Page 10 of Havoc

The sound of the gunshot and the jolt of his body played out in front of me for the first time since that night at Minnie’s. I clenched my jaw and pushed the image back inside where I kept it. With all that had happened lately, I felt like I was losing control.

The sound of the elevator motor slowing caught my attention, and I sprang to my feet and grabbed a knife from the chopping block. My heart pounded so hard it made it difficult to hear if there was anyone outside my door. With my phone in one hand and the knife in the other, I slowly moved over to the door and pressed against it to listen. Just as I did, my phone buzzed in my hand and my heart went into my mouth. Any bravery I had left inside me fizzled out. I silenced the alert then unlocked the screen to see a text message.

Unknown: Your suite can’t protect you from me.

A tremor tore through me, and I fought to turn the phone off. I grabbed my purse and, without another thought, ran into the hall and, with shaky hands, held Grim’s card up to the screen and bolted inside the elevator the moment the doors opened. It took forever for them to close again. When they opened, I stepped out to meet two sets of pissed off eyes.

“Oh, shit.” I took a couple of involuntary steps then froze. “Grim?” I called hopefully as a wave of terror washed over me. “Hi, puppies.” I tried to keep myself calm.

Leal, the moodier of the two Doberman brothers, let out a low growl and bared his teeth as a warning.

“Okay, boy.” I turned to find Zhar had now blocked my way to the elevator. He just stood there in an intimidating stance while his brother did all the talking. “Yeah, this is great. Shit.” Without warning, I hit my emotional limit and broke. I slumped down until my butt hit the floor, unable to hold my weight any longer, and sobbed. Both dogs moved to stand in front of me. I was sure neither had any idea what the hell was happening. I drew my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around myself.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered through a hiccup. “It’s like things are snowballing, and I can’t stop it.” Zhar looked at his brother, who had a death stare on me, then he sat down. Almost like he knew I just needed someone. “Have you ever been so scared that your own mind works against you? I don’t know if I can do this.” A pair of black loafers stepped into view, and I looked up into eyes colder than Leal’s.

“Go on,” Grim commanded the dogs then bent down in front of me. “You’re lucky they didn’t hurt you.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time this week.” I gave a small shrug, and his face remained like stone as he helped me to my feet. “We need to talk.”

He looked down at the t-shirt I had on, and I saw he registered there was nothing else under it. He lifted an eyebrow.

“Seriously, Grim, I’m not okay, and if I don’t share this now, I don’t know if I can.”

“Then let’s talk.” He walked into his living room and took a seat on the couch. I couldn’t sit. I needed to stand as the panic of what I was about to do started to kick in. I just let my mouth run. “I need to tell you about the night I was attacked. Your dad knows the version I gave him, but there was more.” With a deep breath, I began to tell him my story.

“Thanks. Shore. I appreciate you dropping me off here and not out front.” I snapped my compact mirror closed, pleased my makeup was on point. Now if only I could say the same about my wet hair. But when the hotel owner, Jim Gates, summoned you to the twentieth floor, you hauled ass.

“Anytime, Kenna.” He held up his phone. “Duty calls. It’s Mr. Salazar. Gotta go.”

My own phone rang as I gathered my things.

“Hello?”

“Kenna, it’s Simon. I need to tell you something.” He hesitated. “Is now a good time?”

“Oh, hey, yes, just give me two seconds.” I pulled the phone away from my mouth as Shore opened my door.

“Be sure to let Salazar know I say safe travels.”

“Happy to.” Shore smiled as I stepped out into the parking area. Then he rushed off to go pick up an actual paying client.

“Sorry, Simon. I was letting my driver go. What is it that you needed to tell me?”

“The deal with Trigger and your father just got more complicated.”

“How so?”

“Luis Aquilar is dead.”

I couldn’t understand why this was being brought up to me, and not Trigger.

“I didn’t know the man, but I’m sorry to hear he’s dead.”

“No, you don’t understand, Kenna?—”

“Kenna Lodge?” a woman’s voice interrupted from somewhere nearby. I squinted into the dark corner of the car port. I knew Jim had some construction going on for the level five employees after a couple of the battery charging ports had been vandalized, but I didn’t see anyone. “Yes, that’s you.” Heels clicked on the pavement while I stayed put and waited for whomever it was to show themselves.

“Simon, there’s someone here who wants to talk to me. Can I call you back?”

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