Page 24 of Vandal Unbound

Isuck in a breath and look straight to the top-shelf liquor.

Havoc messaged me and told me he already got me a beer. And food.

But what I think I need now is some whiskey and that cloudless feeling I get when it’s mixed with painkillers. I sway a little and realize I’m probably way drunker than I have any right to be, so I reach out and hold onto the bar top for stability.

Unlike the previous evening when I stupidly rode across town to get to Elsie, I got a prospect to drive me down here. Most uncomfortable six minutes of my life.

But at least I’m showered this time.

“Wasn’t trying to cause a scene. Was just trying to help you off the floor before that fucking asswipe flicked any more beer over you.”

Daisy’s eyes are wide. “He was entitled to be angry.”

I shake my head. “Big difference between being annoyed you got a bit of beer on your pants, and standing up like you were about to chin kick a helpless woman.”

“I wasn’t helpless. He would have…” She blows out a breath. “You know what. Thank you for helping me up. And Havoc’s right, your food is likely going cold. You should go eat it.”

With that, she turns around, and I get a good look at her long legs. They’re tan and smooth and disappear beneath a short black skirt that hugs her ass. And I’m not the only one who notices. I see men checking her out as she walks by, but her nonchalant air suggests she’s not aware of the effect she’s having.

I shove my hands into my pockets and go join my brothers at the table. They’ve given me a chair between Havoc and Knox.

“You good?” Knox says as I sit down.

“Define ‘good,’” I mutter, before reaching for the burger and taking a large mouthful. It might be approaching mid-afternoon, but I haven’t eaten today.

Unless you count the Johnny Walker and maybe eight pills.

“You haven’t been out with us for lunch in a month. And you’re here now,” Knox says. “What made you come?”

One sec, Van. I’ll get a burger, extra cheese, extra onions, and substitute the fries for onion rings, please, Daisy.

My eyes lift to where Daisy is coming out of the kitchen with a full tray.

“I have a theory about why he’s here,” Reaper says, pointing a fry in Daisy’s direction. “The big question is, how did she end up on his radar?”

Knox groans. “For fuck’s sake.”

“What?” Sunny asks. “That was movie shit right there. Damsel in distress. Hero steps in and protects her. And instant chemistry. Boom. He’s cunt struck.”

Knox shakes his head. “You have the emotional maturity of a fourteen-year-old.”

Sunny chows down on a spoonful of chili. “Your problem is you don’t have a romantic soul and didn’t read enough as a kid, Prez.”

“Maren would say different,” Havoc says. “She paints shit, and he hangs it. Even if it’s the two of them fucking.”

Knox takes the wooden pick out of his sandwich. “Especiallyif it’s paintings of us fucking.”

“It’s artisanal porn,” Reaper says.

Even I manage a chuckle at that.

“Artisanal fucking porn,” Sunny manages to repeat through tears of laughter.

Before they all left for the bar, both Reaper and Havoc had tried to persuade me to come with them. Of course I didn’t want to. But Havoc dragged me to my feet, naked, and shoved me into the shower before turning the cold tap on.

I could feel his disappointment at my state but was still just sober enough to hear the fear and worry for me. His words haunt me.

You were injured. You’ll heal. But what you’re doing to yourself now? That’s a lifelong thing you gotta manage, brother.