Havoc (Storm MC #8)

by Nina Levine

  I could see Havoc in her. And not only in her facial features, but also in her cut-to-the-chase manner. She also looked like the kind of woman who could take care of herself. Her body was packed with muscle that looked like it took hours in the gym to build. Just like Havoc. And she appeared to be a no-fuss woman. Her clothes were not feminine at all, jeans and a T-shirt, and her hair was cut in a short style that wouldn’t require much effort in the morning.

  Nash relayed what had happened while I stretched and drank some water. I watched while he explained it all to her and while concern shone in her eyes, she didn’t appear to be surprised. I wondered how often Havoc had gotten himself into trouble over the years.

  After Nash filled her in, she turned to me. “You must be Havoc’s new woman.”

  “He’s told you about me?” I was surprised.

  She shook her head. “No, my brother doesn’t share shit easily, but I picked it.”

  Something about what she’d said caused my tummy to flutter. I loved that his sister could sense that he had a woman.

  I extended my hand. “I’m Carla. Nash’s sister.”

  As she shook my hand, she said, “Good to meet you. Promise me you’ll pull my brother into line.”

  I raised a brow. “I’m not sure he’s the kind of man to be pulled into line.”

  “You might be surprised. I know he’s a force of nature, but something tells me you might just have a shot.”

  If he survives.

  A wave of worry hit me all over again.

  “Carla.”

  I spun around at the sound of my name.

  A nurse looked at me with kind eyes and I shot another prayer up to God that those eyes were kind because she had good news and not because she had to tell me something bad.

  “Is he awake?”

  Please say yes.

  I’ll do anything, God.

  Anything.

  She smiled. “Yes, he’s awake. He’s still a little groggy, but he asked for you.”

  Oh, my God.

  Relief coursed through my body and I felt a little lightheaded. I reached for Nash to hold onto. “So I can come in now?”

  She continued to smile. “Yes, but only for a quick visit. Follow me.” She eyed Nash and Yvette. “I can only take two in.”

  Nash indicated for Yvette to go with me and we followed the nurse. My legs were shaky and my breathing had picked up.

  He’s awake.

  He’s okay.

  Thank you, God.

  The nurse led us through the ICU and as we approached Havoc’s bed, I took a deep breath at the sight of him. Even in his wounded, groggy state, his eyes tracked me and he had that intense aura that was all Havoc.

  “Carla,” he said, his voice raspy.

  I moved to the bed and placed my hand on his arm. “I was so worried.” As my words came out, my tears fell. I couldn’t hold them back.

  “Angel,” he murmured as he gripped my arm. His face contorted in pain, but he didn’t let me go. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Tears flowed down my cheeks and I nodded. Burying my face in his neck, I clung to him until I stopped crying. When I let him go, I took in his expression. He’d never looked at me that way before. It was a softer Havoc, and while he’d given me soft once or twice, it had nothing on this.

  This soft told me he wanted me.

  It cleared up any doubt I had.

  “Thank fuck you’re not going anywhere. I want to see this woman pull you into line,” Yvette said.

  Havoc’s lips twitched. “I see you’ve met my sister,” he said to me. “Don’t mind her, she’s a smartass.”

  “I take after my brother,” she quipped.

  Their banter reminded me of my family. I loved listening to them because although they were sparring, it was clear they felt deeply for each other.

  He’d been groggy and in pain when we’d come in and it looked to me like he was struggling to continue the conversation. But Havoc being Havoc pushed through. Always the fighter.

  When they finished talking, I touched his cheek. “You should go back to sleep.”

  “I’m good,” he said.

  I shook my head. “No, you’re not. You need your rest.”

  He started to argue with me, but Yvette stepped in. “Sleep. We’ll be outside when you wake.” Bossy like her brother. I loved that.

  I pressed a kiss to his lips and promised, “I’ll see you when you wake up.”

  He nodded and closed his eyes.

