Havoc: Snakes Henchmen MC

by Grayson, Alivia

  If I walk into that warehouse and my sister really is there, I don’t think I’ll be on my feet for more than a second. I know Havoc would never lie to me, but people are evil. The woman could be lying. She could have found out about me and my past, and now she’s using it to get what she wants.

  What the fuck that would be, I don’t know. I don’t have anything worth taking other than Havoc, and he’d never leave me, I know that. So what the hell could she want?

  You know deep down that Havoc is right, Wynter. The woman in the warehouse is Spring. You’re just scared to hope.

  I turn to face Havoc. “What if this is all bullshit, Havoc? What if that woman in there is a con-artist? She could just look like me, or she could have had plastic surgery. John could have hired her to kill me. He always was angry that I lived.”

  “Wynter,” Havoc sighs. “Do you really think I’m so stupid that I wouldn’t know the difference?” I stare at him, not saying anything. Anyone can be fooled by another who’s good at the job they were hired for. “She knows too much, Wynter. Things no one else could know. Whether you believe it or not, your sister is right through that door. Just look at her, Wynter – look at her, and you will know the truth.”

  I suppose meeting her can’t hurt. If she is my sister, I’ll know. If she isn’t, I’ll break her neck. Simple.

  With shaking hands, I take Havoc’s in mine. “I’m terrified, Havoc. I’m scared that woman is Spring, and what it will mean. But worse than that, I’m scared that she isn’t. If she isn’t, why is she doing this?”

  “Wynter, listen to me,” Havoc takes my face in his hands. “Spring didn’t come to us, claiming to be your sister. Jethro found Spring and dragged her here. She didn’t have a clue who any of us was until someone said your name. It was obvious to me whom I was looking at, and I think it dawned on her just as quickly. Baby, she has no reason to lie.”

  I nod my head and let go of a sob. Deep down, I knew the truth; it was just hard to admit. “Everything’s going to change now, isn’t it?”

  Havoc nods with a smile. He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It’s a good change, beautiful. I know it’s hard to digest. The last thing you thought when you woke up this morning was that you’d be seeing your sister again. However, you are about to see her, and things will be just fine, I promise.”

  I nod my head. “I suppose we best get in there. Oh, and before we do, I can’t promise I won’t kill Jethro.”

  Havoc laughs loudly and tells me, “Can’t say as I’d blame you.” He leans in and kisses me. “Let’s get in there.”

  Havoc leads me inside, and I’m shaking cold. How can I be cold and burning up at the same time?

  Deep breaths, Wynter, everything will be okay.

  The first thing I see when Havoc leads me through a metal door is Jethro. My blood boils, and the anger becomes too much, too soon. I yank my hand from Havoc’s and run toward Jethro. I hear Havoc yell for me to stop, but I’ve slapped Jethro across the face before Havoc could reach me.

  The only problem is, I slap Jethro again and again. “You stupid bastard!” I yell loudly, angrily. “How dare you tell Havoc that I cheated on him? How dare you kidnap my sister!” I scream.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Jethro yells.

  Arms encircle my waist, lifting me off the floor and pulling me away from Jethro. “Calm down!”

  “Get off me!” I scream louder. “Put me down, Havoc!”

  He does, reluctantly though he grabs my arm and turns me to face him. “I know you’re angry, but this isn’t going to help, Wynter.”

  My eyes clock someone over Havoc’s shoulder. I blink rapidly, my mind telling me that this is all an illusion. But I know that it isn’t. I know everything Havoc told me outside is the truth. My sister is alive, and she’s standing behind my husband, looking at me with tears in her eyes.

  I push past Havoc, my eyes are wide and my mouth agape. “Spring?”

  “Wynter,” She sobs my name before clasping her hands over her mouth. I watch her for a second as she sobs, and I realized she’s been feeling the same way I have. Whatever Havoc told Spring about me, it didn’t seem real until she saw me standing here.

  There’s no denying that she’s Spring, my heart tells me it’s true. I reach out my hand to my sister, and she takes it in her own. I pull her into my arms, and we hold each other as we sob. Twelve years of wondering, hoping, praying, and finally, my wish has come true.

