Page 37 of Property of Chaos

“A barn.” Loki scoffs. “Do we draw short straws for a bed in the hay?”

“It wouldn’t be an actual barn, you fuckwit.” I scowl at the guy. “We’d outfit it for large groups. A full bath down the back, kitchen facilities, and insulated walls for warmth in the main area. We could put up temporary beds when the occasion calls for it or use the fucking place as a giant beer hall. Whatever we goddamn want. But it would be classed as a farm building and easily permitted.”

“Who’s gonna build it?” Highway poses the question on everyone’s mind. “Sanderson and his crew refuse to do work for us. It’d cost a fortune to bring in out-of-town contractors.”

“That’s why I propose we ask the Amish if they’d like the job.”

The idea came to me as I rode back this morning. Casting my eye over their sunflower fields, I caught sight of the barn in the distance—a massive structure beautifully engineered. We’ve never seen the solution before because, like the people living in the suburbs of Temperance, we’d never bothered to look outside our backyard.

“The Amish are known for their craftsmanship, and I’m pretty sure we could strike a deal that suits them and us regarding cost.”

“What are you suggesting?” Crow asks.

“We offer them partial use of the land for their crops.”

Jinx leans back in his seat with a sigh, Highway glancing to Circus and Darko as though gauging how our most heathen members react to the idea of Amish working in close proximity.

“Anyone see a problem?” I ask, inflecting a tone that reflects my expectation for there to be none.

“Are they gonna complain about what we do?” Darko finally asks.

“Maybe.” I shrug. “But doesn’t everyone?”

“True that,” Fang mutters.

“They keep to themselves,” Circus rasps, shocking the fuck out of everyone. “Same as we do.”

“Got a point there, brother.” Loki nods. “Do you know yet if our other neighbor will be the same?”

My neck prickles at her sudden inclusion into the conversation. “I’m working on finding that out.”

“Bet you are,” Jinx mumbles, raising his voice for the rest of the table when he asks, “What have you found so far?” His gaze flicks to my leg, propped on the journal.

“She seems like she prefers to stay out of trouble, but I want eyes on her.”

“Constant?” Loki asks, raising his brow.

I nod. “I want to learn her patterns. See who she interacts with. Who comes and goes. I want to know what we’re dealing with.”

“All those in favor of getting the Amish to build us a barn?” Jinx asks.

Four hands go up: mine, Circus, Loki, and Highway. I didn’t expect anything different from Darko or Crow—they’ve got their reasons for their beef with God. But Fang and Jinx surprised me. Fucking vote is hung.

“What’s your grief?” I ask, looking at my vice.

Jinx shrugs. “I ain’t got an issue with them building the barn. It’s the using the land shit I’m not sure about.”

“Why?”

He huffs a laugh as though finding it fucking hilarious that I don’t understand. “We like burying things, Chaos, in case you forgot.”

How could I? I walk over my father’s grave every time I visit my mom.

“So we don’t bury anything in the fields they use.” I lean toward him, enunciating each word slowly. “Easy. What about you?” I swing my gaze to Fang.

“I’ve got, uh, history with them.” He rubs a hand over his head. “They might not want to work with us once they know I’m involved.”

“Fuck me,” I mutter, sliding down my seat and hanging my head over the back. “What did you do?”

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