Page 15

Riley

L ooking down at Havoc’s rugged face, I realized for the first time that he wasn’t only handsome—he was sensitive. The kind of man a woman could settle down with and make a happy life with. The more I got to know Havoc, the more impressed I became with his kindness. Sure, he was rough around the edges, but he was also a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of guy. I’d had my fill of men who lied, manipulated, cheated, and told me they were loyal—only to prove the opposite.

Admiration and fondness bloomed in my chest for this gentle protector. He was offering himself for whatever I needed or wanted, with no pressure and no expectations. Something about that hit just right for me.

“Thanks for telling me that,” I said quietly. “I hope we can hang tough, shake Slater off, and spend some quality time with each other.”

“I’m up for whatever you want. Just say the word, and I’m there.”

His deep voice and steady reassurances were soothing in just the right way. I laid my head on his chest and toyed with one of the snaps on his cut.

“I like just lying here with you under the starlit sky, listening to the sounds of nature.”

“Yeah, I like that too,” he murmured. “It’s great to get away from people who all want to talk, complain, and argue. Here, there’s no traffic, no honking horns, no rush to get anywhere. I don’t think I could live here full-time, ‘cause I’m not a fuckin’ recluse, but grabbing a little downtime to recharge? That’s a definite yes.”

“Too bad this place is missing one thing,” I teased.

“What’s that?” he asked, curiosity in his voice.

“The throaty roar of a dozen or so Harleys.”

He snorted out a laugh. “For fuckin’ sure. We get that when all the brothers meet up here for club get-togethers. Happens a lot in the summer.”

“I’ll bet those are good times.” I paused before asking the question that had been sitting in the back of my mind. “Do all the brothers get along all the time? Surely, you fight amongst yourselves sometimes.”

“Hell the fuck no, we don’t fight each other. Most of us are veterans, and that’s something we just didn’t do. Soldiers are more disciplined than to tear into each other. Besides that, I like and respect my club brothers.”

“So in the entire history of your club, two brothers have never gotten into a fistfight?”

Understanding clicked in his expression. “I get where you’re going with this. Motorcycle clubs have a rep for being aggressive—and some are. Especially one-percent clubs. I know a club that settles all their disputes that way. They’ve got a fuckin’ cage made of chain-link fence. Just like that old seventies movie—two men enter, one man leaves. Their current club president killed two men in the cage the day he took over as prez. I wasn’t there, but I heard it was fuckin’ brutal.”

My mouth dropped open. I was well and truly shocked. “That sounds like it might be an urban legend,” I said, my voice low.

“It’s not, I promise. That happened at a rival club we drove out of town a long time ago. They’re still circling Griffinsford, trying to reclaim territory. Storm managed to broker a shaky truce with their new president, but we’re nothing close to allies.”

“So your club doesn’t associate with them?”

“No way. They’re one-percenters—pushing drugs, running guns, and trafficking women. The Dark Slayers won’t stand for that shit in this town. Not around our families.”

His words reassured me in a strange, grounding way. I rubbed my cheek against his chest and shifted the subject. “Do you know you almost always smell like leather?”

“Don’t go complimenting me again,” he grumbled. “There’s no need. I already agreed to pretty much anything you want.”

My head popped up as I laughed. “You consider smelling like leather a compliment?”

His hand slapped lightly against his cut. “It means our cuts are made of high-quality, premium leather. Our club uses only the best—thick, water-resistant, and durable. We take our cuts seriously. I take good care of mine.”

“You know, I’m not surprised to hear that. It’s a symbol of your brotherhood, right?”

“Exactly. Taking care of our cuts shows respect for the club, for each other, and for ourselves. It might sound strange, but it’s not to us.”

“No, I get it. Kind of like how firefighters take extra care with their uniforms and gear. Makes perfect sense.”

He jerked his chin at me. “You getting cold, sweetness? We can go in and start a fire in the fireplace if you want.”

I immediately sat up. “That actually sounds amazing.”

He chuckled as he stood and reached down for my hand. “All finished admiring nature?”

I nodded and slipped my fingers into his. “Yeah, maybe we can do it again sometime. But for now, it’s definitely getting cold.”

Havoc tucked me under his arm and led me to the cabin. Inside, he got me settled on the sofa and went about building a fire in the hearth. Watching him stoke the kindling and arrange the logs made something soft bloom in me. There was just something about watching a hot guy build me a fire that made me feel... cared for.

