“No he fuckin’ didn’t. Velvet spilled it by accident when she got home drunk last night. You’ve got no clue who you’re dealing with there, and you need to call whatever it is you’ve got going, off.”
I raised my brows. “Oh, really? Do I? And what gives you the right to dictate how I live my life?” This was a common argument with us; Nash had spent my entire life telling me how to live it and I was sick of him interfering.
He jabbed a finger in the air at me. “I know Havoc, and I know he is not the man for you. Fuck, Carla, how the hell did you even get mixed up with him?”
“I met him at a bar. The rest is history.” I wasn’t going to detail it for him.
“And so you’re dating him now? I didn’t think Havoc was the kind of man to date after all the shit that went down with his ex.”
I was clueless about his ex; it wasn’t something we’d ever discussed. It wasn’t something I was interested to know. And we sure as hell weren’t dating. “Nash, we’re not dating. It’s just sex.”
His eyes were wild. “Good. So you will stop seeing him then?”
“Give me one good reason why I should,” I challenged him even though I really had no intention of giving up sex with Havoc; it was too damn good to give it up.
He glared at me. It looked like he was weighing something up in his mind. “Havoc has a violent side. It’s not safe for you to be around him.”
His words should have scared the shit out of me, but they didn’t. I’d sensed that about Havoc; knew there was something dark lurking inside him. Yet, he didn't scare me. I felt the opposite when I was with him. I felt safe.
The world stilled as I locked eyes with my brother. We were about to take part in the biggest battle we’d ever had. I wasn’t giving Havoc up, not yet. Eventually I would, when he left town, but not until then. “I’m not going to stop seeing him, Nash,” I declared.
His eyes bulged out of his head and the veins in his neck popped. “Fuck!” He turned, and hit the wall behind him. When he looked back at me, it was with determination. “You will fuckin’ stop seeing him. I will make sure of it one way or another,” he roared, and then stalked out of the house, slamming the front door on his way.
Shit.
Nash had a temper, but I hadn’t seen him that angry for a long time. I had no idea what he planned to do to stop me seeing Havoc, but it pissed me off that he was going to interfere.
My phone rang and I snatched it up, hoping it was Havoc; I needed to hear a friendly voice. “Hello?”
“Hello. Carla?”
I didn’t recognise the voice. “Speaking.”
“Hi, it’s Justin from the Coffee Club calling back about the interview you attended yesterday. I just wanted to let you know you were unsuccessful. And we wish you all the best in your job hunting.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” I hung up and slumped into the chair at the kitchen table.
It was the fifth interview I’d gone to in the last week and they’d all rejected me. I was beginning to think I’d never get another job. Perhaps I could just block the world out and pretend my life wasn’t falling to bits. And perhaps pigs would fucking fly.
“Carla!”
More banging on the front door, only this time I was happy to hear Havoc’s voice.
“Come in,” I yelled out, not moving out of my seat. Nope, I’d decided to stay in my own little pity party bubble.
I heard his heavy boots coming down the hall, and my body tingled with anticipation. Hell yes, Havoc would make it all better, make me forget for a couple of hours at least. When he stopped in the kitchen doorway a moment later, his words caused my stomach to sink.
“We need to talk,” he said.
I took a deep breath. Without moving out of my chair, I said, “Sure. Why not. You may as well add to the bad in my life,” I muttered.
Frowning at me, he asked, “What’s happened now?”
I was drunk on disappointment and didn’t hold back. “Well, my brother’s trying to control my life, telling me what I can and can’t do, and then I found out I didn’t get yet another fucking job. Add those to the other shit happening in my life, and let’s just say, I’m over it. Out. Had e-fucking-nough. So hit me, Havoc. Tell me your news.” I gestured with my hands for him to carry on.
He stood, staring at me, not saying a word.
I returned his stare, waiting.
Nothing. He said nothing. But the air in the room had changed. Something new thrummed between us.
A need.
A want.
It vibrated around us, pulling at us to acknowledge it.
“I’ve got to go to Sydney for awhile,” he said, and then added, “Come with me.” His eyes betrayed him. He wasn’t sure of what he was saying.
My breathing sped up. I didn’t want to admit even to myself that I wanted this. I shook my head at him. “You don’t want me tagging along, Havoc.”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t want it.”
My mind felt like it was spinning inside my head. I was going to do this. After living my life up until now to a plan, I was going to throw it all out the window and pursue this. I was going to see where it took me. I was going to follow a fucking biker to another city, to hell with the consequences.
* * *