Page 24 of Havoc
“And me!” Austin cheers, running past with Bea on his heels. “I won him over.”
“Yes, you did!” Tempe smiles.
Warmth blooms on her cheeks as she watches her younger brother run around. Her hand finds her belly as she starts to absentmindedly rub it. It’s confusing seeing the president’s old lady looking so peaceful. Sohappy. She’s building a family with a man who has a club at his disposal. And nothing about the light in her eyes seems forced or fake.
I’m still thinking that over as the girls fall into a conversation about baby clothes. I tune them out as I finish my coffee, staring into the distance and taking inthe buildings scattered throughout the compound. It’s mostly open desert, but I count at least five outbuildings.
A slight breeze whips across the open space, so I wrap my sweater tighter. Summer in Vegas is unbearable, but winter makes it worth it.
“What do you think, Aimee? Do you want to join us?” Reagan’s question snaps my attention back to the girls.
“Sorry, what was the question?”
“We’re going to head to the gym in a few minutes. It’s that building.” Reagan points to the one closest to us that looks like a barn. “There’s an air conditioner, but it’s also not that bad this time of year. Want to join us?”
“Is there a punching bag?”
Tempe grins. “Of course there is.”
I nod, and Reagan’s smile widens. She’s been asking me to join them for a workout for weeks now. I refused since I didn’t want to come here. But now that I am, I might as well punch something and let off a little steam.
“Perfect, we’ll meet back here in twenty minutes?” Reagan asks, and Luna and Tempe both nod.
“Come on, Austin. Let’s change, and then we’ll come back so you can run around the gym,” Tempe calls out to him.
Apparently, they take the kids there too. It makes me wonder if there is anywhere the club doesn’t open up to their families.
Tempe and Reagan wrangle the kids out the front of the clubhouse, while Luna takes the coffee mugs to the kitchen. I’m the last one to head inside after I get distracted by the view again.
When I finally walk into the clubhouse to change my clothes, church is still going, but there are members and patch bunnies milling around. Two guys play darts, while a few women sit on the couch.
I’m halfway through the room when Levi’s gaze catches mine through the window, and I pause like he’s snared me in place.
When he was younger, his stare felt lighter. His face calmer. I don’t know this expression, and yet, the longer I stare, it makes complete sense. He always was the only person I could understand better than myself.
“Easy on the eyes, right?” Someone stops beside me, and I turn to see a beautiful blonde leaning against the bar.
Her eyelashes are thick and long, but they don’t appear fake. She’s just naturally stunning.
My eyebrows pinch at her question.
“Havoc.” She purses her bright-red lips. “He’s something to look at, right?”
“He is.” It’s not a lie.
Regardless of my feelings for Levi, past or present, he’s always been obnoxiously good-looking. Not just tall, but sturdy. Broad shoulders and eyes that stop my heart when they meet mine.
When we were younger, I got used to girls looking at him and tried not to let it bother me. We were just friends. I had no right to be jealous. Levi has always drawn lots of attention from the opposite sex, and with the opportunities of club life, I imagine that hasn’t changed much.
The blonde hums, leaning closer. “My man sure is something.”
Her man?
Levi never mentioned a girlfriend, but I also never gave him the chance.
I try to swallow, but my throat turns to sand.
“Don’t worry, it’s okay if you look. I don’t get jealous.” The blonde continues, and she could have fooled me with how jealous she sounds. “I’m Reina, by the way. Havoc’s girl, obviously.”