It occurred to me how far outside my own box I was operating. Normally, I was guarded—constantly scanning for red flags, constantly evaluating whether I could trust a guy. But with Havoc, it felt different. I already knew his flaws. He didn’t hide them. He wasn’t shy about talking about his mistakes, his past, or his goals. And if I trusted him to stand between me and a dangerous man like Slater, it didn’t make a lot of sense to feel awkward just being alone with him.

He brought me a cup of hot chocolate, and we curled up on the sofa and talked until my cup was empty and my eyelids were heavy. I must’ve actually drifted off at some point because I felt his arms sliding around me as he carried me up the stairs.

I was vaguely aware of him removing my shoes and tucking a blanket over me. When he started to walk away, I grabbed his hand and scooted back to make room for him in the bed.

I felt him climb in beside me, still fully dressed, just like I was. Neither of us said anything more. The warmth of his body beside mine was comfort enough.

And for the first time in what felt like ages, I slept like I didn’t have a care in the world.

***

The next morning, I woke up in an empty bed, making me wonder if I had imagined Havoc taking me up on my offer to sleep together. Stretching my arms above my head, I reveled in how good it felt to have rested. Before I could sit up, the scent of fresh coffee and bacon reached me.

For the first time in days, I didn’t feel tense or worried about Slater jumping out at me. I sat quietly with the blankets wrapped around me, listening to Havoc move around downstairs. I pictured him frying bacon in a cast iron skillet while coffee dripped in the background.

When I pushed myself out of bed, I noticed a neat pile of fresh clothes on the nearby table and a note that read: Bathroom’s on the right. Making breakfast.

I rushed through my morning routine and padded downstairs barefoot. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw Havoc cooking shirtless, his tattooed muscles flexing with every movement.

He must’ve sensed me standing there, because without turning around, he said, “Good morning, sunshine. Hope you slept well.”

“Yes, yes, I did. Morning,” I stammered, still very much distracted by the view. “What about you? Did you sleep well, or were you standing at the window like the Terminator scanning for danger?”

He turned with a grin. “This day just keeps getting better and better. I love that series.”

I laughed and grabbed a mug from the counter, pouring myself a cup of coffee and feeling a warm sense of belonging settle into my chest.

“I hope that means you’re a sci-fi fan too,” he added, flipping a piece of bacon with flair.

“Hell yes, I love it all. You name it—I probably love it.”

I held back a giddy smile, quietly thrilled that we shared that in common.

Havoc jerked his chin towards the kitchen table. “Grab a seat. Breakfast is almost done. Hope you brought your appetite, ‘cause I made a big one.”

“I’m starving. That’s secret code for ‘I might arm wrestle you for the last piece of bacon.’”

I dropped into a chair with my coffee and noticed the table was already set. “How did you learn to do all this?” I asked.

Havoc brought over a huge platter in one hand and his own mug in the other. He set the food down, and my mouth watered instantly. I pointed to one end of the platter, wide-eyed. “Those look like homemade biscuits. Please tell me you made those yourself.”

He chuckled as he sat down. “No can do. One of the old ladies makes ‘em for us. She freezes them half-baked so we just pop ‘em in the oven. Try one—I fuckin’ live for these things.”

He grabbed three with one hand and tossed them onto his plate. I scrambled to claim two before he could devour the rest. We helped ourselves to hash browns, eggs, and bacon. From the looks of it, the hash browns were the boxed kind, but done well—crispy and golden.

“This is an amazing breakfast,” I told him. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll just fast-track you straight to the altar. No games, no waiting. I do, and that’s that.”

Havoc rolled his eyes. “You’re a woman who loves breakfast, aren’t you?”

I nodded, swallowing a big bite of biscuit. “Heck yeah. If I ran the world, every meal would be breakfast.”

“I could live happily in your world,” he said, shoveling in a forkful of eggs.

I watched him for a few seconds before softening my tone. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble. I would’ve been happy with less.”

“Word to the wise—don’t ever tell a man you’d be happy with less. It’s his job to give you the best in life. You’re too nice a person to always settle.”

For some reason, that made my eyes sting. He didn’t notice—too focused on his plate—but I couldn’t stop staring at him. When he looked up, that fierce, protective look was back. The one that said he’d go to war for me.

I remembered his expression last night when I kissed him first and he took control, kissing me until I was dizzy.

