Page 21 of Chaos Crown

“Wait, they killed Mariner? How do you know?”

“Oh, Legend and Cairo didn’t have a chance to tell you.” I explained everything that went down since we found that black letter on the sheriff’s welcome mat. “You know the saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Foundry has gotten a lot of families to sell to them.

“All they need is the vote to swing their way, and they had that locked up before the Crows went too far. They’re gone now, but we both know Steven Ellis is going to ride back in with more sweet talk, better offers, fancier promises, and then everyone will start dreaming of those chain malls, clubs, music venues, theaters, and all the rest we’ve been missing out on.”

“What are you saying?”

I looked him in the eyes. “I’m saying Foundry’s going to win, Roan. They’ve all but won already. You guys tried, but you couldn’t stop people from selling their homes. And you can’t stop a bunch of college students from wishing the only real fun around here didn’t only happen on Ruckus Royale night. Everyone wants Bedlam to become more modern, but no one knows that we’ll lose everything if that happens.

“We’ve got to do something drastic to get rid of Foundry for good, and Dante and his Men of Honor won’t risk losing that fight because they got caught up in one with the Bedlam Boys. They’re happy to stay in the shadows while you guys—I’ll just say it—break almost every law getting rid of Foundry. Then when it’s over—”

“We’re the only enemy left standing,” he finished. “That is until their pet cop arrests all of us for the exact laws we broke. We don’t have Sheriff Jack covering for us anymore.”

My lips twisted. “It’s neat, isn’t it? They play our allies until the war destroys us and Foundry. Then they step in and take over.”

“Do we know they want the same thing as Foundry and Ellis? Did Cavendish ever give a hint?”

“He said a lot of strange, cryptic stuff about reclaiming what was stolen from us. The only thing I know that was stolen in Bedlam is Bedlam itself.”

“The Men of Honor want to be running things again. Take it all back from the Society. We—”

“Ooh. Hope we’re not interrupting.” I shot up as three guys entered the room. “Damn, it took forever for Mommy and your security to leave, and still we couldn’t get you alone.”

The guys fanned out—each one taller, stockier, and smirkier than the last. Two of them wore leather jackets and jeans, while the one standing between them opted for a tight, white shirt and ripped-up, paint-splattered pants that were once jeans.

I put them down as our age. Dark-haired and handsome, they didn’t look a thing alike but there was something similar about all of them.

My gaze honed on their necks, and the inky crows flying on their skin. “Who are you?” I flicked to the remote on Roan’s nightstand. One push of a button and it’d alert the nurse. “What are you doing in here?”

“There’s no need for you to hit that call button you’re eyeing. We just came to talk.”

“The lady asked you a question,” Roan said. “Who are you?”

Middle Guy smiled. “Let’s just say we’re friends of Jeremy.”

“Ah. Did you come here to finish what they started?”

“Like hell they did,” I cried, snatching up the remote. “Turn around and get out. Now.”

He threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Easy. Like I said, we just came to talk. Jeremy made a mess of things down here in Crystal Canyon. That’s what happens when you make business personal.”

“It’s called Bedlam.”

His smile widened. “For now.”

The guy on his left stepped forward. “I’m Adriel. That’s Nathan. And he’s Ethan,” he said, going down the row. “Jeremy, Micah, and the other guys are taking a break right now while they sort out some legal matters. On top of the little issue of their being expelled. Since we’ll be transferring in at the start of the new semester, we thought we should clear the air before you Bedlam Boy guys saw our tattoos and assumed we have beef with you too. We don’t.”

My thumb hovered over the button. “So, you lay in wait outside Roan’s hospital room like a couple of stalkers just to tell him that? It didn’t occur to you to send a text?”

The middle guy, Nathan, grinned. “Rainey de Souza. Heard a lot about you. No, we didn’t send a text. An apology should be given in person, don’t you think? We’re sorry for everything those guys did while bearing our tattoo. Jeremy Ellis doesn’t run the Crows. He only thinks he does because of Daddy’s money.” He thumped his chest. “I’m in charge. We’re looking for things to be a lot more civil from here on out.”

“Civil,” Roan drew out. “You said he thought he was in charge because of Daddy’s money. Is that money going to you now?”

His grin widened. “Why would it be? Never even met the guy.” Nathan jerked his chin at his boys. “We said what we came here to say. I’m sure you’ll pass it on to your friends, because we’re not interested in continuing the war. So don’t come for us... or we’ll have to respond.” Turning their backs, they filed out as silently as they came in. Neither of us tried to stop them.

“You heard the subtext in that loud and clear, right?”

Roan nodded, eyes fluttering shut. “They’re going to roll into our town, playing innocent. Anything we do to them is going to look like we’re taking out our shit with Jeremy and his buddies on anyone with that damn black pigeon on their neck. In the meantime, they’ll keep on trying to turn students to voting Foundry’s way.”

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