Chapter 2
Bane
We exit into the dark night, which has a bite in the air with the approaching fall.
Army and Pix hurry toward us, coming from the shop where we work on our bikes.
Army is tall and lean like a wildcat, and Pix is short and tiny like an actual pixie.
Digits is on my cell’s speakerphone, manning all the surveillance equipment from his room.
“There’s no sign of anyone else in the vicinity outside the gates,” Digits reports. “And there’s no other heat signature in her vehicle. It looks like it’s just her.”
We walk toward the front gate and come up from the side so we’re not seen.
“None of you have heard from Slade recently?” Army asks Breaker, Tyr, and Sten, who all shake their heads.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Pix murmurs.
I agree. Especially as I look at the picture of Slade that Digits had sent. The young woman physically resembles the fourteen-year-old girl that Tyla took with her. However, she couldn’t be more starkly different.
There’s no light, or laughter, or mischievous glint in those green eyes. They’re…flat. Expressionless.
Whatever Slade’s reason for suddenly showing up, my gut tells me this isn’t some joyful homecoming.
By nature, I’m the Havoc Guardians’ defender—it’s who I am. It’s the meaning behind my name. And I know that something isn’t right.
“Let me go out and talk to her,” Army suggests. “Slade was young when I left to enlist in the military and probably won’t remember me. I might be able to get her to talk without the sibling factor complicating things.”
“She said she was here to see us,” Breaker protests.
“Army won’t harm her,” Ash reassures, and I can hear that parental protectiveness he’s felt over Slade. “It could give us valuable insight—let us read her body language, tone, and reactions.”
Tyr shoves his hand through his blonde hair. “Fine. Whatever. Let’s just get this done.”
As we get closer to the gate, we can hear the Prospects trying to chat Slade up. She’s silent, not engaging with them. We position ourselves behind the guard booth, keeping out of sight while having a clear line of sight of her between the buildings.
I study Slade, and I’m struck again by how there seems to be nothing left of the joyful, mischievous young girl we last saw six years ago. Back then, Slade was quick to laugh; you could read her like an open book and knew she was always plotting some mischief.
But right now, there’s nothing of that girl. Her face isn’t cold or hard. It’s just…
Empty.
Empty of any expression. Stoic and flat, but magnify that by a hundred.
My hand grips the metal tubing running along the back of the guard booth. What happened to you, Slade?
Even the gang attack hadn’t affected her this way. She was as resilient as ever, even after witnessing Ash slit her attacker’s throat and baptizing her in the resulting bloodbath.
Army steps out so Slade can see him, and the Prospects shut their mouths and stand at attention. He looks relaxed, but being a Marine and with his years of military training, he can draw his weapon faster than most people can blink.
“Slade Kowal.”
She looks at Army with no flicker of recognition. “I know it’s been a few years, but I’m pretty sure you’re not one of my brothers.” It’s like there’s no emotion that lives within her to put into her words or expression.
“Nah,” Army drawls lazily as the wind blows the top of his ebony hair. “I’m not Breaker, Tyr, or Sten.”
“No shit,” she deadpans. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
“I’m a bit insulted you don’t remember me.” She doesn’t react, and he continues, “Army.”
She tilts her head, her eyes skating over his features, though she doesn’t smile. “I see the army didn’t kill you.”
“I opted for the Marines instead. But no.” He spreads his arms wide. “Not dead.”
“Where are my brothers?” she asks flatly, clearly moving on.
Army appraises her, not saying anything further and letting the silence drag on. Most people might get flustered—hell, even the two Prospects are shifting uncomfortably because they know you never want Army’s intense stare aimed at you for too long. However, Slade is reactionless.
The tense silence stretches on until Slade breaks it. “Do I have to pass a test in order to speak to my brothers?” When Army stays silent, she continues, “Let them come to the gates; I’m not asking to come into the compound.”
“Why don’t you want to come in?” he asks, surprised. “You grew up here.”
“I was in the area and just came to say hi. I’m not entering or staying.”
“So, you ghosted everyone, then just pop in to say hi to the brothers you’ve ignored for the last four years?”
Slade still shows no emotion. “I see my history precedes me. But yeah, that’s what I’m doing.”
“What happened to you?”
She doesn’t answer his question. “Can I speak to my brothers or not?”
“You think you deserve that right after the hell you put them through these past years?”
