Havoc Read online

  “Hey babe,” he steps onto the running board and leans in my rolled-down window, giving me a chaste kiss. “Y’all got here just in time. Saved a spot for you.”

  His freckles are brighter than normal, thanks to the sun he’s been in for most of the afternoon. My gaze follows where he’s pointing, I look back at him, disbelief on my face. “I can’t park this truck there, you know I can barely park it in a fucking field – in between two equally big trucks – you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

  The smile widens. “You want me to do it for you?”

  Putting it in park, I motion for him to jump down so I can open the door. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I turn so that my legs swing over the edge. Holden, being who he is, takes advantage and steps in between them, taking a moment to cup my neck in his hands pulling me so our lips touch. Compared to the rest of the kisses we’ve shared, this one is on the chaste side. Tapping my thigh, he grabs me around the waist, and sets me down on the ground. I watch as he hitches himself up into the driver’s seat and shuts the door. He says something to Blaze that makes her laugh, and then pulls into the damn parking spot like a glove. Sometimes he’s so good at everything, it pisses me off.

  Tank come to stand beside me, as we watch our significant others get out of the truck. “We’ll be done about thirty minutes into the show, so we’ll get to come watch the rest of it with y’all.”

  “That’ll be fun for you two,” I give him a grin. “I mean watching us drool over a celebrity.”

  “Y’all were drooling pretty hard when you were looking at us earlier, so I’m not worried.”

  He’s got me there. As Blaze hops down and comes around the tailgate, Tank gets his first good look at her.

  “Coleman,” he calls to her, his voice a bit deeper than it was when he was talking to me. “Those shorts don’t pass inspection,” he sticks his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “I think I can see the curve of your ass.”

  “I don’t remember asking your permission for what to wear, Trumbolt,” she fires back at him.

  Holden slings his arms around my neck, pulling me close as we watch the two of them.

  “Y’all see what I deal with? This smart mouth she’s got on her.”

  She plasters herself against his chest, throwing her arms around his neck. “You love this mouth and everything it does for you and to you.”

  I smirk. “Especially when it tends to break furniture.”

  Tank’s face immediately turns blood red while Holden laughs. “Do I even want to know?”

  “No,” Blaze shakes her head. “You don’t want to know, I’d rather not go through that again.”

  “Don’t deny you didn’t have fun.”

  “Oh I did, until I almost knocked myself out.”

  They continue playfully arguing back and forth, giving me the opportunity to take a minute with my husband. “You gonna be able to come watch the concert with us when you get done here?” I verify, excited to share this experience with him.

  “Yeah, be careful until we get there. You ladies drinking?

  “Since we’re not driving, I know I’ll at least have a drink or two, figure Blaze will do the same,” I lean in, giving him a soft kiss on the neck.

  “I gotta get back to work, but I’ll catch up with you later,” he taps me on the ass, and yells at Tank. They walk with us until we get to their post, and then let us go.

  * * *

  “Why does beer always taste better at concerts?” Blaze takes a large gup of hers.

  “Because it costs like ten bucks a pop?”

  We’re quiet for a few minutes as we wait for the roadies to change the stage over.

  “Thanks for coming with me tonight,” I take another sip of mine, before I sit it in the cup holder, and place my hair in a topknot. It’s hot as hell, and I have no doubt that as soon as the man takes the stage it’ll be even hotter.

  “No way, thanks for coming with me. Whitney will be sorry she missed this,” Blaze does the same with her hair.

  I glance down at myself, wearing a Brantley tank top, and then over at Blaze who wears one that reads Bottoms Up. “Whitney may be a little refined for this,” I giggle.

  “Unless it’s Bama football, she’s a southern lady all the way,” she agrees. “You and Holden seem to be getting along well.”

  “We finally did the deed,” I blurt out, face on fire.

  “Yes girl! How was it?”

  I’ve never had this kind of relationship with anyone, but I find myself wanting to tell her. “So good, I never knew it could be like that.”

