Havoc

4 - She will never be alone

Havoc

“I don’t know if you’re hungry, sweetheart, but I made you a sandwich.” I motion to the coffee table and the sandwich I made for Wynter.

“That was really nice of you, Havoc, but I’m not hungry. I’m sorry, I know you hate wasting food.”

Wynter is right; I do hate wasting food. There are so many hungry people out there, and too many who waste what others need. However, I’m not going to lose my shi.t over an uneaten sandwich.

“Maybe we could put it in the fridge for later?”

I smile and nod. She’s always so thoughtful.

“I know this is a stupid question, but are you alright?”

Wynter stares at me for a moment, and I can see that she’s trying to be brave. That’s Wynter all over, a strong woman who can’t bear for anyone to think she’s weak.

I don’t think she’s weak; I think she’s scared. Wynter has every right to be afraid right now; she has two huge ass men after her. I just wish she’d tell me what they want with her. Yes, Wynter fed me a story, but I don’t think that was half of it. I need Wynter to tell me everything. Only then will I be able to figure out what the hell is going on and what they want with my wife.

“You don’t have to pretend with me, Wynter. I know you better than that.”

“I just feel lost and confused, Havoc. I ran away from you because I thought you were disgusted with what I told you. I didn’t even tell you who my father was because I was stupid and upset. Then there’s those men who keep coming after me, and you turning up out of the blue and bringing me here. My head is swimming, and I don’t know what to do.” She drops her ass onto the couch and clasps her face with her hands.

I sigh and make my way over to her. “Everything will be okay, Wynter.” She looks up at me. I can see the frustration and sadness written all over her face. “I know things don’t make sense to you right now, but we can fix this. Some of my buddies are coming over to speak with you,”

“What?” She all but whispers in shock.

“Wynter, there’s nothing to worry about. They’re only coming to see if they can help.” I hold my hand up when she opens her mouth to speak. “Something more is going on than what you’ve told me, isn’t it?”

Wynter looks down at her hands and whispers, “I don’t know.”

I can’t resist the urge to touch her any longer. I reach out and cup her cheek, and Wynter’s eyes instantly close momentarily.

“Whatever is going on, let me help you, Wynter. I won’t lose you again.” I turn in my seat, taking her hand in mine. “I’m sorry that I hurt you, but it was unintentional. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”

“I hurt you, too.” A tear falls from her eye, and it makes my heart ache. “I’m so sorry, Havoc. I’m sorry that I didn’t trust in you enough to know that you’d never look at me the way others do. I loved you so much.”

“You don’t love me any longer?”

Wynter doesn’t get the chance to answer my question because the door knocks.

“It’s okay.” I kiss her hand. “It’ll just be VJ and some of the others. I’ll go let them in. Try not to worry, Wynter. They’re not here to hurt you.”

She nods her head and turns away from me while fiddling with her hearing aid.

I leave the room to let VJ, Bones, Wrench, and Cormack in.

“She said anything?”

I shake my head at VJ.

He grunts, but I can’t tell him what I don’t know. “Since when do you drag strays off the street?”

“She’s not a stray!” I snap at him.

“She’s a waitress he took a shine to.”

I grind my teeth to stop myself from smashing Cormack in the face. “She’s my wife, you sons of bitche.s!”

All four of them stare at me open-mouthed, but it’s Wrench who speaks first. “When the hell did that happen?”

I rub the stubble on my chin and sigh. “Months ago. Look, I’m not getting into why she left me or why I never told you all about us getting married. I lost her, and after months of searching, I found my wife.

“Now I need to keep her safe because someone is after her. There’s something she’s not telling me, and Jett thought she might tell you.” I point to VJ.

“Fine,” He shrugs. “Lead the way.”

I lead them all into the den. Wynter is facing away from us, sitting back straight, humming to herself while still fiddling with her hearing aid. I have no idea why she’s taken it out or if it’s bothering her to wear it, which happens sometimes, but it means she won’t be able to hear anything that’s said to her right now.

“What did you say her name was, again?”

“Wynter,” I tell VJ.

“Wynter?” She doesn’t answer VJ. “Is she deaf?” He asks me.

