Page 39 of Havoc

“Yeah. Hacker dug up some good information on Slater, and I talked to our contact at the Griffinsford PD.”

“What did our contact have to say?” Havoc asked as Rosie slid two steaming mugs of coffee across the counter.

Storm’s expression twisted with disgust. “For starters, he’s not a damn detective. He’s just a regular cop with a beat.”

Havoc rolled his eyes. “Why does that not fuckin’ surprise me?”

“Because you’ve got two functioning brain cells to rub together,” Storm replied gruffly, before taking another long drink from his beer. “Anyway, the reason you don’t see any brothers is because I sent them to cover his house, monitor his beat, and dig up information on the streets. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover to bring the two of you up to speed. Hacker’s going to be the point man on this operation. He’s waiting in his office if you want to go back and talk to him.”

“Of course we do. I’m eager to know what he found out, and I know Riley is too.”

Storm glanced over at me. “It’s nice to see you again, Riley. I only wish it were under better circumstances.”

“So do I. Thank you for your help with Slater. I don’t know what I would’ve done without backup from Havoc and the Dark Slayers MC.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“And thanks for letting me and Dae stay last night. She’s gone to stay with her parents until everything calms down. She’d only been staying at mine temporarily and I think it’s totally freaked her out.

“Yeah, I can see how she would be scared outta her mind.” Storm’s gaze shifted back to Havoc, “So, the two of you are getting along pretty good, huh?”

Havoc smiled and reached for my hand. His grip was firm and grounding. Holding hands with him felt natural. I squeezed back gently because I needed that connection more than I cared to admit.

“Yeah,” he said casually. “Hooking us up was a good call. I even made progress on the problem you hired Riley to fix.”

Storm’s face broke into a proud smile. He reached out and clapped Havoc on the shoulder. “Then it was money well spent.”

I almost told him I wasn’t charging the club for my services, but I held the thought. The conversation had already shifted, and the two men were on a roll. I sipped my coffee and quietly listened as Havoc and Storm bounced from one topic to the next. I was usually talkative, but not today. Thankfully, they let me sit in peace.

Once our mugs were empty, we got up to leave. Storm turned to me before we walked away.

“Zoe wanted me to tell you she had to get back home to the kids, but if you need her, she’s just a phone call away. She and Ali are planning to visit in the morning for breakfast. If you’re up to it, they’d like you to join them.”

That small gesture filled me with unexpected warmth. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Havoc led me down a hallway towards a closed, unmarked door. It was the very place he’d skipped during our original clubhouse tour, citing security reasons. Funny how things had changed.

He knocked lightly, and a gruff voice called out, “Come in.”

He turned the knob, and we stepped into a small room bathed in the warm glow of an overhead light. Hacker sat behind a large desk cluttered with multiple monitors. One oversized screen ran what looked like a multi-database search, while the others displayed maps, feeds, and strings of code. His laptop sat open beside a tray of cables and adapters.

Hacker looked to be in his early forties and sat in a sleek, customized wheelchair with BMX-style wheels. His hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, and his arms were covered in tattoos—one of them fresh and sealed under a clear protective wrap. He wore jeans and a button-up shirt, and his upper torso was solid muscle. I assumed that strength came from years of wheeling himself around—and maybe from sports. His setup gave the impression of someone not just competent, but dangerous.

“How’s the old lady and kids?” Havoc asked, as he settled into a chair.

“Angel’s good. The rugrats? Hellions. You know how active little ones can be.”

“I’ve met your kids. Watching you wrangle them made me hope mine turn out fat and lazy,” Havoc said with a smirk.

Hacker’s mouth dropped open. “I know you well enough to understand you’re just joking, because if your kids end up fat and lazy, it’ll be a fucking miracle. With your luck, they’ll be hyperactive and always into something—like their father.”

“Damn,” Havoc muttered. “You are a scary fucker when you want to be.”

Hacker chuckled, then looked over at me. His tone softened. “It’s nice to meet you, Riley. Sorry you’re going through such a rough time. That cop’s a real piece of work.”

“That’s what everyone says,” I replied, my voice calmer than I felt. “I wish I’d never set eyes on him.”

“Yeah, I imagine you do. You two make yourselves comfortable,” he said. “This won’t take long.”

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