Havoc

5 - Realizing what I should have known

Havoc

“My father was a serial rapist,” Wynter admits before letting out a long breath. “He killed my mother and sister. I wasn’t home at the time; I was out with Cassie. I lost everyone I ever loved that day.

“I was taken into care and given a new identity. Cassie and I swore, after that day, to always protect each other, and we always have. We’ve always been together because we’re like sisters.”

VJ narrows his eyes. “So, Wynter isn’t your real name?”

Wynter smiles. “Yes, Wynter is my real name. I took back my identity against better advice because I couldn’t forget who I really was. I didn’t like being Jane Clark. Maybe it was stupid. My name was changed to protect me, after all. But that’s not who I was.” She shrugs.

I knew all of this, so it’s nothing new to me.

VJ nods, and Wynter carries on.

“Cassie managed to track her father down after her mom finally gave up his name. Trent Kirkwood, a member of Snakes Henchmen MC. He was a gunner in the military and goes by the name Gunner.”

VJ nods his head in understanding. We all know Gunner, and, of course, we all know Cassie is his daughter. I was the one who collected Cassie the day I met Wynter.

“Cassie was so excited to meet him, but she went alone because I needed to see my father. I knew I shouldn’t see him; it could have been dangerous. But I couldn’t get the need out of my head.”

“Where is your father?”

Wynter breathes deeply, still looking at VJ. “In prison. He’ll be there until he dies. I only went to see him because I needed to know if I had any other family in the world or if it was just me. He laughed at me and said I should be grateful to be alive, not out there looking for...”

“For what, Wynter?”

“In his words, ‘n****r loving bastards.’ I couldn’t believe what he was saying. He was so vile and racist. I asked him whom he meant, and he told me that his little brother married a half-breed and had a bunch of ape kids. I didn’t wait to hear any more. So, I got up and ran out of there.”

Wrench grumbles beside me. The man’s mother is mixed race, and he can’t stand racist people. Not that I can blame him. Our club does not tolerate racism. We accept everyone for who they are.

“That can’t have been easy to hear.”

“It wasn’t.” Wynter wipes a tear from her cheek. “I called Cassie and told her what happened. She was spitting mad, as she always is. Then she told me about her dad and how he welcomed her into his family with open arms. She has a stepmom and seven siblings. She also told me how she’d met someone and felt like she was falling for him.”

“That would be me.” Cormack smiles. He looks right at Wynter, enabling her to read his lips. “Cassie is about to become my wife.”

“Oh, my God.” Wynter smiles. “So that was her news?” I’m not sure that was a question directed at anyone. Wynter seemed to be talking to herself. “She texted me, but I never got the chance to reply. I’m so happy for her, for you both. Cassie deserves to be happy. I envy her so much, you know?” She looks at me, and I get the feeling she’s not just talking about Cassie’s up-and-coming wedding.

Wynter longs for a family of her own. I know she’d hoped to have that with me – a home and a child. Wynter wants nothing more than to be loved and to give love to those around her. I can still give her all that, and I won’t stop until she’s happy and content.

“Cassie wanted me to meet her family and the rest of you, but I wasn’t ready for that. Thanks to Cassie, I met and fell in love with Havoc. It wasn’t long before we got married, and I thought we’d be happy.”

“But you weren’t?”

Where the fuc.k is this shi.t getting us?

Why the hell is VJ asking these dumb, pointless questions?

“We were. It was my own insecurities that ruined things. Anyway, I did some digging into my father’s past. I knew my grandparents, but they never mentioned another son. I found out that they indeed did have another son. However, he’d been estranged from the family for many years.

“Though the police warned me not to go digging into my father’s family, I couldn’t help myself. It could put me in danger, they said. But I was tired of hiding. What was the point if my father was locked up? Sure, he could send someone after me, but he hadn’t before. Anyway, I found out that my uncle had married the love of his life and joined a motorcycle club. Your club.”

I narrow my eyes. Wynter never mentioned this to me, and I have to wonder why that is. I asked her about her family, but she told me she had none. But she’s kept the secret that she has family in my club all these months.

Why on this earth wouldn’t she want to get to know them?

Cassie found her family within Snakes Henchmen. Wynter would have, too, and she would have been welcomed with open arms.

Something hits me upside the head. It’s like a lightbulb went off inside my brain, and I don’t know why I didn’t make the connection before.

“What’s your uncle’s name?” VJ asks.

I answer before Wynter gets the chance. “Jack.” All eyes turn to me, but mine are firmly on Wynter. “It never occurred to me before because I had no reason to think about it. Just now, when you said that your uncle is a member of Snakes Henchmen, I realized who you are. Before we were married, your surname was Anderson,”

“Jack Anderson.” Wrench mumbles. “Your uncle’s name is Jack Anderson?” He speaks loud enough for Wynter to hear him this time.

“Yes. My father said that his brother goes by the name BlackJack. I’ve wanted to meet him since I found out about him. But the right time never seemed to come. When I left Havoc, I was so hurt that the last thing on my mind was finding Jack. Then, when those men came,” She sighs.

“What did they want with you, Wynter?”

She shrugs her shoulders at VJ. “I have no idea. What is it that you want from me? I can’t give you names because I don’t know any.”

“You need to give us something, Wynter. It’s the only way we can help you.” Wrench pushes past me and makes his way over to Wynter. She flinches when he lays his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t know who I am, but I know who you are now, Wynter.”

“Who are you?” She asks quietly.

“They call me Wrench. My real name is Dominic Anderson. Jack is my father, and you are my cousin, Wynter.”

I watch Wynter blink twice, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“We’re family, Wynter, and family sticks together.” Wrench smiles. “None of us will let anything happen to you, especially not Havoc. You might know this already, but he’s a little on the crazy side.” He’s not wrong.

Wynter laughs while nodding her head. She looks at me. “But he’s the best kind of crazy.”

She still loves me; I can see it in her eyes. The Lord knows I love her.

“Any information you can give us, no matter how small it may seem, could help us to find those men.”

“I don’t know anything, Wrench.” Wynter closes her eyes for a second and breathes deeply. “They knew my name and said I had to go with them. I asked who they were and why they would think I’d go anywhere with them, but they wouldn’t listen nor answer me.”

Wynter’s eyes flick to me again. I can see that she genuinely doesn’t know what those men want from her, and that worries me. She’s also had enough for one day. Wynter doesn’t even know these men in front of her. She must feel uncomfortable with them all staring at her like this.

“I think that’s enough for now.”

“It’s enough when I say it is.”

I stare VJ down and make my way over to Wynter. “It’s enough because I say it is!”

I take Wynter’s arm, pulling her away from Wrench and into my arms. I wondered if she’d pull away from me, but Wynter lays her head on my shoulder and wraps her arms around my waist.

“She’s told you all she knows, VJ. Pushing her isn’t going to make her remember anything that could help. Wynter needs to rest. I’ll let you know if she thinks of anything that could help find those men.”

VJ rolls his eyes at me. “Fine. I’ve got places to be. Make sure you check in with Jett.” With that, he leaves, Bones following him.

“Wynter?” She looks at Wrench without lifting her head from my shoulder. “If you need anything at all, Havoc knows how to get a hold of me.”

“Thank you.”

“Take care of her.”

I nod at Wrench, then tip it at Cormack as they leave.

I stroke the back of Wynter’s hair and kiss her head. “Everything will be all right. I promise.”

Don’t make promises you’re not sure you can keep, Havoc.

Oh, I’ll keep it. I’d burn the world to ash for this woman. Wynter is everything to me. We may have gotten lost along the way, but she’s back where she belongs, in my arms. This time, I’ll make her stay.