In Peace Lies Havoc (Midnight Mayhem #1)(47)

“Dove!” Maya calls out, just as I reach the RV.

I turn to face her. “Hey!”

She’s slightly out of breath, huffing and puffing. “Sorry. God, I hate exercise.”

“You hate exercise?” I giggle. “Your act?”

She waves me off, rolling her eyes. “I sing on a swing and let the boys drive their bikes through hula hoops. I don’t—no. I do not do what Midnight does. I’m not even in Midnight. I just stay with them because…” She shakes her head. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m here. Hand me your phone!”

I give it to her and watch as she pushes buttons. “I’ve programmed my number into your phone and now I have yours. So, you can’t skip out on our drink tonight.” She hands it back to me.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

She tucks her unruly curly hair behind her ear. “Good. See you later!” And she’s off again, as quickly as she showed.

I make my way into the RV and head straight for my room. I need to put away all my new clothes and wash my laundry, but when I open the closet in my room, my dirty clothes that were in my basket have been washed and folded and are sitting inside of it tidily.

I step back outside of my room, looking around to see who is here, when a lady starts making her way down the stairs.

“Oh! You must be Miss Hendry. Your clean washing is folded and put away, and I’ve refurnished the cupboards and fridge.”

“Ah.” Obviously based on her very cliché maid attire, I know who and why she’s here, but I just didn’t know we had one.

“Sorry,” she apologizes, wiping her hands with the rag she has hanging out of her front pocket, and puts her hand out to me. “I’m Rhonda. The maid. Each RV has one, and I’m yours.”

“Nice to meet you, Rhonda.” My hand meets hers, and she squeezes it gently. “Have you been The Brothers maid for long?”

“Long enough,” Rhonda jokes. “Well, if you need anything, just text triple seven, and you’ll get my cell phone.” She makes her way through the kitchen again before leaving me in the RV alone, which is peaceful.

I pad my way back into my room and take a quick shower. I promised the girls a drink tonight, so a drink I will have.



Gun shots ring out. Bang. Bang. Bang. One after another. They pierce through the air and ricochet into me, leaving fragments of blood spattered all over my sundress…



Shaking myself out of my flashback, the Texas heat leaves me drowning in sweat and not wanting to put any clothes on at all, so after my shower, I settle on white shorts that cut off around the curve of my ass cheek and a tight tank that rides up and shows my belly. I couldn’t care less. It’s hot, I’m uncomfortable, so if wearing next to nothing is what’s going to make me feel just a smidge better in this heat, then I’m going with it. I try to straighten my hair dead straight and let it flow down to my tailbone, but the humidity has it frizzing back almost instantly. My skin has a natural tan glistening since our time at the lake today and my cheeks are flushed. I usually wear makeup. Not much, but some, but tonight, I kept it lowkey natural. Bronzer, blush, and some mascara. Really, I’m looking forward to spending some time with girls instead of four very intense boys.

“Hey!” I wave to Rose as I walk up. There are chairs scattered around their small fire pit. I almost want to say it’s way too fucking hot to have that blazing, but I sit down anyway.

Maya hands me a glass of something and clinks her glass against mine. “Bottoms up, Little Bird.” Her tone is docile and bored, but I’ve learned over the time that I’ve been here that that’s just Maya.

We clink glasses, just as the crowd thickens. I can feel their presence before I can see them, but I ignore everything going on around me and keep my eyes locked on the flames that flicker through the darkness. Music is blaring loudly, so loudly. it’s a wonder anyone can sleep through it—or maybe no one is, and they’re all here; there’s that many people here.

“You actually came.” Jack sinks down in the chair beside mine.

“Hey, yeah, I did. Though I don’t know how long I’ll last. I was rehearsing all day, and my muscles are tired.”

Jack laughs. “I understand that.” I take a second to watch all of the people who are here. I’m starting to learn that there are more people than I know who are in Midnight Mayhem.

“So we’re going to play a game!” Killian calls out, shutting off the music and interfering with my people-watching.

“Oh no,” Jack mutters, kicking back in his chair.

“Why, oh no?” I ask, leaning into Jack.

Jack leans back into me. “The last time Killian wanted to play a game, someone died.”

I gulp, sitting up straight. “You’re joking, right?” I whisper into him.

“Wish I was.” Jack takes a swig of his drink and then tosses his cup into the fire. I watch as the flames burst higher, lost in my own thoughts. Someone died? These people are crazy. “It’s a shame,” Jack muses out loud, interrupting my thinking.

“What’s a shame?” I ask, looking straight into his eyes.

“That you’ve gained King’s attention.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “No, I haven’t.”