Page 39 of Havoc

How could I have been so quick to let it go?

How could I have been so naive to think she left willingly?

If Aimee never forgives me, I wouldn’t blame her.

I stare at the ceiling all night long. Until sunlight finally cracks through the curtains, and I climb out of bed. After a quick shower, I text Steel that I need to meet with him and head down the hall.

The clubhouse isn’t raging like it was last night, but the party hasn’t quite ended either. A couple of guys are still sitting at the bar, while a few others start the process of cleaning up.

Clubhouse parties used to rage for weeks on end. But since Steel settled down with Tempe, he started enforcing new rules at the clubhouse during the day. From breakfast to dinner, he prefers the guys keep their partying and heavy drinking to a minimum in case Tempe or Reagan drop in with the kids.

As someone who has known Jameson Steel his entire life, I never thought I’d see the day a woman would come above club life. But I also understand.

“Coffee?” Wren asks from where she’s standing behind the bar, holding a coffeepot.

She’s in pajamas, so clearly she went to bed at some point last night. But it must not have been for long since she still has eyeliner smeared around her eyes, and her red hair is in a messy bun on top of her head.

“Thanks.” I stop at the bar, and she pours me a mug.

Wren is one of the newer patch bunnies, and I’m already wondering how long she’s going to stick around. The second Chaos got out of prison, she latched on to him. But that burned hot and then burned out. Now, she’s more interested in helping around the clubhouse than hooking up with anyone. Although I’ve caught her and Venom sharing glances on occasion.

“Everything okay?” Wren asks, setting the coffeepot back down. “I got the impression things were off last night.”

“Things are fine.” Maybe if I think it enough, I’ll will it into existence.

Wren nods. “You need anything else?”

I spot Steel walking into the clubhouse and shake my head. “Nope, I’m good.”

Steel tilts his chin toward church, and I head across the room to follow him in there. Ghost pops out of the hallway as I reach the threshold and joins us, shutting the door.

“Sorry it’s early.”

“All good.” Steel leans back in his chair at the head of the table. “I was already up.”

“I haven’t gone to sleep yet,” Ghost adds, sitting across from me.

“You’re going to run yourself into the ground.”

Ghost shrugs, not caring.

“What’s going on?” Steel asks, knocking his knuckles on the table.

“I need you to be honest with me about something.” I cross my arms over each other on the table, and the mood in the room shifts with my tone.

It’s not in my best interest to speak to the club president like this, but I need answers.

“This has to do with Aimee,” Steel guesses, and I nod. “Ghost updated me on her ties to the Iron Sinners. Sounds like they run a little deeper than we thought.”

“Titan kidnapped her and her father when I was in the Marines, and I think it had something to do with us. I need you to tell me if I’m wrong.”

Steel sighs, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the table. “I don’t know.”

“Percy always kept you in the loop?”

Steel nods.

“Did he mention Titan trying to bargain anything with the club around the time I shipped out?”