Page 36 of Wreaking Havoc on my Heart

“Arrow, I’m not trying to steal her away from you.”

I scoff, not believing him for a second.

“Yeah, okay.” I’m aware I sound like a child right now, but I can’t help it. This man makes me insane.

“Listen, I can see that she needs you. But I think, if you really open your eyes, you’ll see she needs me too.”

Damien’s words ring through my head again. He was right that Evie does seem to really love them all equally. And now that he’s pointed it out, he was right about Laney being stronger when she got back. After she spent time withhim.

“Damien said you both trained together a lot. Is that where this started?”

I’m trying to understand, but I also need to know what happened between them so I can get there.

“Yeah,” he pauses for a short time. “To be honest, it was all the moments in between though. She threw up after she saw Evie torture someone and said some things that really had me thinking about who she is.”

I lean back on the couch, picturing her struggle and what she would have done if no one had been there for her. Some part of me must already be comprehending their bond because I find myself really wanting to hear what he has to say—without being angry.

“She has this way of being someone I’m equally terrified of and attracted to. Like, I can see her eliminating the enemy with her bow. To then turn around and joke and play games with her friends with a genuine smile on her face. But she’s also someone who doesn’t get off on hurting people, and in this world, that’s incredible.”

I smile to myself in silent agreement. He continues to tell me about their time together and his gifts for her. How he calls her his unicorn. It’s adorable, and sappy and everything she deserves. So much so that the doubt starts to creep back in. If he gives her everything she needs, then what do I bring? If she can even forgive me, that is.

“I can hear your thoughts from here, Arrow. She needs you too. I can’t tell you how crazy it would make me when she would smile at her phone like the person on the other end hung the stars in the sky for her.”

That makes me laugh. Knowing we both have our struggles with this calms my racing mind a little.

“What am I supposed to do here, Havoc?”

I want to fix this. While my mind isn’t sold on sharing, I can see where it could help.

“How did you come to terms with this?”

He’s quiet for long enough that I double-check to see if we got disconnected. “Havoc?”

“I um… fuck. I lost my daughter a little over four years ago and just after that I lost my wife.”

Well, that was the last thing I was expecting to hear. I feel bad for how much I harped on the guy now.

“I’m sorry,” I offer, not knowing what else to say, but also feeling like I should say something.

“It’s okay,” he says with a sigh, a shaky breath escaping him. “Anyway, she’s the first woman I’ve met since then that I’ve felt anything for. I knew from the minute I met her that you both had something. And I didn’t want to interfere with that, but my feelings for her just became too hard to ignore.”

I can understand that. She’s not someone who’s easily forgotten.

“So, I figured if the only way I could have her was by sharing, I’d find a way to make it work. Plus, being able to have two people to protect her instead of one has to give us better odds. Women in this world don’t usually make it very long.”

I think back to the death of my adopted mother and my birth parents. Then remember how there were very few women in my life growing up in general. Havoc’s right, she needs to be protected.

“I don’t know if I’m there yet.”

“She doesn’t expect you to be all in on day one, Arrow. Just think about it and find a way to meet her in the middle. I’ll be there in thirty days and we can work stuff out. You don’t have to make all of the decisions right now.”

I blow out a long breath. “Alright.”

“Oh, and Arrow.”

“Yeah?”

“Hurt her again, and I’ll put a bullet in your brain. This is your one and only warning.”

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