Page 30 of Havoc

“Is there a chance you won’t go back to them?”

One seemingly simple question that weighs our fate. A question that holds the answer to what I’ve been wondering since the first time I agreed to go get coffee with Levi.

Hope that there could be something more for us if his club weren’t between us.

“That depends.” Levi lifts off the car, stepping closer and taking my hand. “If the club’s not in the way, would you actually let me take you on a date, Aimee?”

“You don’t have to do this for me.”

“I’m not. I’m doing it for myself.” He takes another step closer, and I can feel the heat radiating from his chest. “Maybe I’m nothing more than a biker. But I’ll never know until I go and figure it out.”

“So no ulterior motives where I’m concerned?”

He smirks. “I didn’t say that.”

“We’re just friends, Levi.”

“You and I both know that’s bullshit.” He brushes his thumb over the back of my hand. “This has always been more.”

“We haven’t kissed.” I shake my head. “We haven’t had sex.”

“And I don’t give a damn because I’m not here just to fuck you. I like you, Aimee. Always have.”

“Because I make you work for it?”

“Because you see more than this cut. More than that bike.” He motions to it. “You see me.”

My throat clogs, making it hard to swallow.

I do see him, and Levi is so much more than what people assume because of his club. He’s protective and smart. His grades are near perfect, even though he has horrible attendance at his school.

He likes solving problems, which is why he’s always at the auto body shop, taking things apart and putting them back together.

And he’s caring. More so than anyone I’ve ever met. He looks out for everyone above himself. To the point where I worry that he’ll never get the love he deserves in return.

“You don’t need to put your life on pause for me, Aimee. You don’t even need to keep in touch if you don’t want to. But when I get back, I’m going to ask you out on that date you’ve always refused me. And I’m going to hope to God you say yes. Does that work for you?”

My eyes burn as I look up at him. My heart is in my throat. I can barely blink or form words. But I manage just one.

“Yes.”

10

Havoc

Nothing gives clarity likespending a day at Kings Auto.

Steeped in oil.

Under the hood of a car.

When nothing else makes sense, I put my hands to work and fix something tangible. Something that has a chance of running again.

At least, that was my plan today when I told Trent I’d cover his shift. It sounded like an easy way to get some space now that Aimee is staying at the clubhouse. Except nothing I do around the shop stops me from replaying my conversation with her this morning.

I’ve been in denial these past few weeks, trying not to think about why the Iron Sinners had Aimee locked in a basement. And even if this morning she swore it was because they are using her as leverage against her father, I sense that’s only part of it.

Aimee never used to fear looking me in the eyes when she talked to me. Today, she barely met my gaze. She doesn’t want me to know the extent of what the Iron Sinners have done to her, which only sets me more on edge.