Page 23 of The Devil's Chaos

“You can apologize, or I can shove this branch up your ass and show you how it feels to be disrespected.”

Tanner glared at me with hatred in his eyes as he choked out an apology. “I’m sorry,” he rasped.

“Sorry for what?” Kai challenged.

Though I should have been afraid, seeing Kai like this sent a thrill through me that I hadn’t expected.

“Sorry for not listening when you said no.”

“Good boy,” Kai growled, his voice low and menacing as he leaned in close to Tanner’s face.

I strained to hear what he said next.

“Now, if I ever hear you call her a bitch again, I’ll rip out your tongue. As a matter of fact, if you even look at her, I’ll gouge out your eyes and feed them to you. And if that little shrimp dick of yours goes near her again, well, I suppose you can figure out what I’ll do then, right?” Kai chuckled darkly, using the branch to poke at Tanner’s crotch.

Tanner nodded, tears streaming down his face.

“You’d better hope I don’t see you again,” Kai seethed, finally releasing his grip from Tanner’s throat.

Tanner, now fully aware that his days were numbered and that he had thoroughly pissed off Kai, scurried away as fast as his legs could carry him. I watched him disappear into the darkness, feeling somewhat sorry for him, but mostly relieved.

Kai tossed aside the branch and walked toward me, his face inches from mine. He looked down at me as his stormy eyes searched my face for a moment before he spoke.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice deep and husky. “Did he—” He paused, scanning my face and lingering on my exposed skin where Tanner’s hands had been.

“I’m okay. He didn’t get that far…thanks to you,” I managed to stammer out.

“Why were you out here in the woods in the first place?” Kai’s voice was sharp, accusatory.

“I—I—fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Panic set in as I remembered that my brother was on his way to confront Archer. “I have to go…my brother.”

I took a few steps, but Kai blocked my path, standing firmly in front of me.

“What do you mean, your brother?” His accusatory stare made me feel small and guilty.

Fuck me.

“Shit.” I met his gaze, desperately trying to come up with an answer that wouldn’t get me killed.

His eyes narrowed. “I’m only going to ask one more time. What about your brother?”

“He’s on his way here, and I think he’s going to try to attack Archer.”

“What do you know about Archer?”

“It doesn’t matter right now. Look, there’s no time. My brother called me a while ago; he might even be here already.”

Kai studied me, probably trying to decide if I was being truthful. Without warning, he grasped my wrist and dragged me through the dense underbrush, my feet barely skimming the ground as he led me through the forest. Before I knew it, we were back at the party, surrounded by the sounds of laughter and thumping music. He released his hold on me once we reached the cool, dark stones of the quarry near a large boulder.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back,” he ordered, his eyes dark and his tone a warning to obey him.

I nodded in agreement and watched as he vanished into the crowd. I strained to follow his movements, observing as he met with Archer and another tall man with dark hair beside another boulder. While they conversed, Archer’s body tensed, and he scanned the group of dancers before him. My gaze followed his and landed on the girl he had been with tonight.

Mila.

She was dancing with two blonde girls. One faced me, but the other was faced away from me, dancing without abandon.

Searching farther into the crowd, I spotted my brother, Bruno, Rocco, and a couple of other men making their way into the party. His eyes were locked on Mila, a predatory gleam inthem. Panicked, I turned to look at Kai, desperate to get his attention. He told me to stay put, but I had to try and stop my brother before something terrible happened. I’m no saint, but I couldn't stand by and watch innocent people get caught in a turf war. Finally, after one last attempt to catch Kai’s eye before I acted, he glanced in my direction. It only took him a second to realize I was about to bolt. He shook his head in warning, but my legs were already moving, and my body had already reached the group of dancers.

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