12. Tempe

12

Tempe

Havoc grips the steering wheel as he makes a turn. The dog tags around his neck shift, and I’m tempted to ask him about his time in the service, but I keep my questions to myself. He’s shown kindness to me and my brother, offering to escort us to my house to gather some of our things. But I still don’t know whether he’s actually friendly or just doing his president a favor.

At least I feel safe around him. He’s Jameson’s sergeant at arms, the club’s protector, and for the time being, mine.

“How’s Prez treating you?” Havoc asks, glancing over at me when I’ve been staring at him for too long.

“Good.” I shrug. “He’s busy, so we don’t see him much.”

“He went home last night.” A hint of a grin curls up in the corner of Havoc’s mouth.

“He did.” And I still don’t know why .

When Jameson first brought us to his house, he made a point of telling me he never sleeps there. So I’m not sure what to make of the fact that he came home last night.

It could be that he doesn’t trust us, but that’s not the impression I got.

“Jameson’s going to show me his motorcycle.” Austin smiles, changing the subject. “He said it’s superfast.”

“When did he say that?” My eyebrows pinch.

“This morning.”

After sharing grilled cheese sandwiches in silence last night, I went to bed. And by the time I woke up and showered, Jameson had already left.

“Do you think it’s faster than the fastest superhero?” Austin’s eyes widen. “Do you think he’d break the speeding limit?”

Havoc looks down at Austin. “Bet if you asked him, he’d be willing to test it out.”

“I wanna go with him.”

“There will be no motorcycle racing for you, mister.” I pat Austin on the head. “Especially if you’re trying to break a speeding record.”

“Why not?” Austin frowns. “Jameson can do it.”

“Jameson isn’t four years old.”

Austin crosses his arms over his chest and dips his chin. “I’m almost five.”

“Don’t worry, bud.” Havoc nudges Austin with his elbow. “Plenty of time to ride in life. Better to start with something that doesn’t have an engine. Besides, gotta get to know the bike first. ”

Austin’s face brightens as he looks up at Havoc. “Do you think he’ll show me the parts?”

“I’m sure he would.”

Austin smiles, facing forward, and I wonder if Jameson realizes what he opened himself up to by offering to show Austin his bike. If not, he’s going to quickly learn what happens when you make promises to a four-year-old.

Havoc takes the final turn down my street, rolling to a stop at the curb. The two bikes that were following us circle to park in the driveway.

The entourage is a little embarrassing. But when I look at the house sitting in broad daylight, and I remember what happened last time I was here, I’m thankful I’m not alone with Austin.

Havoc cuts the engine. “The guys are gonna do a quick sweep, and then you can pack your things.”

Ghost and Sonny climb off their bikes and enter the house while I help Austin out of the truck. He jumps into my arms. They’re almost instantly tired with Austin getting bigger by the day, but I don’t set him down.

When the guys step back out of the house, they’re frowning.

“Someone cut the feeds,” Ghost says, looking at his phone. “Explains why they stopped recording in the middle of the night. I’m gonna replace them and add a few cameras to the perimeter.”

“You’re surveilling my house?”

Ghost’s cool blue stare lands on me. “Just in case they come back.”

My spine prickles, and I hold Austin tighter .

“And the house?” Havoc asks.

“It’s clear,” Sonny answers, coming to a stop in front of us.

I take that as my go-ahead, but he holds a hand up when I start to make my way toward the front door.

“What?”

“You should prepare yourself before going in there.” He looks from me to Austin. “They left a bit of a mess.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I shouldn’t be surprised, but still, it stings. Just last week all I could think about was work and school. And in one night, everything changed.

I blink my eyes open to find Austin staring at me, and it takes all my strength to bury the tears stinging as they fight to get out.

Setting him on the ground, I crouch down to bring myself to his eye level. “How about you stay out here with Ghost while I get your things?”

“But I want Super Bear.” He frowns.

“I’ll get him for you.”

After everything he’s already witnessed, I can’t have him seeing this too.

“Hey, Ghost.” Havoc tips his chin at Ghost’s motorcycle. “Austin said he wants to learn to ride. How about you show him that Evolution engine you just rebuilt?”

“The flying one?” Austin’s face lights up when he looks at Ghost’s bike.

“Flying one?” Ghost looks from Austin to me.

“Your bike is black and purple,” I explain. “One of his favorite superheroes flies around on a purple bike. ”

And everything with Austin boils down to superheroes.

