Page 131 of Property of Chaos

I only make out a handful of words, but it’s enough for me. All the permission I need.

“Gentlemen,” the underpaid assistant calls as I reach for the door. “You can’t—“ She sighs when I push the door open.

What greets me is the epitome of my name—absolute fucking chaos.

Evelyn has a hold of Vanessa. The guy—whom I heard introduce himself to the assistant as Gage—pushes an enraged older man back from my woman. The lawyer’s wobbly old face shakes as he yells at them all to stop.

But it’s the words coming from Vanessa’s mouth that have blood painting my vision.

“…down my throat and told me it was whatallgood girls did to get to Heaven.”

“The fuck is going on in here!?”

Everyone freezes, heads swiveling to where I stand, flanked by the Kings.

I point a finger at the old cunt, advancing as I speak. “You want to tell me why the fuck she just said that?”

“Who the hell are you?” He shakes off the younger guy’s hands, righting his jacket as he speaks.

“Vengeance, you pedo fuck.”

“Chaos!” Ness’s hands clamp around my forearm in a death grip. “Not now.”

“What do you mean, not now?” the lawyer chokes. “When’s better? Later? How about never?”

“It’s okay, Peter.” The old asshole lifts his hand to the guy. “I’m sure we can manage to work this out.”

“You’re fucking Abraham, right?” I tilt my head back, staring at him down my nose. Cunt doesn’t deserve my respect.

“Just Abraham will do,” he quips, digging at my use of colorful language.

I’d fucking lay a hell of a lot more than that on him if we weren’t in a public place. “Sit your ass down.”

“And who the hell do you think you are to come in here and start giving orders?” the fat fuck behind the desk barks. “Stephanie! Call the police.”

“Steph’s gone home,” Highway says lazily, leaning a shoulder against the doorframe.

One of the weasels from the waiting room makes a dash for her desk and the phone.

“Nuh-uh,” Crow taunts, pointing at the guy as he walks toward him. “I wouldn’t do that.” He turns to the other suit. “And you can hand me that while you’re at it.” Palm out, he accepts the fucker’s phone.

“Here’s how this is going to go,” I say quietly, taking a step toward the lawyer. “You’re gonna finish reading out who gets what, and then any other communication you have with Vanessa will be done by email. She’s done needing to be in the same room as any of you, ever.”

“I did finish reading,” he grates.

“Good.” I clap my hands and then spread them wide. “It’ll make this madness end a hell of a lot quicker.”

“This is who you choose to associate with now?” Abraham asks, leaning around me to see Vanessa.

I hold out a hand to the fuck, urging him to stop. “Buddy. You had your turn.”

“Chaos,” she whispers as I turn toward the guy. “Enough.”

“No.” I spin back to face my woman, cupping her jaw with one hand. “You want me to stop because you’re afraid. Don’t let your fear take away what’s rightfully yours.” I point behind me in the general direction of the cunt. “That fucker won’t hurt you anymore. He doesn’t get to have that agency over you anymore.”

“Won’t I?” He chuckles. “I can hurt whoever I want,wheneverI want. You have no idea who you’re messing with, do you?”

Seriously—this dickhead doesn’t know when to stop.“No, cunt,” I mock, screwing up my face as I turn toward her stepfather. “I don’t. And you know what? I don’t care. So sit the fuck down and wait your turn.”

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