In Peace Lies Havoc (Midnight Mayhem #1)(81)

I search her eyes. I somewhat have come to the conclusion that I trust this woman. Through everything that has happened these past months, she has been the only one—not including my psycho friends—that has remained constant. “Sure.”

I drop down onto the chair beside her. “So, you found some?”

She nods, sipping on her champagne and draping her red dress over one leg. “Yes. We don’t have many to choose from right now, but what I want you to know, Perse, is that we don’t want to harm these girls. We keep them there to condition them.” I think over her words, but before I can answer her, she’s continuing. “The three that I chose are the best that you could ask for anyway. One of them is a delicate subject, one is a male, and the other is so broken I don’t think we can save her, so just comfort her when you can.” I take another sip of my champagne. Half of me wants to run from this conversation, but I know it’s only because I’m afraid of who these people are and what they’ve endured. I know I need one massive blowout tonight before I take on responsibility for them.

I throw back another drink.

The sun has gone down farther now and fairy lights have come alive everywhere, giving us a brighter view without it being intruding.

“Go on.”

Delila takes another sip of her drink. “Okay. That’s all.” I know it isn’t, but I allow her to say it. “Just take care of them. One is very special. More than the rest.” I sigh, sinking the rest of my champagne and craving something stronger. When I look to Delila, I can see she’s in pain. The least I can do is put some of this out of her reach.

My hand comes to hers. “I promise I’ll take care of them, Delila.”

Her eyes fly to mine, glassing over slightly. I watch as her face relaxes. “I know, Perse.”

“So!” I stand from my chair, putting my glass on the ground. “Do you want to come out with us tonight, or are you on babysitting duty with my new family?”

Delila chuckles. “You girls go have fun.” Her smirk deepens, and I see the Delila I met all those months again. “While you can.”





I lost her.





Couple hours later, the music is blaring in my ears, the lights flashing in my eyes. I’m so drunk I can barely walk straight, let alone think straight and not one single fuck is given. I’ve walked through my life caring too much. Caring about how I’m going to get food. Caring about my weight. Caring about whether or not my piece of shit mother cared about me, when in natural fact, I don’t care. At least not anymore.

Rose grabs onto my hands, pulling me into her and grinding against me. Maya and Val are around us with Maya beside her as the music takes over all of us. I’m not sure if Maya and Val have taken anything else other than weed, but they seem way too into this dance. “Alive” from Offset and 2Chainz is pulsing through the oversized speakers, the strobe lights flicking. I bring my glass to my mouth and throw back the rest of my drink. We decided to venture to the clubs about an hour ago, and I’m undecided whether it was a great idea yet. I’ve never been against clubbing, but again I’ve never been hot on drinking. I’d be happy to not drink ever, but since being with Midnight Mayhem, their culture has latched itself into my bones. I twist around to the beat, flicking my hair around the place and losing myself in the intricate beat, booty dropping to the ground and twerking my way up. Tensing my abs, I flick around again until hands are steadying me.

“Whoa!” the guy mutters, his eyes searching mine.

“Sorry.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Didn’t mean to stand on your foot.”

His eyes are green up close, his skin a beautiful soft brown, and his cheeks puffed. He’s hard and strong, and not bad to look at.

“You didn’t stand on my toes.” He yells into my ear. “You come here often?”

I snort, leaning into his neck and inhaling his smell. Like a weirdo. “Does it look like I come here often?”

He pauses, searching my eyes before chuckling. “You’re right. You don’t look like you come here, but you can dance, so…”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow in challenge. “You know about dance?”

“I mean.” He shrugs, rubbing his palms together. “I know you can do that cute little thing with your ass while I stand here and look good.” The song remixes into “Bed” by J. Holiday. A bit slow for my vibe, but whatever.

“Oh, okay!” I grin, turning around and flinging my hands up, keeping everything still but my torso. I grind to the music as the chorus comes on, my eyes landing on Rose briefly who is shaking her head furiously at me. I wink at her playfully as I lean over and touch my toes, grinding my ass into his crotch. I refuse to turn around, continuing my dancing, rolling my body side to side. I reach for his hands and bring them to my stomach, widening my knees as I drop back down to the ground and rubbing against him, flicking my hair around.

Again my eyes land on Rose, who is giving me serious eyes right now with Val, Mischa, and Maya smirking beside her.

I spin around, laughing and bring my eyes up to Mystery Dancer, and then stop.

Mystery Dancer is no longer there.

King is glaring down at me, his eyes feral.

I step backward, but his hand hooks around my neck, shoving me into his chest. His lips come to my ear. “Stop fuckin’ around and get your ass home.”