Page 25 of Havoc

“After that, she started to change, started to want to know more about the business, and Gideon allowed it for a while until she got too cocky, too smart. If you ask me, she would have easily taken over after him without an issue. That girl has what it takes.”

Wilder was going to fucking die.

“Where’s Leo?” I asked, noticing he hadn’t joined us yet.

“Probably struggling with the tray.”

Tom pushed up to help but I beat him to it. “Allow me.”

They both waved me off and I headed for the kitchen which was just off from the living area but the doorway was hidden from view.

As I walked in, Leo was putting the glasses on the tray and was about to head out.

“Oh,” he smiled. “Care to help an old man.”

“Sure can.”

I made a move to grab the tray, but instead, I pulled the blade free of my pocket and grabbed him around the chest and slid the knife over his neck in one swift move, holding the blade against his throat to stop him from screaming out.

He looked at me in the reflection of the splash back tiles, and total surprise was written all over them.

“Presley comes first,” I said quietly, but he heard me over his gurgles. Blood dripped down over my arm holding him against me and onto the floor. I watched until I saw the colour drain from his face and his eyes began to loll. His mouth opened and closed in an effort to breathe, but it was too late for him. Carefully, when he stopped twitching in my arms, I laid him down on the tiles. Grabbing a tea towel, I wet it and wiped his blood off my arms. Luckily, I wore a black tee so his blood wouldn’t be visible.

I downed a glass of their malt whiskey, some of the best I’d ever had, and headed back out there, bloody knife in my pocket again.

“Where is he?”

“Wants to bring out snacks too.”

“Damn Leo,” Tom grunted, but he stayed in his seat. “He’s always got to entertain.”

“Patience,” Harris replied. “So, Lennie, are you staying in town?”

“Looks that way,” I said. “Although, I would sure like to know who the next kingpin will be.”

“Time will tell,” Tom said, quickly, his suspicion aroused again.

He was going to be hard to corner and kill. I’d have to do him last. I sat back and looked over at Harris.

“Come on, Tommy,” Harris said. “It’s only Lennie.”

“Looks to be Deacon at the head of the pack now that Tannis is dead.”

“Deacon?” I couldn’t help but lose control of my tongue. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Our thoughts exactly but we can’t control what the others say.”

The mystery decision-makers were pissing me off. I wanted to know who the fuck they were so I could figure out who to kill next. No one was going to take this off Presley, and she deserved it more than anyone.

“And if Deacon were to expire?” I asked.

Tom and Harris both looked at me intensely for a moment before Tom replied, “If that were to take place, a second has been decided as well.”

“Who might that be?”

“Someone who has been making a wave for himself lately.”

“Yes?”