  I’m not stupid, and I never believed in fairytales, but when you’re alone in the world, all you want is your family back. I wished for that every night for years after they were gone. Now my sister is here in my arms, and I’m silently thanking God for bringing her back to me. Even if technically it was Jethro and his kidnapping ass that brought Spring here.

  If what Havoc said is true, my Mom is still alive and out there somewhere. My beautiful Mommy is still alive, and all I want is to see her and have her hold me the way she did when I was a little girl.

  My sister pulls away from me and cups my cheek with her hand. I laugh and wipe a tear from her eye. “I can’t believe you’re really in front of me. Uncle Julian said you were alive, but I found it hard to believe. God, I’ve missed you, Wynter.”

  “I’ve missed you too. I don’t understand how you’re here. John told me that he’d killed you. He said that he’d buried you somewhere no one would find you.”

  Spring nods her head in understanding. “He told Mom and me the same about you. The day he shot us,” She physically shudders, and I feel her pain in my heart. “He said that he’d killed you, then he turned his gun on me.”

  “How did I not know you were alive, Spring? Nothing makes sense.”

  My sister takes my hand in hers. “It doesn’t to me either, Wynter. We’ve spent twelve years searching for your resting place, only to find out you’re alive. Obviously, there was a communication breakdown somewhere. We’ve been parted for far too long, and we will find the answers soon,” She touches my face again and smiles. “But for right now, let’s not wonder why and just be happy that we’re together again.”

  She’s right; there’s no point asking why. The answers will come eventually, and whoever did this will be held accountable. I can leave those questions for now, but there is something I need to know. “Is Mom really alive?”

  Springs nods, another tear falling from her eye. I gulp back a sob. “If whoever took my phone,” I watch Spring look from Eagle to Jethro, to Austin. “Gives it back; I can prove it to you.”

  I watch Havoc nod at Austin, who then takes Spring’s cell phone from his pocket and hands it to her. She snatches it with a roll of her eyes, and I have to stifle a laugh. Spring has always been strong-minded, even when we were kids. John loved Spring and allowed her to speak her mind to a degree. Age hasn’t changed that, though I feel it made her stronger, more determined.

  She taps away at something on the screen, and then she turns it so that I can see. I swallow hard and blink, trying to force the tear not to fall. The picture of the woman staring back at me is an older version of Spring and me. My beautiful mother, smiling for the camera. She looks just as I remember her, and my heart aches for the time we’ve lost.

  I touch my fingertip to the screen and let go of a sob. “She’s really alive,” I mumble to myself.

  “She’s really alive,” Spring parrots back. “But she was never the same after losing you.” I look at my sister as she speaks. “It took many years of therapy for Julianne to move on from what John did to her. I’m not sure either of us would have survived without her parents and brothers.”

  My heart beats faster. “She found them,” It wasn’t a question, more a statement.

  “They found us. When I woke up in the hospital, they were by Mom’s side. They’re amazing, Wynter. They took us home and loved us endlessly. I’ll tell you everything soon enough, but I want you to know that we never forgot you. Not a day has gone by where we haven’t thought of you.”

  I nod,
and more tears fall. I feel so overwhelmed that I don’t know what to do. Everything feels so surreal right now. I know Spring is right in front of me, but somehow, it doesn’t feel real.

  “Mom got married,” I blink and smile. “He’s a wonderful man, Wynter. They knew each other from their school days. It was years after Mom returned home before they went on a date. Mom never liked going anywhere alone, and she found it hard to trust.”

  I can understand that because I still find it hard to trust anyone. Mom was kidnapped as a child and held captive for years. Though Spring and I were prisoners, we didn’t suffer anywhere near as much as Julianne did.

  “Through all of Mom’s struggles, and there were a lot, Neil never left her side. He showed her that she could trust him, and Neil showed Mom all the joys in life. Mom sat me down one day and asked me what I thought of Neil.”