“Thank you,” I murmured. “Your food is delicious. I’ll return the favor by cooking for you one day.”

“Any old time, sweetheart. I’m always starving.”

I met his eyes and tilted my head. “What do you mean by always starving?”

He talked while he chewed. “I run a construction crew and work alongside my guys. Hard manual labor. I don’t mind—it keeps me in shape—but I burn through four, maybe five thousand calories a day. No matter how much I eat, I’m always hungry.”

“You might not be getting the right macros. Have you ever thought about seeing a nutritionist?”

He shook his head with zero interest. “No, I most certainly have not. I’ll just try to sneak in more healthy snacks.”

I could tell it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have, so I made a mental note to look into it myself later. We kept chatting, mostly about his job and the club. We were both trying not to let Slater dominate our thoughts. When I finished eating, Havoc cleared both our plates.

“If you want, I can do the dishes while you get dressed,” I offered.

He flexed his biceps in a mock bodybuilder pose, his muscles practically bursting out of his skin. “You sure you want me to cover up this delicious real estate?” He slapped his arm. “I went shirtless just to impress you this morning. Bet you didn’t know that.”

I shook my head, laughing. “No, I didn’t. But consider me impressed, hot stuff.”

He ran a hand through his hair, letting it fall loose around his shoulders. “See? That’s me—showing off again.”

I made a little circle with my finger. “You don’t need to point it out. I know what it looks like when you’re trying to impress me now.”

He gave me a teasing grin and looked me up and down. “Then best show me what it looks like when you’re trying to impress me.”

I burst out laughing and tilted my head. “Last night on the rock—that was me showing off my amazing kissing skills.”

He shook his head like he was offended. “Good first try, but you got owned once I took over the kissing.”

The sexy bastard wasn’t wrong.

“Everything’s not a competition,” I said, pretending to sound wise. “Tell you what—if you’re nice, I’ll try to impress you again when you least expect it.”

He laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Wanna go for a little hike this morning? There’s a trail behind the cabin that leads to a waterfall. It’s got a thirty-foot drop, and it’s fuckin’ beautiful this time of year. I like to hike out there and look for arrowheads.”

My heart warmed at the idea. “That sounds perfect.”

“That sounds like an amazing way to spend the morning,” I told him.

“It is,” he deadpanned. “That is, if the wolves don’t come after us. They’re pack animals, you know. We wouldn’t stand a chance on our own.”

I shot him a withering look. “Go get dressed while I clear the table.”

“Just throw the dishes in the sink. I’ll get them when we come back.”

Before I could respond, he turned and trotted off. I began clearing up the food, carefully placing those precious leftover biscuits in an airtight container and hand-washing the dishes. I stood over the skillet, eyeing one lonely slice of bacon. Havoc had already drained the grease, so it was nice and crispy. Just as I reached for it, he appeared beside me, staring into the skillet with the same intensity.

“What ya lookin’ at?” he asked.

“One lone piece of bacon,” I replied. “Trying to decide whether to eat it or leave it be.”

Quick as a flash, Havoc scooped it up and turned to me. “Halfsies?”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Absofreakinglutely.”

He broke it in half and fed me my piece by hand. His fingers brushed against my lips, and something about that small touch made my stomach flutter. There was an intimacy to it, subtle and unexpected. His expression turned thoughtful as he popped his half into his mouth, and then we headed out.

The day already felt lighter, freer—exactly what I needed after yesterday. He took my hand as we stepped off the porch, giving it a soft squeeze. His casual sweetness made me smile.

***

We found the trail almost immediately. It was packed dirt, covered in a layer of dried pine needles that cushioned our steps. The walk was quiet and peaceful. Birds chirped high above us in the trees. A light breeze rustled the leaves, and sunlight filtered through the branches in golden shafts.

We walked in silence, soaking it all in. Havoc pointed out a deer nibbling on a bush. A squirrel scampered across a branch nearby, scratching at the bark. The deer froze for a moment as if hearing something we couldn’t, then bolted out of sight. I was surprised by how much life filled such a small patch of woods—skunks, rabbits, butterflies, bees—all coexisting in a tiny pocket of serenity.

The waterfall’s roar reached us before we saw it. The river truly had picked up speed, just like Havoc had said. Water thundered down the rockface into a wide pool, then rushed along in swirling rapids downstream.

