I rip off a good deal of thumbnail with my teeth thanks to my nerves before saying, “Now do you understand why I believe it wasn’t a botched carjacking?”
“I believed you before.”
My brows shoot up at his admission. “You did?”
He shrugs one shoulder. “Why would you lie?”
I wouldn’t, but… “No one believes me.”
He glances down at himself, clad head to foot in black, from the hoodie hiding his muscular torso to his Harley Davidson boots. “Do I look like everyone else?”
No, he certainly does not. In fact, I’ve known many people in my life and have never come across another person like him.Ever. “No.”
“No,” he repeats. Then, “Grab your shit. We’re leaving.”
“Havoc, wait. I…”
“What?” A single eyebrow lifts. “Why did you call me, Duchess?”
My mother’s voice echoes in my mind, reminding me to maintain my dignity no matter the situation.
Shoulders back.Chin high.Always keep your composure.
I follow her instructions, although I can’t seem to bring myself to meet Havoc’s eyes. Instead, my feet—my aching feet—are far more interesting at the moment. My mouth opens, but no words come out. Not at first. But I pull myself together and remember who it is standing in front of me. Havoc is sin itself—a career criminal. If anyone will understand, it’s him. It’s the reason I called him.
Why I trust him, literally, with my life.
Okay, here goes.
I finally raise my head and meet Havoc’s impatient glare. “I killed a man,” I breathe. “But in my defense, he tried to kill me first.”
3
HAVOC
What. The Actual. Fuck.
I drag a hand through my hair as I sort through the situation in my mind. Do I believe her father and his partner were deliberately shot? Absolutely. Do I think it has a damn thing to do with this Miller guy and his tax evasion? Maybe. There are too many holes in the story to know for sure. “I want details. Now.”
The words come out in a growl, and I probably look like I’m about to rip someone’s head off. I should probably go easy on Kerri. But something about walking in here and seeing her bruised and afraid got me fucked up.
And now this.
Yeah, no, sorry not sorry for wanting to punch a goddamn hole right through the goddamn wall.
Kerri nervously smooths her hands down her sides, wiping her palms on her dress—which is too tight if you ask me. If I can see every curve of her perfect fucking body, then anyone who saw her in it did as well, and that fuels my temper.
I also track her every movement like a predator, unable to stop myself from licking my lips in anticipation of her next move. Anger and an unfounded need to protect this woman are the reasons I don’t give in to the primal urge to take a bite out of her.
“I knew better, Havoc, I did.” She moves her hand to her hair, twining a chunk of her long, silken hair around her index finger. I doubt she’s even aware of her nervous pacing. “I’ve barely left my father’s side all week, but when I heard an associate of Miller’s might be at my friend’s party, I went, hoping to find out something.Anything. But Oliver didn’t even show up. That’s the kicker. The guy I wanted to talk to never even made it to Joanne’s party. So, I went for nothing. All this for nothing.” She drops her section of hair, then digs her whole hand in the thick mass to shove it away from her bruised face. Then she stops trampling the carpet and turns to me. “I was on my way home when I was run off the road.”
She’s not exaggerating the situation. I see the truth in her large, frightened—but steadfast—eyes.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Kerri.” The flare of my nostrils is the only physical reaction. Anything more and the thread holding my temper is fraying. Still, I hear myself ask, “Are you sure?”
The dumb question falls out of my face before I can stop it, and my regret is immediate.
“Am I sure?” Kerri enunciates each word, glaring at me like I’m next on her kill list. “Let me think for a moment. Well, I was driving alone on a rural road. A dark SUV came speeding up behind me. The driver rammed my car. Numerous times. At first, I was terrified. I didn’t know what to do. But then something magical happened. I realized I had nothing to lose. I was going to die anyway. Guess what I did, Havoc.”
