“That’s fine, why don’t I …” I had been about to say that I would go and mingle, but Havoc silenced me. “You stay here and enjoy a drink. I’ll be back.”
***
“So you and Havoc?” Fang stared at me over the rim of the bottle he had to his lips.
“What…?” At first, I was confused by his question. I glanced down to where he was staring. And my fingers brushed the leather I was wearing over my dress. “Oh this, yeah, Havoc told me I should wear it.”
Fang’s face closed down. His eyebrows pinched together. “You have no idea what it means to wear it do you?”
I shrugged. “He said it would make people leave me alone. That the Judge…” My eyes scanned the courtyard. I knew he was around, but I couldn’t see him. Letting out a sigh of relief, I relaxed.
“Havoc means to keep you with him.”
My smile was a little uncertain. “He’s been really good to me.”
“No.” Fang shook his shaggy head. “I mean, he wants to keep you here as his for good. That’s what that means.” He motioned with his beer bottle at Havoc’s jacket. “This isn’t a game for him anymore.”
“It was never a game,” I snapped.
“What I am saying, Darcie, sweet Darcie, is that Havoc likes you. And he plans on getting you to stay.”
“Stay? For how long?”
He laughed, throwing back his head. When he finally stopped, he passed over his half empty bottle, and I eagerly took it.
“You look like you need that.” He chuckled as I swallowed down the frothy liquid. “He wants you to stay for good, or at least for the foreseeable future.”
“He doesn’t want me to go home? Ever?”
“Like I said, he likes you, and he doesn’t think you will be safe. He would rather you stay here so he can protect you. That boy has a serious hero complex.”
I slipped into silence. When I finally spoke, my voice came out croaky. “That’s not a reason for me to stay here.”
“You’re right. It’s not Darcie, and it’s going to end up getting my boy arrested or dead. Can you live with that?”
I shook my head. Unable to speak. “No, I couldn’t live with that,” I muttered. “I’ve already told him that I couldn’t stand it, I offered….”
“I know what you offered. That’s what forced his hand. All I am saying is you need to talk to him. Be honest. If you don’t think there could be a future for you, then tell him, so he knows how this will end.”
“A future? Fuck Fang, I have only known him a few days.” My voice was rising, and his eyes flashed in a warning.
“Yeah, I get that, Darcie. But you need to get this. If that boy decides he is falling in love with you, then he will follow you anywhere; he will risk everything. He watched Cyber go through hell a few years ago and he won’t go through that. So you need to decide which brother you want to throw in with. And then you need to tell Havoc.”
I stood so suddenly that the beer in my hand sloshed down my front. “Excuse me.” I didn’t know why but tears made my voice thick.
“Darcie, I didn’t mean to upset you girl. I just wanted you to know what wearing his colours means. Havoc wants you.”
“He wants me because I was his brother’s fiancée,” I muttered, and Fang shrugged.
“Maybe, or maybe that’s just how it started. Either way, talk to him. He will look after you, either way, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.” Without another word, I turned on my heel, wobbling slightly as I weaved my way through the throng of people.
I didn’t need the bathroom; what I needed was some alone time to digest what Fang had just told me. And I couldn’t do that with everyone breathing down my neck.
I had almost made it to the stairs when Havoc stepped out of a doorway and into my way. He searched my face quickly. “Where are you going?” One hand came up to touch my cheek, and his fingers came away wet. “Hey, why are you crying?”
“It’s nothing.” Angrily I swiped at my eyes. Leaving a black smudge of mascara on the back of my hand.
