Page 17 of Anarchy at Prescott High (The Havoc Boys 4)
All Vic does is smile.
“Be careful tonight,” he tells me, leaning against his bike. “With both of his brothers dead, Kyler won’t be playing any games.” I nod, but my focus isn’t on Kyler Ensbrook.
It’s on Kali.
My hands ache with a dark need to wrap around her throat, the way Vic did to Logan. Part of me hates myself for wanting to hurt her so bad. The rest of me knows there is no other way. If the world doesn’t hold assholes like Kali accountable for their actions, they’re going to keep being assholes.
And Kali … she might not be as bad as Neil or as dangerous to the world as Eric Kushner. But she’s my special monster, my own personal demon.
I take a sip of the beer as Aaron’s Bronco pulls up and the other three boys climb out. The Camaro isn’t in such hot shape right now and is currently parked at the garage. I bet Hael’s missing it like crazy, but it’s hard to be focused on anything besides getting Aaron back. Just seeing his car and knowing he’s not in it … kills me.
“Smells like violence and unfinished business out here,” Hael says with a sharp grin. He’s got a pair of bolt cutters in his right hand. I glance down at them, remembering the scene from Vaughn’s office. I look back up to find Hael studying me carefully. “Brought these for the gate up the hill,” he says, nodding his chin in the general direction. “There’s an old playground and cemetery up there, but it’s technically on land still owned by the lumber company.”
“A playground and a cemetery,” I say carefully. I’ve been up to Wendling before. There isn’t a single person who grows up in Springfield that doesn’t know about the old ghost town. It’s the perfect party spot, the perfect place to hookup or smoke in secret. “Fitting. Vic, would you mind unlocking the saddlebag?”
He does as I ask, opening it up and revealing a box that I’ve never seen before. It’s sitting on top of the supplies I asked for: a mask, a gun, and a knife.
Before I get a chance to ask about it, Vic pulls the box out and holds it toward me.
“My queen,” he says, a smile twisting his lips. His inked fingers lift the lid and inside, there’s a crown. Just like I asked for. Staring down at it, I figure he either paid way too much for it … or he stole it. I’m hoping for the latter. I lift my eyes up to his ebon ones as my mouth turns in a slight frown.
The crown is beautiful, made of some dark metal that shimmers in the abstract lighting cast by the headlights of parked cars. There are no other lights out here, and even if we extorted some extra capital from the Oak Valley Prep crew, this isn’t the sort of place you call in party planners for. The strange light only enhances the perfection of the crown with its sharp points and red jewels. They look like rubies, but who knows.
“This isn’t even a tiara,” I say, fighting to keep the frown on my face. Because I shouldn’t be smiling without Aaron. Because I haven’t earned the right to call myself queen, not until I’ve taken care of Kali and gotten my man back. “This is, like, a real crown.”
“Only the best,” Vic says, without even a hint of irony. I close the box and hand it back to him, meeting his gaze straight-on.
“Keep it. Until I’ve earned it back.”
I let go of the box and turn to the other three boys.
“How can we help?” Cal asks, his beautiful face hidden inside his hood. He’s already changed his clothes, trading out the suit for shorts and a hoodie, as always. Better to hunt his enemies in, I suppose. Barker Blacks are lovely shoes, but they aren’t exactly designed with murder in mind.
I heft the knife and the gun from the saddlebag, strapping the blade to my thigh and putting the pistol into a shoulder holster. The mask, I keep in my hand.
“Keep the Charter Crew off of me,” I say, and then I start forward through the crowd. Callum cups his hands around his mouth and lets out a howl. The sound echoes around the partygoers, cutting through the booming bass of the music.
Kali turns to look over her shoulder and sees me coming. She doesn’t seem worried. But she should be. I’ve got murder in my heart and vengeance in my blood. That’s what all of this has been about, setting wrongs right.
The crowd parts for me the way it’s always parted for Havoc. Any dissenters are quickly overwhelmed and dealt with by our own crew. It seems that without Mitch present, the Charter Crew is little more than a gaggle of confused teens. In the back of my mind, I can’t forget that Ophelia’s hired more … professional goons to do her dirty work, but that’s neither here nor there.
