Chapter 86 Havoc
Havoc
Idon’t move.
Not much.
Not physically.
But everything inside me?
Locked.
Loaded.
Ready.
The CIA agents spread out across the Tavern like they belong here.
Like they’ve already decided how this ends.
They haven’t.
Not even close.
Because as long as I’m standing—
No one touches them.
Not Aspen.
Not the kid.
Not the old man who can barely remember where he is.
My gaze tracks every movement.
Every shift of a hand.
Every glance exchanged.
I don’t trust any of it.
“Perimeter’s holding,” Briggs mutters quietly at my side.
“Let’s keep it that way,” I reply.
He nods.
Doesn’t question it.
Because he knows.
We all know.
This isn’t just about the men we took down tonight anymore.
This is bigger.
Messier.
And a hell of a lot more dangerous.
Behind me, I hear Aspen moving.
Soft.
Careful.
I turn slightly.
Just enough to see.
She’s kneeling beside her grandfather again, adjusting the blanket someone draped over his legs.
Dylan is next to her now. Buddy hasn’t left his side. Stopping every now and then to growl. I don’t blame him I’m doing the same thing.
Dylan is wide awake.
Watching everything.
Too aware for a kid his age.
Too quiet.
My jaw tightens.
Because this is exactly what I didn’t want.
This family, in the middle of something like this.
But here we are.
And now?
Now I don’t let anything else happen to them.
Not a damn thing.
One of the agents starts moving in their direction.
Wrong move.
I step into his path before he gets within ten feet.
Not fast.
Not aggressive.
Just… there.
Blocking.
He stops.
Looks at me.
Annoyance flickering across his face.
“I need to speak with them,” he says.
“No,” I reply.
Flat.
Immediate.
His jaw tightens.
“This is an active investigation—”
“I don’t care.”
That lands.
Hard.
The room shifts.
Again.
The lead agent looks over.
Watching.
Measuring.
Always measuring.
“You’re interfering,” the agent in front of me says.
I tilt my head slightly.
“Try me.”
His lips press into a thin line.
“Step aside.”
I don’t.
Not even a fraction.
“Not happening.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Tight.
Then—
The lead agent steps forward.
I’m not even a little surprised.
He’s the one who thinks he can control this.
“Havoc,” he says.
I don’t ask how he knows my name.
That tells me enough.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
“And you’re getting too close,” I reply.
His gaze flicks past me.
To Aspen.
To Dylan.
To their grandfather.
Then back to me.
“They’re involved,” he says.
“They’re under my protection,” I answer.
That’s it.
That’s the line.
Clear.
Unbreakable.
His expression shifts slightly.
Interest again.
Like he’s trying to figure out just how far I’m willing to go.
He doesn’t have to wonder.
All the way.
“Protection doesn’t override federal authority,” he says.
I step closer.
Now we’re within striking distance.
Not touching.
But close enough.
“It does tonight.”
The room goes still.
Even the agents feel it now.
That edge.
That line.
That don’t push me.
Behind me, I hear Aspen stand.
Feel her presence at my back.
Close.
Trusting.
Choosing me.
Again.
Always.
“Why are you really here?” she asks.
Her voice is steady.
Stronger than before.
Good.
The agent’s gaze shifts to her.
Then back to me.
Like he knows better than to ignore her—but also knows I’m the one he has to get through.
Smart man.
But not smart enough.
“We’re here to contain a situation that’s already spiraling,” he says.
“Then start talking,” I reply.
A pause.
Then—
“You killed one of our assets tonight.”
There it is again.
That word.
Asset.
Like it means something.
Like it excuses everything.
“Funny,” I say. “He was pointing a gun at people I care about.”
The agent doesn’t flinch.
“He wasn’t your enemy.”
Rage curls low in my chest.
“Then he should’ve picked a better way to show it.”
A beat.
Then—
“He was undercover,” the agent says.
Silence.
Sharp.
Cutting.
Briggs mutters something under his breath.
Aspen goes still behind me.
“Undercover where?” I ask.
The agent’s eyes lock onto mine.
“Inside the network you’re trying to dismantle.”
That lands.
Because it changes things.
But not enough.
Not even close.
“Then your operation is compromised,” I say.
His jaw tightens.
“We’re aware.”
“Are you?” I push. “Because it looks like your people are the ones targeting civilians.”
His gaze hardens.
“Careful.”
“No,” I say. “You be careful.”
A beat.
Then—
“You think we’re the problem,” he says.
“I think you’re not telling us everything,” I reply.
That earns me a slow nod.
“Of course we’re not,” he says. “Why the hell would we tell you anything?”
At least he’s honest about that.
That almost makes it worse.
Behind me, I feel Aspen shift closer.
Her voice lowers.
“Havoc…”
I glance back slightly.
Her eyes meet mine.
There’s fear there.
But also trust.
And something else.
Something deeper.
“We can’t do this alone,” she says quietly.
That hits.
Because she’s not wrong.
Because whatever this is—
It’s bigger than us.
But that doesn’t mean I hand her over.
Doesn’t mean I trust them.
Doesn’t mean I step aside.
I look back at the agent.
“Then you work with us,” I say.
His brow lifts slightly.
“That’s not how this works.”
“It is now.”
Silence.
Again.
Always silence before something breaks.
The agent studies me.
Long.
Hard.
Then—
“You don’t follow orders well, do you?” he asks.
I almost smile.
“No.”
Another beat.
Then—
“Fine,” he says.
Again.
Too easy.
Too smooth.
“We work together.”
I don’t relax.
Not even a little.
“On my terms,” he adds.
I shake my head once.
“No,” I say. “On equal terms.”
His eyes narrow.
This time, it’s real.
This time, I pushed back just enough to matter.
Good.
Because I’m not backing down.
Not for him.
Not for anyone.
Not when it comes to them.
I glance back at Aspen.
At Dylan.
At grandpa.
Then back to the man in front of me.
“This isn’t just an operation,” I say quietly.
“It is to us,” he replies.
“Not to me.”
And that?
That’s the difference.
That’s the line he doesn’t understand.
That’s the line I’ll kill to protect.
Because to him—
They’re part of the mission.
To me—
They’re everything.
And I don’t lose everything.
Not now. Not ever.