“You know nothing about my life,” she says flatly.
“Enough of this shit,” Tyr hisses. He’s always been the more hot-headed of the brothers. “Let us speak to her.”
I exchange a look with Ash. Slade isn’t revealing anything to Army, and we could potentially stand out here all night. Her brothers might get her to react and spill why she’s here.
Ash nods, and Breaker leads the way from out behind the guard booth. He slaps his hand on the gate control to open the gates. Slade watches her brothers as they exit the compound.
When she was younger, her love for the brothers she hero-worshipped was always evident. Now, it’s like she’s looking at strangers. Her face remains blank and unemotional as she studies them.
“Where the fuck have you been, Slade?” Tyr accuses as he stomps to her.
“Calm down, Tyr,” Breaker snaps. When he goes to move closer to Slade, she holds up her hands to stop him.
“I didn’t come here for a family reunion.”
“A family reunion?” Tyr exclaims. “You think we’re happy to see you, Slade? Why don’t you start by explaining why you abandoned Mom? Did you even know she overdosed shortly after you left? You could’ve stopped it, but you just selfishly thought of yourself.”
I stiffen, and Pix snarls, “He did not just say that.”
“That’s a cunt thing to say,” Digits agrees over the speakerphone.
But Slade doesn’t react. There’s no change in her, still no emotion as she levels his brothers with a steady gaze.
“You want to talk about Mom?” she asks. “Okay, then. So where were you guys?” She pauses to look at each of them.
“Oh, that’s right; you chose to come back here after leaving me in Houston.
You knew Mom was sliding into alcohol and drugs because I told you.
Repeatedly. Yet, every time I called, you dismissed me and the issue. ”
That’s news to me, and from Ash’s glower, he hadn’t known, either.
“What, I was expected to be the parent and caregiver because I have a pussy?” Slade continues, still flat and emotionless.
“While you three returned to your family and continued with your carefree life like always. You left a teenager with an addict parent.” She cocks her head to the side; long-gone is the young girl who had hero-worshipped her brothers.
“Do you know why I left Mom and went MIA?” She doesn’t wait for them to answer.
“Because when her dealer came to collect what she owed him, she offered me to him because—no fucking surprise—she didn’t have a dime and wanted more. ”
My natural tendency is to defend and protect, and protectiveness swells within me.
“You’re lying.” Pleading denial is thick in Sten's words.
Her flat green eyes sear into him. “Why would I lie?” Breaker goes to her, ignoring her hand to ward him off, and she shoves him away. “Hugs won’t change shit.”
She should be erupting with anger, hurt, and betrayal based on her account of what happened, but she’s not.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Tyr demands.
“Sorry, I was running for my life, avoiding a drug dealer whoring me out. And besides, every time I tried to tell any of you about how bad it was getting with Mom, none of you wanted to hear it.” She sighs. “Look, I didn’t come here for an apology or a group hug.”
“Then why did you come back, Slade?” Ash asks, stepping into her line of sight.
Recognition registers on her face, and something charged passes between them—apparently, that father-figure bond hasn’t died.
Pix and I go out to stand beside Ash and Army. Slade’s eyes flick over us, like she’s assessing for threats, before she rubs her face as if she’s weary. The lights of the gate illuminate her, and I study her hand. She wears a simple gold band on her ring finger.
It feels like a mule kicked me in the gut, but I don’t understand why.
“I’m passing through, Ash,” she answers Ash's question.
“Where to?” I ask.
“A destination not here,” she bites at me.
I’m taken aback. Not by what she said, or that she had the balls to snap at me, but because, for the first time tonight, I saw something flicker in her. A flash of anger. Real emotion. But then it vanished quickly.
“You need to stay, Slade,” Breaker insists.
“I’m just passing through to see you before… Before I move on.”
Ash and I exchange a glance, both knowing that the last part was a cop-out and isn’t what she was going to say before she caught herself.
“I have money. A ride.” She points to the cage—AKA the car—behind her. “I don’t need your hospitality.”
Ash jerks his chin at the Prospects, but his eyes stay on her. “You’re family, Slade. You’re staying.”
The Prospects move to her vehicle, and she stiffens. “Get the fuck away from my car.”
Her brothers surround her, pulling her inside the gates that close once her car is inside.
“Welcome home, Slade,” Ash says firmly.
Her eyes clash with mine as the gate locks behind us, echoing in the night.