Kings of Chaos (Dirty Broken Savages #1)(75)

I’m a motherfucking adult on a mission, and there’s only one more name on my list.

I’ll see Ivan steeped in his own blood one way or another. I’ll make it happen or I’ll die trying. That’s who I am, and that’s all that matters.

I can hear the guys moving, going up and down the stairs, doing whatever it is they do as part of their morning routines. They don’t bother me, and I don’t leave my room for a long time.

When my nails are dry and my cigarette is gone, I just keep sitting by the window, soaking up the quiet. I think about what Priest said last night about being broken. I think about his hand in mine and how I’d probably still be sitting on the floor of the shower if it wasn’t for him.

Out of all the guys, I didn’t expect to find a connection with him.

Well. I didn’t expect to connect with any of them, but especially not Priest. I didn’t even think it was possible for him to connect with anyone.

My thoughts are interrupted after a while by the sound of whining and scratching at the door.

Jesus. That fucking dog.

I try ignoring him, but he doesn’t go away, batting at the door and whining pitifully for attention. I pick up a shoe from the floor and throw it at the door. It hits with a loud bang that reverberates through the wood.

“Fuck off,” I snarl, but it’s halfhearted at best. I don’t have the energy to be that pissed at him for just wanting attention.

I get up and crack open the door. He’s still there, standing right outside. As soon as he sees me, the pitiful look on his face shifts to the dog version of a grin, and his tail starts wagging a mile a minute.

In spite of my rough mood, I can’t help but laugh. Nothing puts this mutt off for long. I can curse him out and throw things in his direction, and he’s still always eager and happy to see me.

“Fine,” I mutter. “Let me get fucking dressed first, you needy animal.”

Like he can understand me, Dog drops into a sit, his tail thumping against the carpet in the hall.

I roll my eyes and close the door, throwing on some comfortable clothes quickly.

Of course, he’s still out there when I come back, and as soon as I step out of the room, he’s up on his feet, following after me as we head downstairs. It’s been a while since breakfast, and he’s probably hungry, so I go for his bowl and the dog food, filling it up and putting the bowl back down so Dog can gobble it up with his usual eagerness.

I lean against the counter, watching him.

I almost formulate the thought to wonder where the guys are, but the half-formed question is answered a second later when Ash and Knox come walking into the kitchen. Ash makes a face at Dog going to town on his food.

“Ugh. I’m tired of cleaning up your kibble drool, Augustus Gloop,” he says to the dog, pushing his glasses up his face with one finger. “Maybe try eating a little neater once in a while.”

“Yeah, I don’t think he’s listening,” Knox says, laughing.

Ash rolls his eyes and turns his attention to me. “I saw you head out last night,” he says. “You get anything good? Was my idea useful?”

“Maybe,” I tell him. The last thing I want to do is think too hard about last night. I don’t want to get dragged back to that place. Truth be told, I almost forgot that was the reason I went out last night in the first place.

Ash’s face lights up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I’ll keep poking around, but I might have a lead.”

He smiles, looking pleased that he was helpful.

Knox crosses to the fridge, stepping around Dog, and rummages inside for a bottle of water. “You want me to beat anyone up for you?” he asks over his shoulder, looking like he hopes the answer is yes.

I grin at him. “I’ll let you know.”

Dog finishes up his food and licks the bowl clean before going to curl up under the kitchen table, which is apparently his new favorite spot to be.

I’m considering going back up to my room now that that’s taken care of, but then Gage comes walking in, followed by Priest, the two men deep in conversation.

“We just need to make it happen,” Gage says. “Simple as that. The logistics will fall into place or they won’t, but we can’t wait around for it.”

Priest nods, either to show he’s listening or that he agrees. It’s a toss-up with him, really.

Of course, the blond-haired man doesn’t look at me. He doesn’t so much as spare me a glance. He’s the same harshly handsome statue he pretty much always is. There’s no mention of what happened last night, and there’s no way anyone else would know unless they saw it, so I guess it’s just back to business as usual.

I haven’t really talked to Gage much since our rough, violent fuck in the library, but when he looks at me, there’s not quite as much rage simmering in those bright green eyes as there usually is.

“Get dressed,” he says to me. “We’re going somewhere.”

I lift one eyebrow very slowly, and he stares back. “I am dressed,” I retort, not used to taking orders from anyone, least of all him.

“I mean in clothes you can go out in,” he grinds out. “Not your pajamas. Just do it, River.”

The moment of him not looking pissed has clearly passed, and that crabby expression is back on his face. It puts the scar on his upper lip into more focus than usual, but I tear my eyes away from it. I don’t like how that little imperfection makes him look even more gorgeous somehow, or the way it draws my gaze down to his mouth when he speaks.