Page 2 of The Devil's Chaos

Control.

Power.

Freedom.

My body descended from the pole, glistening with sweat as I twirled around, and I knew the crowd was exactly where I wanted it. I was a siren, and the men in the room were my helpless sailors. I continued my performance, grinding and dancing, but my mind was focused on the stranger in the corner of the room. As the music faded, and the other girls took to the stage or appeared to bring drinks to my father’s business ventures, I sauntered off, but the man in the corner kept his gaze locked on my every move. My father and his friend stood up, their eyes burning into me, and I knew I had done what my father wanted me to do.

The room erupted into applause and catcalls, a mixture of praise and hunger for what I represented. My father opened his arms, beckoning me to his table, and I knew what was comingnext. I plastered a fake smile on my face and walked into his embrace as he whispered in my ear.

“Well done, daughter.”

“Thank you,” I responded, forcing fake appreciation.

“Haven, I want you to meet my good friend, Winston Grey, head of Grey Industries. He heads one of the most profitable trading companies in New York City.”

I looked up at the man standing next to my father, my eyes flicking to his face, taking in his sharp features and cold expression. He was older than my father, perhaps in his mid-fifties. He stood tall, with an impeccable posture, and his eyes locked on me, studying me as if I were a prize. He wore a dark suit with a white shirt and an expensive-looking timepiece on his wrist. I forced a sweet smile, extending my hand for him to shake.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grey,” I said, my voice high and flirtatious. My father must have been pleased because his smile widened, and he patted me on the back, his touch hard and possessive.

“She’s a real talent, Winston,” he said, a note of fake pride in his voice. “My daughter is the star of my empire.”

Star of his empire. Ha.

Winston Grey’s eyes never left me as he shook my hand. “I agree, Abel. I’ve heard some great things about you, Haven.”

My father’s grin widened further as he drank in the scene, aware of the control he held over me and the power he could exert over others. I knew I had to play my role perfectly, an innocent pawn in the game my father had set up.

“Likewise.”

Lies.

I had heard enough behind the scenes about Winston Grey. The one thing I was good at was pretending I wasn’t smart enough to know what was going on outside of the world of beinga pimped-out stripper and mule for their drug empire. But I took information. I did not provide it. I soaked in everything I heard and locked it away for a rainy day. And what I knew about Winston Grey could very well prove to be his downfall to the right person. He was a dishonest politician who had ties with The Brotherhood—ties that he had become profitable off of. He helped them launder guns and kept the law off their backs, and in return, they offered him money and protection. This long-standing partnership had existed well before I was born, but if he stood next to my father, the rumorsweretrue.

Winston Grey was a traitor and was switching sides.

Interesting.

Also, dumb as shit.

From what I knew of The Brotherhood, they valued loyalty over everything.

Turns out, money no longer satisfied his hunger. He had broadened his tastes to drugs and women, and my father was the perfect source to quell his thirst.

But at what cost?

My father never dealt with those who couldn’t pay in one way or another. He would get his pound of flesh, but I was curious about what Winston would pay to become a part of my father’s world.

Undoubtedly, The Brotherhood would get their revenge, and I felt a shiver of excitement run through my body as I realized I could use them as a catalyst to get me what I wanted.

Freedom.

Now, I had to figure out what I could give them in exchange for a traitor.

2

TWO

KAI

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