  A minute later, he was asleep.

  I battled conflicting emotions—happiness that he was okay and worry that he was still fighting for his health.

  * * *

  “You didn’t call me to say he’d woken up,” I accused Nash later that day. I’d gone home just after I’d seen Havoc and slept. Nash had promised to call me when he had news. When I’d woken at five, I’d been pissed off that he hadn’t called.

  He shook his head. “He hasn’t woken up again, Carla. So I let you sleep.”

  “What do you mean he hasn’t woken up again?” I demanded.

  “Exactly that. He’s slept all day.”

  Alarm spiked through me. “Are the doctors doing something? Why is he still asleep? What did they say?”

  He placed his hands on my shoulders. “Calm down, babe. They’re saying he’s sedated and still stable. And they’ve run his bloods a few times to check his levels. I’m sure if there was something to worry about, they would have told us.”

  I took a deep breath. “Okay.” Looking around the waiting room, I asked, “Where’s Yvette?”

  “She’s with their father, but will be back here later.” His gaze shifted to look past me. Jerking his chin, he said, “Scott.”

  I turned to find Scott Cole approaching. I’d met him a few times over the years and he’d always struck me as a moody guy, but Nash was pretty close to him so I figured he couldn’t be too bad.

  “Nash,” he returned the greeting before eyeing me. “Hi, Carla. How’s Havoc?”

  “He’s stable.”

  But not awake.

  “Good.” He turned his attention to Nash. “You got a minute, brother?”

  “You okay here?” Nash asked me and I nodded.

  “Thanks,” Scott said. “J will be by later to check on him.”

  As they walked out into the corridor, I sat. Thankful the waiting room was empty, I allowed my tears to fall. I wasn’t the kind of woman to cry often. Usually when shit wasn’t going my way I fought back. But this situation didn’t give me that opportunity.

  I couldn’t fix this.

  Instead, I’d have to dig deep and get myself together.

  Havoc needed me to be strong for him when he couldn’t be strong for himself.

  * * *

  Havoc drifted in and out of consciousness that night and the next day. The doctors kept drawing blood to check his levels and they kept telling us he was stable.

  Stable.

  I fucking hated that word by the end of the second day.

  Why couldn’t they give us something more?

  All I wanted to hear was that he was going to be okay, but whenever I asked that question, they gave me their standard answer.

  Stable.

  Fucking stable.

  I refused to go home again. I’d hated leaving him that first day. I wasn’t doing it again. I put work on hold and took up residence at the hospital. This meant Nash and I bickered constantly. He came and went a few times, and whenever he visited, he tried to boss me into leaving. In the end, Mum got sick of it and told him to leave if he was going to keep arguing with me.

  So by the end of the second day, he and I sat next to each other, arms folded over our chests, both of us with a scowl on our faces.

  “Fuck, hospitals suck,” I declared, blowing out a harsh breath.

  “Won’t argue with you there, babe,” Nash agreed.

  It was nearing 9 p.m. and we were alone after Mum and Velvet had gone home for the night, and Yvette had
left us to grab some dinner.

  “Do you believe in heaven?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “And hell?”

  “Yep.”

  “So you believe in God and the Devil and all that?” We’d never had this conversation and besides killing time, I was interested to know his beliefs.

  “Yes. I have to.”

  I turned to him. “Because of Aaron?” His son who had died.

  “I believe Aaron is in heaven and I believe it’s a better place than Earth. It’s the only thing that got me through some bad days.” I heard the raw emotion in his voice.

  I placed my hand over his. “He’s definitely in a better place, Nash. And you’re going to see him again one day.”

  His jaw clenched and I knew this had turned into a hard conversation for him. I loved him all the more for continuing it. “Yeah.”

  The doors to the ICU opened at that moment and a nurse walked our way. “Carla?” she asked.

  “Is he awake?”

  She nodded and I almost sagged in relief. “Yes, you can come through and see him.”

