Paul’s upper lip raised in a snarl. “Marnie’s lying dead in a hospital morgue. That’s what made me come here. When I saw you at that biker clubhouse today, I was fucking ecstatic. I’d been waiting for you, wondering how long it would take for you to show up there.”
I jabbed my finger at his chest. “That shit is on you, not me. You stole from Jackson and you chose to date his ex knowing how he felt about that kind of thing.”
Paul struggled in Nash’s hold. “Settle the fuck down!” Nash thundered, tightening his grip.
Paul didn’t settle down, though, and continued to fight against Nash. The anger pushing at the inside of my skull intensified.
He’d come here and threatened Carla.
No fucking way would he walk away from this.
My fists clenched.
Red blurred my vision.
Heat exploded through me as my anger burned.
My fist connected with his face. The crack of his bone rang through the night air. His head lolled to the side and blood oozed down his cheek.
Nash let go and pushed him to the ground. His angry eyes found mine. “What the fuck was all that about?”
I was more concerned with ensuring Paul was unable to hurt Carla. Ignoring Nash, I kicked Paul, rolling him onto his back. His eyes fluttered open and he groaned, but no words left his mouth. I watched as his eyes closed again and was confident I’d knocked him out enough to move him to another location. Away from Carla’s house so I could deal with him once and for all.
“Are you gonna fuckin’ tell me what that was about?” Nash roared, every muscle in his body tense with fury.
“That was tied to a job I did for King. Can you settle the fuck down so we can deal with this?” I snapped.
He shoved his fingers through his hair. “Jesus!” Jabbing his finger in Paul’s direction, he said, “That shit should never have made its way to my house.”
Carla inserted herself between us. “This is not your house, Nash. And give Havoc a break, it’s not like he could control that asshole.” She glared at Nash as her breaths came hard and fast.
I loved her determination, but I didn’t want her fighting my battles.
“I agree, Nash, and I’ll take care of him so he never has another opportunity like this again. Now, are you gonna help me or are you gonna continue with your bullshit?” As I said this, I attempted to move Carla from between us but she refused to budge.
Shrugging out of my hold, her angry gaze met Nash’s.
“This is why I don’t want you with Havoc!” he yelled at her. “He’s mixed up with a lot of shit and it could blow back on you, like this has.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, can you hear yourself? You are so hypocritical! Havoc is involved with the same stuff you are,” she argued back.
I reached for her arm and turned her to face me. “Babe—” I started, but Carla’s eyes widened as she looked past me.
Her hand flew to her mouth and she screamed, “Havoc! No!”
I spun around to see what had caught her eye and came face-to-face with Paul again. He’d regained consciousness while we’d been arguing and held the knife in his hand. He had the same look of evil in his eye as before.
“Fuck you.” He snarled as he stabbed the knife at me.
Hot, piercing pain radiated from just below my chest.
Heat I never imagined ever feeling.
“Oh, my God, Havoc!” Carla’s cry penetrated my subconscious, but I couldn’t respond.
The last thing I remembered seeing was Paul going down after Nash punched him.
26
Carla
“That was a huge knife, Nash, and there was so much blood! And why the fuck is it taking so long for the doctor to come out and tell us what’s happening?” My skin itched and my chest felt like it would explode from the onslaught of emotions raging through me. Fear, anger, frustration, hatred. I wanted to kill the man who had done this to Havoc.
Nash's strong arms circled me and he pulled me close. “Havoc’s a fighter, babe. I’ve seen him survive fights I didn’t think he’d pull through on. And he’s in the best possible place.”
“Nash is right,” Velvet agreed. “And the doctors are busy working on him. You don’t want to drag them away from what they’re doing.”
I stared at them. “It’s been hours!” All my fears collided and I could no longer hold back my tears.
I can’t lose him.
Nash held me until my tears stopped. “Like Velvet said, the doctors are looking after him and they’ll be out when they have news. And I’m sure it’ll be good news.” His words surprised me. He’d been so angry with Havoc when Paul threatened me. The gentle tone he’d just used was a vast change.
When I pulled out of his embrace, I whispered, “Thank you.”
He nodded and let me go. “I need coffee. You want one?”
“Yes, please.”
He pointed at the seats. “Take a load off and don’t go anywhere.” He took drink orders from Mum and Velvet and then left us.
I watched him leave before taking a seat next to Mum. She slid her arm over my shoulders and pulled me close. “Havoc means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”
Nodding, I replied, “Yes. More than I realised.”