“There’s a cave behind the waterfall,” Havoc said. “Do you want to check it out? I can show you the way or hang back if you’d rather explore on your own.”

His words were careful, gentle—another act of empathy. He was clearly concerned I might not feel comfortable going into a dark, enclosed space with him.

I gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Lead the way. I’m feeling adventurous today.”

His face lit up. “Thank you for trusting me. I’ll try to make sure you never regret it.”

I didn’t know why his words made me emotional again, but they did. It was like my chest couldn’t quite contain the weight of how different he was from the men I’d known before. Maybe I wasn’t used to this kind of kindness. Maybe that was the part that got to me.

The trail narrowed as we approached the waterfall, winding between mossy stones and tall pines. The air grew cooler and damper as we stepped behind the curtain of falling water and into the cave.

“Wow, it’s surprisingly dry in here,” I said, slowly turning in a circle. The cave was maybe twenty feet wide and stretched back another thirty or forty feet before curving to the right. “Did you ever take that tunnel to see where it goes?”

Havoc shook his head. “No. Never thought about it. We can go if you want.”

I considered it and then shrugged. “We didn’t bring flashlights, so maybe we just peek around the bend and see how far back it goes.”

He pulled out his phone and switched on the flashlight app. I followed his lead and did the same.

“This is kind of exciting, don’t you think?”

He nodded, shining his light towards the tunnel. “Yeah. I’m always up for an adventure. But I want you to stay behind me. Let me make sure there are no tripping hazards. Or wild animals taking a nap.”

“It’s not hibernating season,” I pointed out.

He shot me a frown over his shoulder. “So, you’ve never taken a nap in the middle of the day?”

“Well… of course I have.”

He moved forward carefully. “Same damn thing. A bear could come back to its favorite nap spot any time. When it comes to your life, I plan to be safe rather than sorry.”

I grinned. “Good thinking. I just hope you don’t end up fighting a bear for me today.”

His face lit up. “It would make a great story though. With that kind of experience under my belt, I could run off and join the circus. Havoc the Amazing Beast Fighter.”

I didn’t get the chance to reply because about ten steps into the tunnel, it turned pitch black. Only the pale beams of our phone lights cut through the darkness.

“This would make an amazing romantic getaway,” I joked.

He glanced over his shoulder, looking deadly serious. “No, Riley. It wouldn’t make an amazing anything.”

“Spoilsport. It could work. We just need a little cleanup, some fairy lights, rugs, maybe some blow-up furniture.”

He rolled his eyes, clearly amused. “You gonna make your own personal bat cave?”

At first, I didn’t get what he meant. Then he turned his light upward.

Dozens of bats were hanging upside down, wings folded tight to their bodies. A few stirred and began to flap their wings.

I panicked and turned to run, but Havoc’s arms wrapped around me from behind, holding me still. “Slow down, woman. They’re not waking up.”

“Thank God,” I muttered. “Whose dumb idea was it to go back here anyway? They could’ve attacked us, flown over us, dropped bat dung on our heads… or worse, we could’ve caught something.”

“Bats don’t usually attack people. Their dung’s called guano. And believe it or not, you’re more likely to give them a fatal disease than the other way around.”

Still shaken, I looked at him over my shoulder. “Whose side are you on anyway?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Yours. Always, Riley.”

As we funneled back out to the main part of the cave, he glanced behind us. “I think there must be another exit back there somewhere. The bats get in and out through it. I’ve never seen any in this part of the cave.”

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves. His words, so casually spoken, echoed in my head.

Yours. Always.

It wasn’t just about bats or caves or even Slater anymore.

It was about safety, loyalty, and someone choosing me—for once, choosing me for real.

I leaned against the side of the cave and focused on slowing my breathing. He was right—there was no bat dung, no awful smell. Just cool air and a faint mist from the waterfall beyond. I turned off my phone’s flashlight and shoved it into my pocket.

Havoc pocketed his phone as he stepped towards me, concern carved into every line of his rugged face. “Are you okay? If I’d known you were that scared of bats, I wouldn’t have taken you back there.”

I reached for his hands, curling mine around his. His worry cut through me, and I wanted to ease it. I slid my hands up to his chest, then around his neck, gently tugging him down into another kiss.

I brushed my lips over his, teasing and slow, then deepened it when he opened to me. Our kiss felt indulgent, almost otherworldly here in the hidden cave with water cascading down outside like a curtain shielding us from the world. We were in our own pocket of peace—untouched, untouchable.

