Page 62 of Havoc

“Levi is just helping me out.”

“Mm-hmm.” Luna smirks. “I remember when Ghost was justhelping me out.”

I roll my eyes, turning to the dark desert. I should have worn a thicker sweater. Nighttime has been getting chilly this past week.

“Speaking of Ghost helping you…” I bite my lower lip. “You went through some shit with the Iron Sinners right? How did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Stay here.” I wave my arms out to the property. “With the club. In this world. After seeing the worst of it, why didn’t you leave?”

“Ghost wouldn’t leave the club for anything.” She shrugs. “And even if he would, I wouldn’t want him to. It’s part of who he is, and that’s the man I fell in love with.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“Or you’re just making it more complicated than it needs to be.”

“They’re bikers.”

“But they’re not the Iron Sinners.”

I’d like to think that. The more I get to know the guys, the more I understand why the two clubs are at war. They have nothing in common and very different moral boundaries. Except that doesn’t absolve any of them completely. In the biker world, none of them are innocent.

Luna reaches over and plants her hand over mine. “I stay because this is my family. Not just Ghost, but everyone on this compound. You’ll see.”

She sounds so certain that I’d like to believe her. But even if I could stay here with Levi—with his club—could I forget how Vegas haunts me? That I’d always be looking over my shoulder, waiting for Titan and his men to catch up with me again.

The glass door behind us slides open, and Levi steps outside. He was in bed for only a few hours last night when his phone rang, and he had to leave. He’s running on fumes, and I’ve barely seen him.

“Hey, Luna,” he says, glancing at me. “Aimee.”

“Havoc.” Luna smiles; her gaze darts between us. “I’ll give you two some space. I need to find Ghost anyway.”

Levi nods, taking Luna’s seat when she stands and walks into the clubhouse. She closes the door behind her, and then it’s just the two of us.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” I say, staring at the stars.

“I’ve been busy.”

My eyes slide in his direction, and I pause in response.

“I’m sorry.” He reaches for my hand and sighs.

“I didn’t say that because I wanted an apology. I’m just making an observation. I know that what I said last week is a lot to process.”

He drops his chin, and a few long strands of his hair fall over his eyes. “It is, but mostly because I should have—"

“Don’t go down that road, Levi.” I cut him off, and he looks at me. “I’ve been there. And trust me, there’s nothing good at the end of it. What’s done is done. No one can erase the past.”

This time, it’s my gaze drifting away.

“You don’t have to be strong for my sake.” He squeezes my hand.

“I’m not.”

It’s the only way to survive.

To breathe.