Midnight (The Devil’s House MC: West Virginia #8)

Chapter Fourteen

I NEEDED A moment to breathe, to process everything swirling in my head. The last thing I intended was to complicate things further by having sex with Haddie. But damn, I couldn’t stop myself. Being with her was everything I remembered and more. That brought back the irrational anger I had toward her for walking away from me. If she felt the same things I did, it wouldn’t have been possible to just up and leave without a word.

To marry some other guy!

Jesus, I was so messed up when it came to Haddie, running in circles knowing the way out but refusing to take it. One minute I was all in to make things right, and the next I changed my mind, doing stupid shit like leaving her in the middle of the night after an incredible round of sex, making it look like I was only using her.

Was it wrong of me to slip away from her room under the cover of darkness?

Unquestionably.

But her presence overpowers me, takes away my control. So, I sent a text to Valley to step in and mounted my bike, racing away from the clubhouse’s familiar confines and from Haddie.

“Again?” Fenix’s voice intruded upon my restless sleep as I sprawled on his leather couch for the umpteenth time. Groggily, I rubbed my eyes and sat up, feeling the fatigue pull at my bones and the discomfort of sleeping on an unyielding surface clawing at me. With a defeated sigh, I slumped back onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“What’s eating you?” Fenix asked from the kitchen, where he busied himself brewing coffee. “Ever since you returned from South Carolina, you’ve been as lost as a hooker in church. Ready to abandon that damned club and join our company?”

“No,” I replied curtly. “Not even close. Have you ever been so into a woman that she’s all you can see... think of... can’t stand to be away from her?”

Fenix paused before joining me in the living area, leaning forward attentively in his chair. “No, never,” he admitted. “But it appears you have.”

“I met Haddie in South Carolina,” I began, unsure of where this confession was leading. “From our very first encounter, I knew she was special. There’s something about her that draws me in and chains me to her, and when we... well... it’s so fucking good, not like anything I’ve ever experienced, and damn addicting.”

Fenix chuckled at my admission. “So, what’s got your wheels spinning?”

As best as I could, I outlined the situation, careful to steer clear of club secrets. Fenix was trustworthy, but some things were better left unsaid. “I’m trying to move past it, to forget, but it gnaws at me that she chose someone else over us, didn’t even put up a fight.”

Fenix shot back, “Like you’re not fighting for the two of you? You’re better than this, Kaven. It sounds like Haddie was trapped in a life where she had no control, and yet you choose to wallow in jealousy over hypotheticals.”

“I’m resentful of her lack of honesty. Walking away without uttering a word?”

Fenix sighed heavily. “Talk to her. Listen to her and tell her how you feel. If she is everything you claim, are you willing to let her slip away? The way you encountered her in the woods, her sudden reappearance... if that’s not meant to be, I don’t know what is.”

His words made sense, and I was being a fool. Both he and Valley were right; I needed to reconcile with Haddie, which meant confronting our issues instead of running away like I seemed to always be doing. “I need to get back to the clubhouse.”

“Better make it quick before mama catches you or you won’t escape until she’s stuffed you full,” Fenix teased as I headed for the door, acknowledging his accurate prediction with a knowing smile. I jumped onto my bike, the engine’s roar echoing the tumultuous emotions inside me. It was time to face Haddie, to hear her out, and finally, stop being a hotheaded asshole.

That’s if she’ll even talk to me after sneaking out like she was a random one night fuck.

VALLEY’S UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE at my door this morning, instead of Kaven, didn’t surprise me. Part of me was relieved because I wasn’t sure how to face Kaven or what his arrival would mean. I was still grappling with my own feelings, let alone trying to deal with him. His avoidance showed he still wasn’t ready to confront our issues, and time was running out before I would be forced to reveal the secret I held.

Was I upset he left me in the middle of the night like a bad afterthought? Yes, but it was my fault for sleeping with him when things were still unresolved. I still don’t regret it. Sex with Kaven is so worth it, a feeling I don’t think I could ever tire of.

Kick myself the next day, sure, but tire of? Never.

Working with Valley was a welcome change. Unlike the constant tension with Kaven, Valley brought a sense of lightness. As we cleared overgrowth from around the old greenhouse, laughter replaced the usual strain. “You’re making me sweat buckets, Hadleigh, and not in the fun way,” he joked, pretending to collapse against a tree, sweat streaming down his bare chest.

I paused, wiping sweat from my brow, and chuckled at his theatrics. “Consider this a warm-up for your ‘fun activities’,” I teased, pointing at a heavy branch that needed to be moved. “Lift me up.”

“Think you can handle that?” Valley asked as he hoisted me up, bracing my legs on his stomach. “It might be heavier than you think.”

“I’ll be careful,” I assured him, grabbing the branch. With his arms wrapped around my legs to steady me, I wiggled the branch. It snapped suddenly, throwing me off balance and sending Valley tumbling backward. Instinctively, his arms cradled me, ensuring I landed on him and not on the hard ground.

We lay there momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter when we realized we were unharmed, cushioned by the pile of brush we had cleared. As Valley rolled me to his side, our laughter echoed through the clearing.

Suddenly, Kaven’s enraged voice shattered the moment. “You son of a bitch!” he roared, yanking Valley to his feet and delivering a punch to his face before Valley could speak a word.

“Stop!” I screamed, but Kaven ignored me as I scrambled to get up. “It’s not what you think!”

Valley stumbled back from Kaven’s blow, his hand instinctively rising to his cheek where Kaven’s fist had landed. Before either of us could react, Kaven lunged at Valley, tackling him to the ground. They grappled fiercely, fists flying in a blur of motion.

“Stop it, both of you!” I yelled, trying to pull Kaven off Valley, but he was like a man possessed, fueled by anger and hurt.

Valley managed to twist out from under Kaven, scrambling to his feet. “What the fuck!” he shouted, blood trickling from a split lip.

“I warned you!” Kaven snarled, lunging for Valley again, knocking him off his feet, fists flying.

Suddenly, Scotch was there with the man named Harker pulling them apart. “Enough! What the hell’s gotten into you two?” Scotch shouted as Kaven struggled against him.

I stepped between them; arms outstretched. “Enough, Kaven! You got this all wrong!”

Kaven hesitated, his chest heaving, fists clenched at his sides. “You’re defending him?” he seethed, his voice low and dangerous.

“I’m not defending anyone,” I said firmly. “You’re misunderstanding the situation.”

For a tense moment, Kaven glared at me, his jaw clenched. Then, with a frustrated growl, he turned and stalked away, disappearing into the trees.

I turned to Valley, who was wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. “Are you okay?” I asked, my voice soft with concern.

“Yeah, just a scratch,” he said, forcing a smile. “I’ll be fine. But you two need to figure this shit out, Hadleigh. Before things get even more out of hand.”

“What’s this about?” Harked asked, looking between me and Valley.

Scotch looked at me curiously before ordering, “Valley, head back and clean up, and we’ll be along.”

Valley gave me one last look before nodding and heading down the path. Now that it was over, I felt faint, my head spinning. “Are you okay, Hadleigh?” Ava asked, coming beside me. I didn’t even realize she was here. “You look pale.”

“Hadleigh?” Harker asked, concerned, as he and Scotch came to stand by my side.

“I’m fine,” I managed right before I passed out.