Page 80 of Allegiant

“Because you’re a fucking dick,” Samson barks at him. “Don’t even ask him what he did with the Monopoly tokens.”

I try not to. I do. But I can’t help it; I’ve always been more curious than wise. “What did you do with the Monopoly tokens?”

Harley lets his chair fall onto all four legs so he can lean closer to me over the table. He reaches out and dusts his finger over the back of my hand. “See, Samson’s never been very good at sharing his toys. Doesn’t like anyone touching his things.”

A flash of silver catches the corner of my eye. I twist my head to see Samson palming his dagger. His glare toward his brother is nothing short of murderous. “A lesson you’d be wise to remember right now.”

Harley winks at me before pulling his hand back and settling into his chair. “Just yanking your chain. You know I’d never cross that line.”

“A certain chef wouldn’t like it if you did,” Neo says idly. “Why isn’t Jules here tonight?”

Harley’s whole demeanor shifts. His hands fist on the table as he stares down at them. “He’s not part of the family, as he keeps reminding me.”

“I’m not part of it either,” I pipe up. “Is that really a requirement?”

“No,” Wylder says, his eyes lingering on Samson. “But it depends on the circumstances.”

I feel like I’m missing something, like they’re all speaking some secret language I don’t understand. But when I glance inquiringly at Samson, his expression is closed off. “Harley, you taking your turn or what?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I watch as he takes his turn, slowly building a road toward Samson’s expansion path.

Samson growls, making Harley laugh.

“Why do you always fuck with me?” Samson says, his voice low.

“It’s too fun. At least I’m not swallowing your sheep.”

Samson cups the small white blocks in front of him, and I turn toward him. “Why would anyone eat a game piece?”

“To fuck with me,” Samson growls, and Harley laughs even harder, his body lurching forward, making Samson startle.

Some of his pieces fall to the ground, and he curses, trying to collect them as Harley scrambles under the table.

Chaos erupts after that. I don’t know how it’s possible, but the two grown men under the table have done it. Money is jostled, bills fluttering through the air, shouts as something is lit on fire, and then to top it all off, Nugget appears.

I don’t know how he manages to get through the shut door, but he’s right by my legs, scooping up Samson’s game pieces and chomping on them happily.

“Fucking dog!” Samson shouts as he and Harley fall to the floor right beside my chair. “Fucking Harley.”

Samson’s hand is squeezing his brother’s cheeks, and I watch as game pieces spill out.

I can do nothing but stare. This entire thing is wild, not at all what I was expecting. I guess I was thinking they’d play a boring game of chess or something, all while sipping on expensive whiskey.

Well, there’s whiskey, but right now it’s on fire and has set some of the table ablaze.

Doesn’t help that Cade is screaming and Wyatt is jumping to his feet with a sigh, grabbing a bucket from by the wall, and disappearing behind the bar to fill it with water.

Wait, do they have that bucket there for this exact situation? If so, how often does this happen?

Chaos is still unfolding. Poor Samson is trying to carefully extract his leg from Nugget while wrestling with Harley. Given how merrily Nugget’s humping it, I don’t think he’ll be giving it up any time soon.

I lean in to remove my dog before he can add to the carnage, but I’m too late.

Nugget has lifted his leg and is peeing…right over Samson’s pant leg.

I’m mortified, but it doesn’t stop the two of them from fighting.