It was over.She lay there for a heartbeat longer, stunned, shaking, the reality of survival taking a moment to catch up.Then boots skidded near her and hands were on her, strong and careful all at once.
“Ivy,” Havoc said, his voice rough, breaking around her name.“Hey.Hey, look at me.”
She pushed herself up, hands trembling violently.Havoc was right there, dropping to his knees in front of her, his gun forgotten on the ground.His hands framed her face, thumbs brushing over her cheeks like he needed to convince himself she was solid.
“You’re safe,” he said, over and over.“You’re safe.”
The words cracked the dam.Ivy surged forward, slamming into his chest with a broken sob.Havoc caught her instantly, wrapping her up in his arms so tightly it felt like he was trying to shield her from the entire world with his body alone.
She buried her face against his neck, the scent of him grounding her even as tears spilled freely.
“I was so scared,” she whispered, the words muffled and raw.“I thought...I thought I wasn’t getting out.”
Havoc tightened his arms around her.He cradled the back of her head, fingers threading into her hair, stroking slowly and steadily.His other arm, he locked around her waist, anchoring her to him.
“I know,” he murmured hoarsely.“I know.I’ve got you.”
He pressed a kiss into her hair, then another, the motion reverent and desperate.His breath shuddered against her scalp.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, the words tumbling out now, thick with guilt.“This never should’ve happened.I should’ve been there.I should’ve said something.I should’ve—”
She pulled back just enough to look at him.His eyes were red-rimmed, wild with emotion, like he’d been living on pure adrenaline and fear for hours.
“Havoc,” she said softly.
He stopped, swallowing hard.
“I was wrong,” he continued anyway, voice low and fierce.“I pushed you away because I was scared, not because I didn’t want you.Because I wanted you too much.Losing you—” He broke off, jaw working.“I can’t do that.I won’t survive it.”
Ivy lifted her hand, touching his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble beneath her fingers.He leaned into the touch like he needed it, like it was oxygen.
“I don’t need you to be perfect,” she said quietly.“I just need you to choose me.”
Havoc’s breath hitched.He closed his eyes for a second, pressing his forehead to hers, their noses brushing.
“I swear to you,” he said, voice fierce with promise, “I will never let anything like this happen to you again.Ever.I’ll spend the rest of my life making it right if I have to.”
He pulled back just enough to look at her properly, searching her face.
“Give me another chance,” he said.“Please.”
Her heart felt raw and open and painfully full.Ivy nodded, tears still slipping free, but she smiled through them.
“Okay,” she said.“We’ll try again.”
The relief that flooded his face was breathtaking.Havoc kissed her then, slow and careful this time, like she was the most precious thing in the world to him.His lips were warm, steady, grounding.Ivy melted into it, fisting her hands into his shirt, clinging to him like an anchor.
****
One Month Later
Havoc rolled through the gates of the Devil’s Crown compound with the late afternoon sun riding low behind him, turning dust into gold and shadows long and lazy.The delivery job had gone smoothly.His mind hadn’t been on the road the way it usually was, every mile eaten up by one thought and one thought only.
Ivy.He cut the engine and swung off his Harley, the vibration still buzzing through his bones.Normally, the road settled him, burned off the excess edge, but today his chest felt tight, nerves coiled and restless beneath his cut.
A month ago, that feeling would’ve sent him running for another ride, another excuse not to sit with whatever crawled under his skin.Now he walked straight toward it.
She’d be finishing today.The last stretch of the mural.The final strokes that would close this chapter.The idea hit him harder than he expected.