  “There’s something to be said for these guys and their stamina,” Blaze gives me a high-five.

  Before we discuss any further, the house lights drop and he takes the stage.

  “We’re so close!” Blaze screams to be heard.

  And she’s right, we’re so close, you can reach out and touch him. Our men take really good care of us. “Let’s take a selfie,” I yell back at her.

  She understands what I’m saying, turns us and positions her phone so that he’s in the picture with us. “I’m tagging Whitney in this, so she knows what the hell she’s missing.”

  I giggle, singing along to the words of the song. We scream and yell, dance, and finish our beers. Four songs in, I feel strong arms wrap around my waist, and I lean back into the chest of my husband. His mouth finds a spot on my neck, kissing and nipping at the tendons. “Thanks for exposing that neck for me,” he growls in my ear.

  “My pleasure,” I turn around in his arms, giving him a hug, before I turn back around.

  I missed him today, and while I’m happy to be at the concert, I’m also happy to be with him. My phone is in my hands, to record my favorite parts and to get the pics I plan to put on my social media later. Holding the phone out, I turn the camera around. Holden and I don’t have many pics together, and I’m not going to waste an opportunity.

  “Smile for me.” He gives me a wide one, showing off the dimples I hardly ever get to see.

  As I look at the picture I’ve captured, I realize this is going to be my favorite one ever.

  “We got any good girls here who like bad boys?” The man on stage asks.

  Blaze and I scream so loud I’m pretty sure we’ve busted out our own eardrums. The crowd participation is insane until he launches into the next song.

  Holden leans into my body, surprising the hell out of me as he sings, clearly and beautifully into my ear. I turn around, my mouth hanging open. “You can sing?”

  The words are spoken louder than I mean for them to and Tank hears me.

  “Wait, you don’t know who you’re related to by marriage now?” He shoots Holden a look.

  “I keep it quiet,” Holden answers. “And we haven’t had a family reunion yet. They’re so busy we have them every two years. I was going to explain before we went,” he looks down at me. “My cousin, is Garrett Thompson.”

  The name rings a bell, but I can’t place it. “Why should I know that name?”

  Blaze looks intrigued as she watches us. “Yeah, who is that?”

  “He’s a rocker married to a country music star. They’re both very popular.”

  Blaze squeals beside me. “Oh my God! It’s Reaper!”

  It’s then that it dawns on me. I’m related to Reaper from Black Friday, oh my God. “I always thought you two looked alike,” I grab hold of his shirt, putting my hands up under the material.

  “We do have some of the same features,” he admits. “But I keep it quiet, mostly for his safety. You’ll definitely get an introduction. I promise.”

  “I can’t wait,” I grab hold of his arms, pulling them around my body. “But if anybody had to ask me who my favorite Thompson is? That’s always gonna be you hot stuff, always you.”

  Using the hands I’ve pulled around my body, he cups my tits for a brief moment while the lights are low. “Those words, Leigh, will get you the orgasm of your life in the next few hours.”

  There’s a smirk on
my face as I lean back. “I’ll hold you to that, hot stuff.”

  And when I get to actually touch the singer on stage? All of it combines into one of the best nights of my life.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  H: Do me a favor, babe. Whatever you hear through the grapevine today, give me a chance to explain when I get home.

  I wish I had been able to tell her what’s going down, what’s going to happen now that I’ve spoken with Brooks and gotten approval from the state. I wish I could have let her in on all of this, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t make her keep a secret, couldn’t let her feel any more guilty than she already does. I promised her I would take care of Jefferson, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. This man will never have a hold over us anymore.

  L: That makes me nervous, Holden. Please don’t do anything stupid.

  H: I’m doing my job, Leigh, just don’t worry. I love you, no matter what you hear, I love you.

  L: Doesn’t make me feel better, but I love you, too. I trust you with everything.

  H: That’s all I ask. I’ll be home as soon as I can.