  My sister smiles dreamily, and I can’t help smiling too. “I told Mom how much I loved Neil, and I did because he’d been there for me from the moment he met me. He’s kind and compassionate, understanding, patient, and caring. All the things a man should be.”

  Neil sounds wonderful, and I’m so glad my mother has someone like that in her life.

  “They were married eight years ago, and it was the best day of all of our lives. I’d never seen Mom smile the way she did that day. That day, not only did Mom take Neil’s name, but I also did. I did because he became my father. I’ve called him; Dad ever since.”

  I swallow the happy sob. “I’m so glad that Mom’s happy, Spring. She deserves it more than anyone else.”

  Spring laughs and takes her phone and shows me another picture. I stare down at my mother and whom I’m assuming is Neil. He’s handsome, blue eyes, chiseled jaw. My Mom picked a handsome man, but she’s just as beautiful. They make a cute couple.

  Spring shows me another picture, a picture of a little boy. He’s smiling wide, blue eyes sparkling. He has light brown hair, falling in choppy waves around his ears, and I can’t help laughing at how cute he is. “This is Brody,” Spring tells me. “He’s our baby brother.”

  My head shoots up, eyes wide with shock. I didn’t expect that. I thought the little boy was Spring’s, not my mother’s. “Brother?”

  “Yes,” Spring nods. “He’s five, and he’s amazing, Wynter. He knows all about you because Mom, Dad, and I have told him about you. He loves you and prays for you every night.”

  “Oh,” I giggle-sob. “I can’t wait to meet him.” I have a little brother! My head is spinning, trying to take all this new information in. My mother is married to a wonderful man, and I have a brother. “What about you?” I ask. I know she’s married. I saw the wedding ring.

  “Well,” Spring smiles. “I’ve been married to James for three years, and we have an eighteen-month-old son called Matthew. I’m supposed to be putting him to bed right now,” Spring throws daggers at Jethro, and I have to stifle a laugh. “My husband has called me over fifty times.”

  “He must be wondering where you are.”

  Spring nods. “He knows everything about my past, and he must be going out of his mind with worry. I best call him.”

  I nod my head and watch my sister walk across the room. I listen to her one-sided conversation, and I realize how scared James must have been from how Spring is trying to reassure him that she’s okay.

  I smile at Havoc when he wraps his arm around my waist. “Everything’s gonna be okay, Wynter.”

  I nod my head. “I know. It’s just a lot to take in, Havoc. This morning, I thought my mother and sister were dead. Now I have both of them back, along with a brother, step-father, brother-in-law, grandparents, uncles, and God only knows how many others.”

  Havoc kisses my head. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but I’m here for you, baby.”

  I wrap myself in Havoc’s arms, laying my head on his shoulder, I close my eyes. I’m overwhelmed, but I am beyond happy. Maybe everything will be perfect now, but somehow, I don’t think it will be.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Havoc

  “I’m scared, Havoc, and I don’t know why.”

  I run my fingertips up and down Wynter’s bare arm. It’s been a long day, and we’re finally in bed. “Today was a lot for you to take in, Wynter. Twelve years is a long time to grieve someone, let alone two people. Then to find out they were alive all this time? I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling right now.”

  “Confused, mainly.” She sighs.

  Wynter didn’t get to spend nearly enough time with her sister tonight. She wanted to, of course, but Spring’s husband was seconds away from sending out a search party.

  Spring promised to call tomorrow after she’d spoken with her mother. Now Wynter is lying in my arms, both scared and nervous about seeing her mother again.

  “I’d be surprised if you weren’t confused, Wynter. I’m confused, so I know you much be.”

  Wynter wraps her arm tighter around my waist and snuggles into me. I hear her sniff while trying not to. I take her chin between my thumb and forefinger, lifting her head so that I can look at her. I stroke my thumb over her cheek, wiping away a tear.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Sweetheart, you have nothing to be sorry for. I know all of this has been overwhelming, and I know you’re thinking about all the time you’ve lost. Aren’t you?” Wynter nods her head. “There are so many unanswered questions swimming through your mind, so many things that don’t make sense. Baby, we will get to the bottom of it.”

