Sins Chaos

Chapter Fourteen

Roz

"Whose fist did you run into?"

I shot Decker a dirty look as I popped a chip into my mouth. I was seated at the kitchen table, a bowl of chips, and an icepack sitting on the table in front of me. My jaw throbbed something fierce and I so was not in the mood to deal with twenty questions. Especially from Aerin's father, a good friend and boss or not.

Damn. I'd forgotten how hard Donovan could punch.

And since I'm supposed to be human for the most part, I couldn't heal myself. Which really sucked with a bruised jaw.

"Friendly debate went awry," I groaned out. "Shouldn't you be at headquarters filing a mission report or something?"

Decker—who was realistically here to see Aerin—grinned. "Nope." He downed the rest of his bottle of beer, studying me. "You going to tell me the truth about that jaw?"

"Nope." I popped another chip into my mouth, chewing a little harder than necessary. I winced in pain as my jaw protested. I gave up on the comfort food, placing the Ziploc bag filled with ice on my jaw instead. I sighed in relief as my jaw slowly, blessedly, became numb.

"You know, you can heal yourself," Decker pointed out.

"Leave it, Auden. I beg of you."

"I'm surprised you didn't clean my clock for that pot shot."

I groaned as Donny's voice hit me like a ton of bricks. I removed the ice pack long enough to wrap a dish towel around it. I placed it back on my throbbing jaw. "Go away, Barrington. Far, far away," I mumbled through the numbness. "You only get one free shot. Next time I swing back."

Decker watched the exchange like he was at a tennis match, an amused look on his face. "I'm going to take a stab in the dark here and venture to say that a girl is somehow involved in this."

Donny and I both shot him a look that would've killed a lesser man.

"Shut up, Auden!" we exclaimed in unison.

Decker ignored us as usual. He tossed his empty beer bottle into the trash, leaning back against the counter and smiled. "So, who's the girl?"

"Me," a soft voice said from the entryway, not sounding the least bit happy.

We all turned around and gaped at Aerin. She smiled sweetly, her eyes meeting and holding mine.

Oh, God. She wouldn't. I read the intent in her eyes plain as day. I sunk lower in the padded kitchen chair. Okay, so she's a little pissed. She's not that pissed though...

She turned her smile and attention to Decker. "While they work"—she motioned between Donny and me, a blank look on her face—"whatever this is out, can I talk to you in the other room?"

"Uh, sure." Decker threw a questioning look at me.

I shrugged, studying the wood table, suddenly wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

"I'll meet you in the living room, sweetie," Decker drawled slowly.

I waited until he was safely out of earshot to blow my gasket. I glared at her while Donny stifled a laugh. "Just what the hell was that?" I demanded.

Her green eyes twinkled mischievously. "You told Donny. I'm returning the favor."

With that, she strolled out of the kitchen.

Fuck me.

I attempted to swallow the lump in my throat. Holy mother of God, I really was going to die a slow, painful death. Again.

Permanently this time...