Page 71 of Havoc

I decided to try catching flies with honey. “You know I wouldn’t ask unless it was important.”

Finally, Havoc stopped trying to run out the door and squatted down to talk to me about it. “Look, I know that woman trusts you. And you’ve helped her make real progress. I also get that this is your business. I’m not trying to wreck your business. My goal is to keep you safe until we catch Slater.”

“You’re not the only one who can escort me. You have people for that,” I said, gesturing to the two prospects. “Alvin and Jamie are going to be guarding me anyway. Why can’t they just guard me at the restaurant I’m meeting my client at? My sessions only last forty-five minutes. And then we’ll come right back.”

Havoc opened his mouth to object, but I cut him off. “I’ll be fine. You really don’t have time to argue the point. If I want to go and the prospects are willing to take me, that should be the end of it.”

“Alvin and Jamie are both competent. Listen to what they say when it comes to security. They’ll make sure you get there and back safely,” he said, shooting the two prospects a warning look that made them jerk to attention.

“Don’t worry. We got this, sir,” Jamie stated confidently. “We’ll leave our vests behind so as not to draw attention to ourselves and make sure your fancy life coach is within our sights at all times.”

“You’d do well to think of her as my old lady, prospect. Do not let her out of your sight. I don’t trust Slater any further than I can throw his hefty ass.”

Alvin added, “We won’t, sir. I give you my word on that.”

“Alright, text me when you leave, if anything pops off while you’re in the community, and when you get back. In other words, keep me in the fucking loop.”

They promised they would, and Havoc leaned over, gave me a quick kiss, and whispered, “Be careful out there today, sweetness.”

My arms came up, and I pulled him down for a long, lingering kiss.

When I let him go, he told me, “You’re right, I can’t keep you locked in a tower, a gilded cage, or this fallout shelter. You’re a woman with a job to do, and I respect you for wanting to get out there and do it. You’ve got this, Riley.”

I nodded, my expression relieved but also a bit uneasy for Havoc’s sake. “Thanks, babe. Just remember the promise you made to me about being careful, okay?”

“If I make a promise, I always do my best to keep it.”

“I know that you do, and I really respect that about you. Now, get out of here before you keep Storm waiting and he shouts his head off at you.”

He chuckled. “Storm might get wound up at times, but he doesn’t usually shout at us for being late.”

“I know. That was supposed to be a joke. It just didn’t land very well.”

“Love you, sweetness. I’ll be back before you know it with that IT guy’s head in a bag.”

My eyebrows flew up. “I don’t know much about tracking down bad guys, but I can tell you one thing. You can’t wring information out of him if he’s dead.”

Havoc just laughed as he headed for the door.

I glanced at Alvin and Jamie. “Are you two really okay with escorting me to my meeting this afternoon?”

Alvin asked, “What time did you say the appointment was?”

“We’re supposed to meet at three this afternoon.”

“Sure,” Jamie replied. “Whose bike do you want to ride on?”

I narrowed my eyes at him and told him firmly, “Neither. I’m not riding on the back of your bikes.”

Alvin rolled his eyes. “I told you she was true blue. She ain’t gonna be riding with no one but her old man.”

Jamie murmured, “He’s a lucky fucking dog. I hope he knows that.”

“Oh, he knows,” Alvin replied. Turning to me, he explained, “I was just pulling your leg. Mace left his car behind. I’ll drive it as far up the hill as I can, and then you and Jamie can walk down. It shouldn’t take me long to get back with it.”

“Thank you, Alvin. I want you to know that I’m grateful for every single thing you do. I mentioned to Havoc how you’re always taking the initiative. You seem like a real go-getter.”

His face lit up. “Thanks for that, Miss Riley.”

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