  Nash gripped my hand and pulled me up. We followed her in and a couple of minutes later, I was looking at the man who had taken up a lot of space in my heart.

  “Darlin’.”

  It was one word, but it meant the world to me.

  He looked better and sounded better.

  And I felt it in my bones.

  He’s going to make it.

  28

  Havoc

  “So they’re letting you out today?” Scott said as he settled himself on the end of my hospital bed. He, J and Nash had arrived five minutes earlier and they’d all made themselves at home in the tiny room I’d called home for far too many days.

  “Yeah, thank fuck,” I muttered. If I’d had to spend one more night in the hospital I would have gone crazy. Being cooped up in one place for any length of time tended to do that to me.

  “I’m gonna drop in on your Dad this afternoon,” J said. “Make sure he’s doing okay.”

  I had to give them credit, Storm had really come through for me and my family since I’d been in hospital. They’d checked up on not only me each day, but also Dad, and they’d gotten him home yesterday. Yvette had been called out of town for work so J had helped out.

  “Thanks, brother,” I replied.

  “Nothing you wouldn’t do for me,” he said. I wasn’t sure of that though. A few years ago I would have agreed, but I’d changed since then. Maybe not for the better.

  I eyed Nash who stood at the end of the bed scowling. He hadn’t said a word since arriving. Hell, he’d hardly spoken to me since I’d regained consciousness days ago except to express his anger again over the fact I’d put Carla in danger.

  “I heard from King this morning,” Scott said, dragging my attention from Nash. “He said to tell you to get better fast, he’s got more work coming up for you soon.”

  Nash rested his hands on the bed and bent forward. “You planning on sticking around or are you gonna do what you do best and walk away from everything and everyone?” His hard voice vibrated around the room as he glared at me waiting for my answer.

  I shifted in the bed and winced at the pain that shot through my body. “Do I look like I’m able to leave anytime soon?” I threw back, my voice just as harsh as his.

  “I’m thinking long-term and I’m wondering just how long you plan on letting Carla think you’re gonna stay.”

  “And I’m just thinking about getting through my recovery,” I snapped. My chest tightened at the same time my pulse quickened.

  I don’t want to think about this.

  “Let’s just take one thing at a time,” Scott suggested, his forehead creasing in a frown as he looked at Nash.

  Nash pushed off from the end of the bed and took a step back, still glaring at me. “You need to get your shit figured out, Havoc, and fast because Carla’s investing herself in you now. She’s been at this fuckin’ hospital day in and day out, and she’s put her new job on hold all that time.” He raked his fingers through his hair before adding, “I knew this would fuckin’ happen!”

  “Nothing has happened, Nash,” J said.

  Nash threw his hand out in the air, gesturing at me while staring wildly at J. “Did you not see the way he wouldn’t commit to staying? That tells you every-fuckin-thing.”

  “Coffee anyone?” We all turned to find Madison standing in the doorway holding four coffees.

  “Thank fuck,” Scott muttered as he stalked to her.

  Nash didn’t move. He remained at the end of the bed, his glare never leaving mine. No more words were exchanged but it was clear where we both stood.

  The step forward we’d taken before I was stabbed had been erased and a step back had replaced it.

  As much as he pissed me off, I knew he was right.

  Carla was invested.

  And I had to figure out my next move.

  I wanted her in my life.

  I just had to find out a way to make that work for both of us.

  * * *

  “Sit there and don’t move!”

  I quirked a brow at Carla. “Bossy is fuckin’ hot on you, darlin’, but don’t get too used to it. Give me a week and I’ll be back to full strength.”

  She placed her hand on her hip and hit me with a look that screamed her doubt. “Oh, really, Mr I’ve-Got-No-Fucking-Idea? The doctor said it will be around four weeks before you can even contemplate getting back on your bike, maybe longer. So I’m not sure how you think you’ll be back to your normal self in one week.”

