Start a War (Saint View Psychos #1)(38)

War slid over, giving Bliss back her seat.

Recognition dawned in her expression.

He winked at her. “Hey again, cutie.”

She perched on the edge of the couch. “The Slayers MC?”

“That’s the one.” War’s grin was so lazily charming I had a sudden urge to punch him in the face.

He ran his tongue across his bottom lip. “Cute name, by the way. That short for something?”

“Bethany-Melissa. Bliss is a family nickname.”

I probably should have been happy she included me in her family, but I wasn’t.

“So what should I call you?” War asked.

“You could just call me Bethany-Melissa.”

“That’s a mouthful.”

“Rebel’s been calling me Disney.”

He screwed up his face. “What the fuck for?”

She laughed. “Long story. It involves a ball gown.”

“I’m listening.”

She gave him a warm smile and filled him in, and I was sure I saw War fall in love with her. If that were even possible for a man like him. Fall in lust, at the very least.

He was into her. There was no doubt about that.

“Bliss is engaged,” I blurted out.

The woman was right in the middle of a story that had absolutely nothing to do with her fiancé. Fuck me. I might as well have stuck a tag on my chest that read, “Hi, my name is Cockblock.”

War and Bliss both looked over at me.

“That true, pretty girl?”

Bliss practically preened under his compliments, and I stared at her. What the hell was she doing? Surely his flattery wasn’t doing things for her?

“True. But I did walk in on him trying to find his tiny dick in another woman’s vagina earlier tonight, so…there’s that.”

“You what?” I choked. A red-hot rage washed over me out of nowhere. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“You were too busy telling me I owned a sex club. Caleb’s infidelity seemed somewhat irrelevant.”

It wasn’t irrelevant. Because even though she was putting on an ‘I don’t care’ front, she had to care.

“You want me to kill him?” War asked casually, as if he killed people every other day.

I didn’t take it as a joke because I knew there was a good chance War had taken a life or two in his time.

Bliss did, though. She laughed. “I’ll give you his name and details later then, shall I?”

War leaned in, resting his elbow on his knee. The move brought him closer into Bliss’s personal space, but she didn’t move back.

“Anytime, baby. Offer is always there.”

My fingers dug into the plush leather couch, fingernails stabbing into the fabric while I fought for something to say to steer this conversation around and to get War to disappear and forget that Bliss existed.

“War!”

All three of us sitting on the couch snapped our heads up at the shout from across the room. It was loud enough to be heard over the music, the chatter, and the occasional moan or cry as someone came.

Solomon struggled with an intruder in the doorway who’d managed to get through the door and the coatroom and into the main lounge area.

I recognized him. He was War’s best friend, Hawk. The two of them regularly spent their evenings at Psychos, happily chatting Rebel up when she’d let them. Hawk had come to this side of Psychos a couple of times in the past, and I knew him well enough, so even though he wasn’t on the list for tonight, I signaled to Solomon to let him in.

Solomon seemed like he’d rather run Hawk’s head into the brick wall. But it wasn’t a good idea. Hawk was a big guy, and he’d probably give Solomon a run for his money. The two of them were already creating a scene, and a fight was not the sort of entertainment we were trying to provide here.

Solomon backed up at my signal, letting Hawk go, and stepping back into the shadows he’d exploded from. Hawk shot him a dirty look and straightened his cut on his way to War’s side.

“Hawk. Meet BM.” War cringed and then laughed. “Okay, shit. Bowel Movement is not a fitting nickname for you, sweetheart.

Bliss laughed. “Anything is better than BM.” She smiled up at Hawk and extended a hand to him. “I’m Bethany-Melissa. Or Bliss. Or Disney. Take your pick.”

Her hand dropped back to her lap when Hawk completely ignored her.

He stared down at War, his face taut.

War seemed to notice at the same time I did. He sat up straight, his voice suddenly low and deadly. “Talk. What’s happened?”

Hawk shook his head. “I swear, man. I came to find you as soon as I heard… It’s your parents.”

Even with Bliss between us, the tension that froze War’s body was evident. His jaw went so rigid he could barely get words out.

A sick, dark feeling washed over me, like I knew what was coming before Hawk even said anything.

Hawk’s expression was anguished, and he had to swallow thickly before he could answer. “Their car went over the cliff up on Saint View Point. They got your mom out. She’s not conscious, but she’s alive.”

Bliss let out a gasp, and despite the fact they’d only just met, her hand landed on War’s leg in an attempt to comfort him.

If he noticed, he didn’t say anything. His gaze was locked on Hawk, waiting for him to deliver the rest of the news. “And my old man?”