Page 24 of Safe Haven
I really like that diva.
“You might be missing, but it might be convenient at the moment. It could work as your alibi while you’re living Mercy’s life.” I see the light bulb go off in Haven’s eyes.
“Oh, that’s good. Diabolical. Well then, you can’t stay here either. Clubhouse?” Corvin suggested, but the way Haven turns her nose up lets me know that her upper-class bougie ass won’t be slumming it with us until the mile-long list of repairs and cleaning is done.
“You could stay with your old man. It’ll be good for your cover.” I shrugged at the suggestion, but it makes the most sense.
“Would he be okay with that?” Haven looks so unsure.
“Hang on, I’ll ask. Princess just woke up an hour ago.” We can hear Corvin stomping down a flight of stairs and the creaking of a door opening.
“Stay the fuck away from me, you lunatic.” Apex’s voice sounds gravelly and rough.
Just like him.
“Your fake wife is in trouble and needs your help. You got a couch to sleep on?” All we can hear is a grumbling sound and then retching.
Gross.
“He said he would be happy to sleep on his couch so you can have his bed like the true gentleman he is.”
Haven groans at her best friend.
“Said all that while he was puking, did he?” She pinches the bridge of her nose, and the gesture reminds me of Mercy so much that my chest hurts.
“You gotta learn to read between the lines, babe. I’ll text you his address once he’s done. I’ll send you supplies with him.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what those are, but knowing the man, even though it’s been a short time, I’m guessing a taser will be included.
Hell, maybe even condoms.
How is this woman still a virgin, and then I remember Mercy telling me why they didn’t speak anymore. She stole her magical for the first time, and Haven never bothered to try again.
Suddenly, the repressed smirk vibe she gives off makes more sense. This bitch needs to get laid. Yesterday.
“Fine, thanks.” Haven hangs up and moves closer to the dirty windows of the building we’re standing in front of.
“Why don’t you live here?” She just couldn’t leave it alone, could she?
“Cause my abusive as fuck father raped and killed my mother in the kitchen. Can we not go down memory lane?” Haven nods and steps away from it.
“It insured?” What?
“Yeah,” She looks around and smiles in a disturbed fashion.
“Got matches?” Wait, she can’t possibly mean what I think.
“Um, I do, but,”
She turns on me suddenly and makes me face the front door.
“You aren’t attached to it. This is cheaper than therapy and way more fucking healing. Picture his ass burning down with it. Plus, it’ll get the cops away from my house so I can steal my dog from Mrs. Duncan. I cannot let him fuck up her house. Come on! You can’t tell me you’ve never thought about it?” I pull out the lighter from my pocket and flick it to make sure it works.
“That’s my girl. Fuck him and this house.” She points over to where the gas line goes into the house.
It’s overgrown with weeds and trash.
“It’ll be ruled an accidental gas explosion. Your insurance will pay out, and then you can decide if you want to rebuild or sell. Either way, it’ll be a nest egg for when we get your sister and niece back.” She nods at me to do it.
“You’re more like Mercy than you think.” I grab an old rag and a bottle out of the trash and light the tip of the cloth.