“I like that.” Ghost looks back at him with an amused smile. “Come on. Let’s check it out.”

Ghost leads Austin over to his motorcycle, and Austin dives into a story about the Avengers as they squat down to look at the details.

“Thanks,” I say to Havoc.

“No problem.”

He guides me toward the house, and the moment I walk through the front door, I’m thankful Sonny warned me before I brought Austin in here. They didn’t just toss the place, they destroyed it.

Frames are broken; glass is shattered. The television is in pieces, and every dish in the kitchen is smashed on the floor. Someone must have cleaned up the blood because it’s no longer there, but I swear I can still see it.

Mom crumpled on the floor.

A metallic scent in the air.

I clutch my stomach as I take it all in; my head swims with the destruction.

“This isn’t about you,” Havoc says, coming up beside me. “They’re just trying to make a point to the club.”

“Looks like they were loud and clear.”

Havoc nods, frowning as he looks around.

My dad was a biker, so I know the danger that comes from associating with the Twisted Kings. But to see it permeating my life when I’ve worked so hard to steer clear feels like a wrecking ball knocking me in the chest.

It doesn’t matter how much space I’ve maintained between me and my bloodline; there’s no avoiding it now. And all I can do is trust the very club I’ve spent my life avoiding with the hope that they’ll keep us safe from whatever my father’s sins are raining down on me and Austin.

“I’m going to grab what I can from the bedrooms,” I tell Havoc before making my way down the hallway.

There’s no use digging through the kitchen or living room with the state they’re in. I already know that once Steel lets us leave the compound, I’ll be starting over. New furniture, new dishes. I can barely afford rent, so I don’t know how I’m going to swing it. But I’ll figure it out as I always do.

Like I did when I was eighteen and had nothing because Mom never stayed in one place for more than a few months. I fought for the life I built once, and I’ll do it again if I have to.

I’ll create a stable life for me and my brother.

Walking into the guest room first, I’m thankful it’s the least destroyed room in the house. It’s turned upside down, but Austin’s belongings are in one piece.

I grab Super Bear first and start packing. Since Mom was always moving around, he already doesn’t have much, so it makes it easy to fit all his belongings in the two bags he arrived at my house with.

When I move to my room, it’s in worse shape than Austin’s. The mirror above the dresser is shattered, and whore is spraypainted on the wall above my bed. I’m sure they thought they were being cruel with their threat, but it’s been a year since I’ve had sex. So if anything, it’s a reminder of my pathetic dating life .

Moving to my closet, I find a pile of shredded clothes on the floor. Luckily, they didn’t destroy everything, so I pack what can be salvaged.

The bathroom is next, and toothpaste is still smeared on the sink from when I accidentally squeezed it out of the tube. I brush off the nerves that prickle my skin with the reminder of that night, grabbing my makeup and our toothbrushes quickly.

Swinging the bags over my shoulders, I make my way down the hallway to find Havoc pacing in the center of the living room, talking on his phone.

When he spots me, he pauses. “Let me get those.”

Havoc walks over and grabs the bags, carrying them like they weigh nothing.

“Yeah, she’s right here.” Havoc listens to the person on the phone before handing it out to me. “Prez wants to talk to you.”

I take the phone from Havoc, and he walks out the front door.

Through the window, I see Austin sitting with Sonny on the front step while Ghost is installing a camera at the front of the house.

I bring the phone to my ear and sink against the wall. “Hey.”

“You got everything you need?” Jameson’s voice is nearly drowned out by what sounds like a party in the background.

His life is wild.

Untamed.

Everything I don’t want .

“I got enough.”

“Good.” A door closes on his end, and he must have stepped away because now it’s quiet. “Don’t leave anything you might want later.”

“I didn’t.” And I know why he’s saying that as Ghost moves inside to install another camera.

There’s a good chance I’ll never come back here.

Jameson hums, quiet for a moment on the other end of the line. And even though he doesn’t say anything; the silence is comforting. I still don’t know if I can trust him, but in this moment, he’s the person who is here for me.

“Curveballs, Tempe, remember? You’ve got this,” he says after a long pause. “The men who did that to your house are going to pay.”

I don’t ask how because I already know. And even if it’s wrong, I’m thankful.

I want them to.

I cast my gaze over the room—at the mess left behind just to prove a point. A life they destroyed without caring. Either because of who my father is or because they want revenge on his club.

It’s a mess I’m left to clean up.

“Curveballs,” I repeat, taking a deep breath.

If only they’d stop coming.