Page 75 of Property of Chaos

I didn’t go to the airport to see her off. The thought of being around people again—strangers—near sent me into a new anxiety spiral. Instead, Marianna dropped me home and took my aunt herself, sending a message to let me know she boarded.

The first of the train of check-ins that I missed.

“Yeah. She’s okay.” Marianna rolls her lips. “Wanted an update today on how you are.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” She heaves a sigh. “Yesterday was the worst I’ve seen you in a long while, babe. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I run my palms down my thighs. “Nothing I haven’t got through before.” My gaze drifts to the smartphone beside the old brick phone I’d neglected. “Can I ask you something?”

“Please.”

I lean forward, scoot my ass to the front of the seat, and tap the heels of my hands to the top of my knees. I made him leave. I told him I’m not worth the trouble. But all I wanted to really know was, would he fight for me?

Do I mean as much as he said I should?

“Okay,nowyou’re worrying me.” Marianna sits straighter. “What is it?”

“How muchdoyou know about the club moving in across the road?”

Her shoulders sag, her expression softening. “Are you worried about having them so close? I can have a word with their president if you like. We’ve known each other since high school.”

And there it is… the answer I wanted.Just didn’t think I’d get to it so soon. “Really?”

“Yeah.” She flattens her lips, glancing to the floor. “The Kings are okay, I guess. They get a bad rap around town, and for a good reason—they do illegal shit—but they also keep to themselves. They’ve never terrorized the community—well, directly anyway—and they donate a lot to local charity, especially around Christmas.” She claps her hands together, lifting her head to look at me. “They’re moving out here to get away from that judgment, so I don’t think you’ll need to worry about them being a danger to you.”

Already passed that point.

“They might be a bit rowdy at times, is all.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“They party,” she explains. “Not a lot, but when they do.” A grin splits her face. “They go hard.” She chuckles. “Maybe it could help, you know? Get you to let off some steam if you go over there and crash the celebrations?”

“I doubt that’d go down well,” I mutter.

“You’ll probably get invited to the housewarming so that they can case you out.”

Again—already passed that point.

“Why would they want to do that?” WhyhasChaos been so interested in me? I keep my head down in Temperance, stay out of trouble—there’s no reason to think I’d be a problem.

“To make sure you won’t run to the cops and narc on them.”

Makes sense.Pretty sure the fact that I didn’t report his stalking ass should be enough proof that I’m not a tell-tale. My gaze shifts around the room, scanning for that hidden fuckingcamera—or cameras. Is he listening to this right now?One way to know.

“Pretty sure they know I wouldn’t rat on them, considering I haven’t yet.”

“What makes you say that?” Marianna frowns. “You seemed pretty freaked out by Circus yesterday. Have they been giving you grief?”

The smartphone chirps from the coffee table. We both pause and look at it.

“Do you need to get that?” Marianna asks when I fail to snap out of the trance.

“I should probably check it.” I lunge across and snag up the device. A message sits waiting for me.

Don’t tell her about us.

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