  “We ready to do this?” Tank asks as the group of us suit up.

  Normally it wouldn’t take all of us to go arrest someone, but you never know with Jefferson Strather. Especially since we’re about to take him into custody. I’m leaving nothing to chance. “I’m ready.”

  The five of us break into three cars. I’m driving on my own because I need to be alone with my thoughts, need to calm myself down so I don’t hurt this guy the minute I see him. As we pull up to Leighton’s childhood home that we’ve visited so many times before, I get a sense of satisfaction. This is something I could do for her that she could never do for herself. Make him pay for the misery he put so many people through.

  As we park and sort everything out, we each climb the steps of the older home. I knock on the door with authority.

  “Jefferson Strather! It’s the police! Open up.”

  I wonder for a few minutes if he’s going to. Or maybe if he’s going to come out with guns firing. That’s been a fear of mine since the warrant came through, but it’s why I wear a vest, and why I have these guys with me to protect me.

  There’s noise inside the house, and I stand tall, ready to do whatever it takes to get this guy off the street and out of my life. He opens the door, surprised to see us all standing there, but he plays it off well.

  “Son-in-law, what can I do for you?”

  That pisses me off. “You can start by shutting the fuck up and coming out here. We have a warrant for your arrest.”

  He opens the door, shock on his face. “What do you mean?”

  I turn him around, slapping cuffs on his wrists, tightening them. “Jefferson Strather, you’re under arrest for the distribution of illegal moonshine with the intent to distribute a deadly product, second degree murder for selling a bad batch of moonshine, and tampering with physical evidence. You have the right to remain silent…”

  It feels good as I shove him in the back of my squad car. He’s yelling to Merle to call his lawyer, but I think I kind of see relief in Merle’s eyes. Maybe he’s sick of the business, too.

  “You think you can fuck me the same way you fuck my daughter?” he screams at me through the window of the car.

  I walk over to it, open the door and lean in. “I told you more than once that I protect what’s mine and I’d rain down hell on you, motherfucker. You gave me enough rope to hang yourself. You should’ve left her alone, you should’ve left this alone when that still blew, and you sure as fuck should have buried that body a lot better than you did.”

  He looks at me with wide eyes. “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t have enough proof yet, besides my gut, but damn my gut has never steered me wrong yet. The crime lab won’t have my results back for three more months, thanks to a motherfucking back log of assholes like you. But Jefferson, I know that body we found in the woods is Leighton’s mother, and I know you’re the son of a bitch who killed her. You bet your ass as soon as we get those fucking dental records back, I’m sticking that charge on you. And then I’ll tell your daughter you killed her mom, but made her think she left her, her whole life. How do you think she’s gonna react to that?”

  “I’d like to see you try,” he snarls at me.

  “You didn’t think I could do this.” I grin at him.

  “Ain’t like it’ll ever stick since you got information from your wife,” he spits the words out.

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong, Jefferson. Both your kids hate your guts. The reason Brooks is behind bars is because you were a shitty example for a parent and he actually wants to make something of himself. You made this easy because you’re such a piece of shit. This is a good arrest, and I think the boys in the pen will definitely have something to say to you. Especially when it all comes out about Leighton’s mom. They don’t take well to men who kill women.”

  He’s finally speechless as I slam the door in his face. Fuck that felt good.

  “I’ll drive him over.” Ace grabs my keys from my hands.

  “Thanks, I’d rather not. I’m gonna go see Leigh, let her know what’s happened.”

  As I watch my guys leave, I turn my attention to the most important person in my life. A life we can now live without the fear of retribution coming back at us. There will always be people making moonshine, there will always be people who tiptoe around the law, but I won’t have to worry about Leighton anymore.

  Leighton

  I’m nervous as I wait for Holden. He asked me to let him explain what was going on, if I heard what happened. Holy hell did I hear what happened. My dad’s arrest was the talk of the town this afternoon. Everyone wanted to know if I knew it was coming, did I have a hand in it? I had to admit to all of them I had no idea it was happening.

