Page 89 of Hero of Havoc

I shiver.

“Not in public again, Teddy,” Sax grumbles, need burning in his eyes as he glances at me, and I press my lips into a thin line, desperate to hide the smile on my face.

It feels like a distant memory now that my mind is clouded with everything before me, but it was only a few hours ago.

Teddy raps his knuckles on the tabletop, and a pile of chips is placed before him. My eyes widen further with surprise. I’m aware how casinos work, but I’ve never been in one before, and to see the chips before me feels surreal.

The guys start talking, but everything goes over my head as the dealer sets out their cards. Teddy must sense my lack of presence, offering me a chip with one hand as his other strokes down my spine soothingly.

I smile, pressing my thumb against the plastic in my hands.

Letting the game play out, I cast my gaze over the room, curiosity seeping through my bones as I watch all walks of life get lost in the desire to win.

A woman sobs in the far corner, the machine in front of her gushing with coins as the screen flashes with a jackpot. Not five steps from her, a man rages, arguing with security as they escort him from the building, face red and veins popping as desperation radiates from him like a thundercloud. Tilting my head, my attention latches on to a couple settled at another high-top table.

He leans back in his seat, an air of swagger that’s noticeable from here, while she nibbles at her bottom lip, looking at him with longing in her eyes. I can’t tell if they’re familiar with each other or if she wants to be. Regardless, it has nothing to do with me.

“If you see anything out of the ordinary, Princess, just tap my leg,” Teddy murmurs, his lips dusting over the shell of my ear, and I shiver.

“You say that like I’m supposed to know what ordinary looks like in a place like this,” I retort, and his lips spread against my skin.

“You know, any sleight of hand or dodgy business, anything that could help Archer,” he explains, and my eyebrows furrow in confusion.

“No one really explained what is expected of him for me to know how to help,” I clarify, and his hand kneads my thigh.

“His father’s head of security is out, so he called Archer to fill in for him. If anybody manages to beat the casino by cheating, the wrath will fall on his shoulders.”

“Wait, what?” I rear back, my heart stuttering in my chest, making Sax place his hand on my other thigh in an attempt to calm me down.

Teddy gives me a moment to sit with my emotions as he continues the card game, then returns his attention to me.

“Baron can help him with sound, but he needs our added eyes too,” he murmurs, and I nod.

“No pressure then,” I grumble, recalling Archer writhing in pain at his father’s hands, and Teddy kisses my cheek.

“No pressure,” he repeats before slamming his fist against the table and cheering. “Bring me the money, boys. Hand it all over now if you want; I’ve got my lucky charm with me,” he sings, earning an eye roll from the twin brothers.

“Is that lucky charm for sharing?”

Leery eyes land on mine as an intoxicated man leans on the table, his gaze flickering to my chest and back twice as I grimace with disgust.

I part my lips, but it’s pointless because Sax kicks into action, slamming the man’s head into the table three times with so much force that the ground shakes beneath us. With a huff, the Land Protector lets the limp body collapse in a heap on the floor at my feet, and I cringe as a drop of blood lands on my foot.

“Somebody get this rowdy fucker out of here before he loses his fucking pulse,” Sax snarls, security rushing toward us as my gaze finds Archer across the crowd.

Worry flickers in his eyes, drawing his eyebrows together as he considers coming over, but I shake my head, encouraging him to focus so his father doesn’t get any ideas. I can see the distress in the tightness of his jaw and I hate how torn he feels.

“My apologies, Miss. Would you like a drink? On the house, of course,” a lady offers, a glass of champagne in her hands as Baron kneels at my side, using the lapel of his jacket to erase the blood from my skin.

I consider the offer, but before I can accept or decline, Teddy waves her off and she huffs.

“You don’t take drinks from strangers, Princess,” he states before I can even complain, halting me in my tracks, and I nod instead.

“Why is this the in we were wanting?” I ask, peering at Teddy, who nods toward the door.

Following his line of sight, my jaw falls slack as his mother comes into view.

Anger vibrates through me, rage on the tip of my tongue when Archer appears, distress clouding his hazel eyes.