I nod. “Completely in one ear, partially in the other.”

“She never had a cochlear implant?”

I shake my head. “She was born this way. Wynter once told me that her mother took her to be tested, but she wasn’t a candidate for the operation. Besides, Wynter never wanted cochlear implants. She likes the way she is.” I shrug my shoulders.

Wynter never needs to change for anyone. Not every person born deaf wants to hear. My wife is perfect the way she is, and she doesn’t need to explain things to anyone.

“She wears a hearing aid, but she’s taken it out.” I point to Wynter and the fact she’s now reattaching it to her ear.

“Can she speak? Or does she only use sign language?”

“Wynter can talk,” I roll my neck. “But not like Chloe can. Some words are difficult for her, but she’s easily understandable.”

VJ nods at me.

“Try not to lose your temper with her, VJ.”

“Drop dead, Bones.”

A small yelp and the sound of Wynter bumping into the coffee table has us all turning our heads. She’s noticed us, and she looks scared to death.

“Havoc,” She whispers my name while holding her hand out to me.

I move towards her, but VJ holds his hand up, stopping me. I clench my fists. I don’t want to fight this man, but I will if it comes to it. Wynter is the most important thing to me right now, and I won’t have VJ taking over.

Bones grabs my arm. “Let him talk to the girl, Havoc. That’s what Jett sent him here for.”

I snatch my arm out of his grasp. “Don’t expect me to stand here and do nothing when she needs me.” Though I do just that.

VJ makes his way over to Wynter. He raises his hand to his chin, but Wynter shrinks.

Is she scared he’s going to hit her?

VJ is indeed a huge motherfucke.r, an insane, psychopathic son of a bitc.h, anyone would be scared of him. But VJ would never raise his hand to a woman. Not an innocent one, at least.

That isn’t like Wynter, though. Not once in the time I have known her has she flinched the way she just did.

If I find out anyone hurt Wynter in the time we’ve been apart, I’ll kill them! However, I have to admit her behavior is a learned trait. Her father was hardly the kind of father to hug his children. Wynter confided in me how violent the man was to his wife and kids. Perhaps having a man like VJ in front of her is scaring her some.

“You don’t need to be afraid. No one here is going to hurt you.” VJ tells her.

“As if my husband would let you!” Wynter snaps back, and I have to stifle a laugh behind my hand.

Wynter may not have trusted me when it came to her past, but she trusts me enough to know I’d kill anyone who harmed her.

“My name is VJ.”

“Your name is what?” Wynter asks curiously. “I’m sorry. It’s hard to hear what you said. I can read lips, but you’re a little far away.” She means that he’s not directly in front of her.

“Yes,” VJ both speaks and signs, making Wynter smile shyly at the fact he knows how.

Jett’s smarter than I gave him credit for. I realize now why he sent VJ; it’s because of his ability to use sign language. When I told Jett about Wynter’s hearing, he knew VJ was the man for the job.

“My name is VJ. Can you tell me your name?”

“Nice to meet you, VJ.”

Bones sniggers behind me, making me chuckle. No one says it’s nice to meet VJ because everyone knows he’s basically a bastard.

“My name is Wynter with a Y.”

“Well, Wynter with a Y, why don’t you tell me what’s going on? Tell me about the men chasing you.”

“I don’t know much about them.” Wynter scrubs her hands over her face. “They’ve been following me for about a month. I don’t know what they want with me because I’ve never waited around long enough to find out.

“I haven’t kept in contact enough with my best friend because of this. I didn’t want those men to find out about her. If they had hurt her because of me...” Wynter shakes her head. “I was supposed to move here with her, but Havoc and I...” Wynter stops talking and lowers her head.

“What’s your best friend’s name?” VJ asks as soon as Wynter lifts her head.

“Cassie. We grew up together. Her mother was a waste of space, and my mom died when I was ten. My dad,” She swallows hard and looks at me.

I nod my head to let her know that it’s okay. It’s better if Wynter tells VJ now about her father; he’ll only find out some other way if she doesn’t.

This won’t be easy for Wynter, but it’s better to get it out now. I’ll be right here if she crumbles. I won’t let her think she’s alone because she never will be.