His hands slid down my arms, threading through my fingers. He brought my arms out to my sides, pinning them gently, playfully. His mouth moved to my neck, then down to my collarbone, scattering heat in his wake.

I felt his hard length press against my stomach, but I wasn’t worried. This wasn’t about sex. This was Havoc—grounded, respectful, in control. He was giving, not taking.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes met mine, filled with something deeper than desire. He tugged lightly at his bottom lip, then asked, “You ready for the next leg of our journey?”

I nodded, still breathless. “Yeah. Lead the way, handsome.”

As we squeezed out of the cave—miraculously staying dry—and started hiking up the gentle slope of the hill, I realized that for the first time in days, I wasn’t thinking about Slater. Not with Havoc by my side. Not here.

When we reached the top, the view stole the breath from my lungs. The river stretched out below us like a silver ribbon, and the forest shimmered in the light of the rising sun. Birds chirped softly in the canopy above, and everything felt so still. So safe.

“I can see why you love it here,” I murmured. “Thank you for bringing me. For sharing it with me.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers trailing a gentle path down my cheek. “Truth is, it’s only special now because you’re here to enjoy it with me. Compared to your beauty, all this pales.”

I blinked at him. “You know you sound like a poet sometimes?”

He grunted. “That’s ‘cause guys aren’t supposed to talk about their fuckin’ feelings. Comes off weird.”

I laughed. “No, it doesn’t. Where did you even get that idea?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Just... doesn’t always come naturally.”

“Well, I’m glad you did. But still—thank you. You deserve appreciation.”

He reached for my hand again, and we started back down the trail. At the waterfall, we stopped, this time staying outside. I settled on one of the sun-warmed rocks and hugged my knees, listening to the rush of water. Havoc eased down beside me, resting his forearms on his thighs.

“You can ask,” I said quietly.

He glanced sideways at me. “Ask what?”

“If Slater and I were ever a thing. If we had sex. If I did something to trigger his obsession. They’re valid questions. I’d want to know if I were you.”

He turned his head, meeting my eyes. “That’s not my business. None of that justifies what he did. You said no. He didn’t listen. That’s all I need to know. I’ll beat his ass for it, if I ever get the chance.”

I swallowed hard. “There was never anything between us. Like I told you and Storm—he just showed up one day and wouldn’t leave me alone.”

He nodded. “Doesn’t matter if he was an ex, or a friend with benefits, or if you’d flirted with him once five years ago. No means no. The only thing your innocence does is make him look even worse.”

I looked down at my knees, fighting the old guilt that still whispered in the back of my mind. “Rationally, I know that. I’ve told clients that a thousand times. But it’s hard not to feel like... like I brought it on myself somehow. Like I wasn’t alert enough, didn’t draw a hard enough line early on.”

Havoc’s voice dropped, low and fierce. “You couldn’t have predicted this, Riley. He’s a wild card. They don’t play by rules. They pretend to be nice until it suits them not to be.”

“He seemed so normal at first,” I whispered. “Helpful. Offered to walk me to my car after work. And then when I didn’t respond how he wanted, everything shifted. Got mean. Got dark. And I didn’t catch on fast enough.”

“You’re not the problem,” Havoc said, his tone absolute. “He is.”

“I didn’t understand what was happening until he had me up against my car, pulling at my shirt. And I still couldn’t believe it, you know? Cops are supposed to be safe. It felt like the ground gave out under me.”

“You fought back,” he said, his arm coming around me. “You screamed. You kicked. And you got away. That’s what matters.”

“I think if Dae hadn’t been there... if she hadn’t yelled and recorded him... I might not have made it out of that parking lot.”

He held me tighter. “But you did. And now he has a whole club coming for him.”

A chill breeze moved through the clearing, tugging at my hair. I glanced up. The clouds overhead had darkened.

“Looks like rain,” I said. “We should probably head back.”

He nodded, rising and offering his hand. I took it, and we stood facing each other in the soft wind.

“I feel like something broke inside me when that happened,” I whispered. “Like maybe... my faith in the world. In people.”

He pulled me into his arms, resting his chin on my head. “Of course it did. He betrayed every part of what he was supposed to stand for. But you’ll heal, Riley. You’re strong. And you’re not alone.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, I almost believed that was true.