  “Are you mad?” he asks as he walks into the house.

  I didn’t even hear his truck, which tells me just how out of it I was. “No.” I shake my head. “I always knew he’d slip up. It was only a matter of time. Will I have to testify since I’m the one who identified the bottles?”

  “No.” He sits down next to me, pushing the palm of his hand against my jaw. “Your brother will be the one testifying because he also identified them. He’s doing this to get a lesser sentence and to save you.”

  My heart drops when I hear Brooks is doing this. “How?”

  “I went to visit him, explained to him I could help get the sentence reduced, and told him I wanted you as far away from this as you could be. We talked. He understood, and he agreed. Your brother isn’t all bad. He cares about you.”

  Tears spring to my eyes as I listen to what he’s said. As I think about the reasons we’ve been together, I feel a dropping of my stomach. “What about us?” I ask, because even though we’ve shared words of love, I’ve known my whole life to never count on anything as fact.

  “What do you mean what about us?” he questions, pulling me so that I’m sitting in his lap.

  I hold up my hand, showing him my wedding ring. “You did this to protect me.”

  “I did that to have a claim on you with hopes you’d fall madly in love with me while we were pretending. I thought you knew that.” He kisses my jaw softly, his whiskers leaving behind a slight mark I can feel.

  “I do, I just needed to hear you say it again.”

  I feel him smile against me. “I’ll say it every day as long as you say it back.”

  “I love you, Holden, and I don’t think I can ever imagine my life without you. Thank you for giving me everything. A family, a sense of security, love, and a home I never thought I’d have.”

  He enfolds his arms around me, holding me tight. “Thank you for giving me hope I’d lost, Leigh. Without you, I’d just be a guy going through the motions. You make me hope for a future, and I’m excited to be sharing it with you.”

  “I have a secret,” I whisper, putting my forehead to his. “I’m not scared anymore.” I run my h
and over his buzz cut.

  He pulls back and smiles at me, the dimples showing, the eyes shining. “I’m not, either.”

  And in a relationship that started based on secrets, that’s the best one we’ve ever shared.

  EPILOGUE

  Havoc

  “You ready to go, babe?” I watch as she grabs her purse, before waving a goodbye to Ernie.

  “Yeah, I’m ready to spend the week, just with you,” she gives me a gorgeous smile, “then watch our friends get married.”

  We never really got a honeymoon. I try to think back now to why, but I know a part of me worried that trying to make it look too official would somehow jinx us. Today, a year and a half later, I’m no longer worried about that. We’re solid, and I know we’re solid. Doesn’t mean there isn’t a part of me that worries her grandfather won’t manage to reignite the family business on his own, but knowing that Jefferson is behind bars lets me sleep at night.

  For the first time since we got married, we’re planning, making a future a huge possibility. I want the whole nine yards with her – kids, growing old, grandkids later on down the road. Our lives are open, and there is no damn expiration date on anything.

  “We’ll see you down there?” I yell to Ace, watching as he stands next to Violet.

  No one is at all sure what’s going on with them, but I know from where he calls in his position every night, he sits outside her home when he doesn’t have anything else going on. He watches over her and I know he helps her sleep at night knowing he’s there.

  “Yup, some of us weren’t able to get the whole fuckin’ week before the wedding off to enjoy the beaches.”

  I take his ribbing in stride. “I had vacation time, and we never got a honeymoon. A week at Gulf Shores before the long-awaited wedding of Whitney and Renegade is exactly what I need.”

  He gives me a shake of his head. “Handing over your man card.”

  “She controls it,” I jerk my thumb back at Leighton, “and I have no problem with that. So don’t expect me to answer any phone calls the minute I walk out of that door.” I point to the front door of The Café. “It’s officially vacation, as soon as these feet step over that threshold.” I point down to the feet encased in flip flops.