  I’d come home from hospital two days ago, a day after my father had also come home. Yvette had to go away for a week for work, so Carla had taken it upon herself to move in for the week to help Dad and me while we recovered. I hadn’t argued. The thought of having her with me twenty-four seven made me happy.

  We were battling over my desire to help her cook dinner. I didn’t want her doing everything around the house, but that was exactly what she’d been doing for the past forty-eight hours.

  I slid my hand around her waist and tried to pull her to me. Pain shot through my body and I did my best not to show it. When she moved closer, I said, “Do you really think it’s gonna take me that long to recover? Not fuckin’ likely.”

  She placed her hands on my chest, being careful not to touch my wound and to only touch me very gently.

  Fuck, she’s treating me with fucking kid gloves.

  I hated that.

  “Havoc, you’re not invincible. You have to let me help you for awhile.” Her voice was soft and reminded me that she was going through this too. I might have suffered the pain and would be the one to do the physical recovery, but she’d suffered the mental and emotional turmoil that went with it.

  I dropped a kiss onto her lips. “Okay.”

  Her eyes widened. “Why was that so easy?”

  I chuckled. “Fuck knows.”

  Dad entered the kitchen. “Is he giving you shit, sweetheart?”

  Carla grinned. She and Dad hit it off the minute they met. They’d bonded over their mutual goal of making my life hell during my recovery. “He’s always giving me shit, Al.”

  Dad nodded as he reached into the fridge for some juice. “Sounds like my son.”

  I sat at the table where she’d told me to. “Pass me the potatoes. I’ll peel and chop them.”

  “I’ve got this,” Carla said, clearly exasperated with me. “You just sit there and rest.”

  I decided to give her that even though it went against every one of my instincts.

  Dad sat with me because she’d made it clear to both of us that she didn’t want our help around the house while we recovered. The doctors had sent him home with instructions to improve his eating and exercise. He’d stopped caring about either of those things over the past couple of months. A psychologist had spent some time with him while in hospital. She confirmed my fears that he’d given up on life. I’d expected him to come home
in a cranky mood, and he had, but it hadn’t lasted long. Carla had snapped him out of it pretty fast while I’d sat in awe of her skills.

  “Heard that bed creakin’ last night,” he said. “Pretty sure the doc wouldn’t be too happy about that.” The old man always tried to stir shit up.

  Carla threw me a wink and replied, “Al, for an old man you’ve got good hearing, but I can assure you Havoc wasn’t doing any of the work.”

  “There was no fuckin’ work going on, darlin’, and that was the only problem about last night,” I grumbled. The doctor had given me strict instructions for no sex until at least my next appointment, which was in five days. They’d discuss it then and see how I was. I’d tried to talk Carla into a little action, but she was strictly following his orders.

  “She’s just like your mother, son. No way would she go near my dick if the doctor told her not to. Bloody women.”

  Carla laughed while I shook my head. “Dad, I’m all for sex and shit, but hearing about you and mum and your dick isn’t on my list of things I ever need to know.”

  He shrugged. “Carla doesn’t seem to mind.”

  “Nope, you talk about whatever you want, Al. I’m actually a bit surprised at your son. For a man who has the dirtiest mouth I’ve ever heard and all the right moves, you’d think he could talk about dicks till the cows come home.”

  Dad grinned at me. Jerking his thumb at her, he said, “She’s a keeper, boy. You need a woman like her to keep you in line.”

  I watched the smile spread across her face while Dad sat in front of me with a grin on his. For the first time in fuck knew how long, a sense of peace settled over me.

  This was what happiness looked like.

  I’d forgotten that somewhere along the way.

  * * *

  “Havoc!” Carla pushed my hands away. “No sex!”

  I groaned. “You got any idea how hard my dick has been for days?” It had been four days since I’d come home and she’d pushed me away every fucking night. My cock had been permanently hard the whole time. I’d whacked off in the shower that morning after she’d refused me again.