her back on her feet, I’ll do it. My eyes glance at the packet of gum on the floor. This is my fault too. “I can pull it together. I promise.”

Nani waves me off. “I won’t accept help from Penelope Godfrey,” she says, referring to the owner of the store. “So I definitely won’t be accepting the measly dollars you have. Go back to school. Enjoy your life. I’ll figure it out.”

“I thought we fired her.” A female voice follows the click of heels. Looking towards the entrance, a woman in a red dress stands in the frame. Her red lips purse and while she looks like a classic beauty, the anger on her face makes her resemble a villain.

Nani glances between us. “I was just about to tell her, Penny."

Penelope Godfrey.

Shit.

“If you showed up for your shifts, maybe Grandma wouldn’t have to have tended to this on her own.” Her hands come to her hips, a perfect red manicure to match her attire. “And you dare set foot in here today?” She blinks, long lashes fluttering. “Get out. Now. You think I don’t know about the men you have around here? No more, Mia Marshall. Or is it Merlo?”

Oh, fuck.

“Merlo?” Nani gives me a weird look.

I try to explain, “Nani, I—”

“Out!” Penelope snaps. “I don’t want you or those men anywhere near here. I have enough to handle.” When I don’t move, her voice raises. “Now!”

“Penny,” Nani protests, but Penny’s right, I need to go. That gunfight blew my cover and I’m at the end of my line.

“It’s fine, Nani.” Moving towards the entrance, I pick up the pack of gum on my way out, looking over my shoulder. “Thank you.”

* * *

I’m not sure if going back to the Murphy House is a smart plan, but I don’t have anywhere else to go. Can’t stay on campus. Nani can’t house me. So this is my last shot. It’s this or home to daddy.

Without the guys around to have my back, looking over my shoulder keeps me aware of any more of my dad’s men. Should I even be going back to Murphy House with my dad’s aggressive attempts to get me home?

The body bags play over in my head. The gunshots. The absolute carnage that erupted in the SAA halls.

Will I ever see them again?

His men?

My men?

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