  She holds my hand against her cheek with her eyes closed, and she nods her head. More tears fall from her eyes.

  “Don’t keep it inside, Wynter. It’s okay to cry.” She opens her eyes and looks at me. “You don’t need to hide your pain from me, Wynter. I’m your husband, and I’m here for you. Let it out, beautiful.”

  Wynter is strong and brave, but keeping that kind of pain inside will only destroy her in the end.

  “Havoc,” She sobs my name, and I hold her close to me while she sobs her heart out.

  My heart breaks for the pain Wynter is in right now, but I know it won’t last. Wynter will purge her soul tonight, and tomorrow, she’ll look forward to the future.

  Wynter sobs for so long that I’m worried she’ll become dehydrated. However, Wynter shakes her head when I offer her the glass of water from the dresser next to me.

  A short while later, the sobs subside, and Wynter falls asleep. It’s a good hour before I follow her, however. There was too much on my mind and no way of shutting down.

  * * *

  I didn’t sleep much last night. Wynter woke during the night, thanks to a nightmare about her mother and sister dying. I managed to soothe her back to sleep, but then I woke up again two hours later. That was a little after 4: AM. I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I decided to get up and shower. After that, I sat thinking about things, trying to put the puzzle pieces together. I hoped I could make some sense out of this mess, but I couldn’t.

  It was way too early to call my brother when I did, but Ghost answered on the fourth ring. I’d woken him from his sleep, and he was pissed for a second there. ‘Why the fuck are you calling me at 6: AM, Havoc?’ He snapped. ‘Jesus Christ, it’s still the middle of the night!’

  I rolled my eyes at his over-exaggeration. ‘I didn’t mean to wake you,’

  ‘What’s wrong?’ There was concern in his tone as I heard him sit up.

  ‘You know I’d never ask anyone for anything, Ghost, but you’re my brother, and I need you.’

  I sensed Ghost raise his eyebrows in shock. I never ask anybody for anything because I don’t have a reason to. However, at that moment, I needed my brother to tell me what to do. I need guidance in order to help my wife through this.

  Ghost arrived twenty minutes later, and now we’re sitting at my dining table, drinking coffee. I’ve just explained everything that’s been going on and brought Ghost up to speed.

  “First off, Jethro went about things all wrong,” Ghost doesn’t need to tel
l me that. “But he did it for you.”

  I nod my head. “I know that.”

  “Now that he knows the truth, Jethro will apologize to Wynter. I can’t even begin to imagine what Wynter is feeling right now, Havoc. That poor girl must be all sorts of confused.”

  “She is, and I imagine Spring is too. Christ knows how their mother will feel when she finds out.”

  That poor woman has lives twenty-seven years of hell in one way or another. Having Wynter back will ease some of that pain, however. Together, Julianne, Wynter, and Spring will come through this. I know they will.

  What I need to do is find out why they’ve been apart all these years.

  “Wynter and her family will be just fine, Havoc. They’ll just need a little time.”

  I nod my head again. “I know.” I finish off my coffee and place the cup on the table. “I need to find out what happened, Ghost. What the hell happened and who kept them apart all these years.”

  “Havoc, there’s a chance you may never find the answers you seek.”

  I breathe deeply through my nose with my eyes closed. Ghost is right, of course, there’s a chance we’ll never find out the truth. That won’t stop me trying to find it, in any case.

  “I have to try, Ghost. Wynter deserves to know why she ended up in a care home while believing her mom and sister to be dead. They deserve the same.”

  Ghost nods his head with a smile on his face. We talk about where to start in the search for answers. Ghost suggests that we start with the cops. I need to speak with whichever detective was in charge of the case. Maybe that’s where I’ll find what I need.

  “Give me a couple days, and I’ll have a name for you.”

  “You mean, Trace will?” We both laugh.

  Trace is good at his job. The man can find out anything if he puts his mind to it. If it’s traceable, then Trace will find it.

  “I could drop it,” I rub the back of my neck with my hand. “But I think my wife deserves to know why she was tossed aside while her mother and sister lived happily ever after.”