4. Havoc #3
“Look, I don’t know you well enough to take your unsolicited advice, Havoc. And even if I did, you don't get to come to my place of work and start telling me what to do.”
My entire body goes rigid.
She sees it. Her expression softens for half a second. Then she seems to remember she’s pissed at me.
“I’m a single mother. I have rent. Groceries. Electric. School supplies. Matteo needs new sneakers again because apparently his feet grow overnight. I do what I have to do.”
Something inside my chest cracks wide open.
Fuck.
I don't know what I’m doing.
I don't know how to do this.
All I know is that seeing her exhausted makes me violent.
Seeing her worried makes me want to fix things.
Seeing another male leaning across that fucking bar toward her makes me want to tear his throat out.
And none of those reactions are normal.
Not even for me.
Especially not for me.
“You shouldn't have to do it alone.”
The words come out before I can stop them.
Silence.
Her eyes search mine. Her voice is quieter when she speaks again.
“But I do.”
Three words.
That’s all.
But I do.
Something about them guts me. I take a step closer.
“So let somebody help.”
“Who?”
Me.
The answer roars through me. Louder the second time around.
Me.
Monster slams into my control. I grit my teeth.
Gabriella watches me.
Waiting.
And fuck me, I almost say it.
Almost tell her.
Almost offer something I have no fucking right to offer.
Then I remember prom night.
Blood.
Fear.
A girl screaming.
Rafe dragging me back.
Monster out of control.
I step away.
Gabriella’s face closes immediately.
Shit.
“Havoc, I don't know what you think is happening here, but you don't know me.”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don't.”
“I know you’re tired.”
“So?”
“I know something’s wrong.”
Her body stiffens.
There. That reaction.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Bullshit.”
Her scent changes.
Just slightly.
But Monster catches it.
So do I.
“You’re hiding something.”
Fear flashes across her face.
Fuck.
I instantly regret making her feel that way.
I never want her afraid. And I really don’t ever want her afraid of me.
I lower my voice.
“I’m not asking what you are.”
Her breath catches.
There it is.
Confirmation.
She’s not human.
Not completely.
“I don't know what you mean,” she whispers.
“Fine. Lie to me. But someday you’ll tell me. I can help, Honey Girl. If you let me, I can help.”
Her eyes search mine.
“Y-you’re wrong.”
I force my hands to stay at my sides.
“You don't want to tell me now, you don't tell me. That's your business.”
“Then why are we out here?”
“Because you're killing yourself working two fucking jobs.”
Her temper comes roaring back.
Thank fuck.
“I’m fine.”
“Gabby—”
“No. You listen to me, Havoc. Matteo is taken care of. My bills are paid. I don't need some furry fucking Fido stomping into my life deciding he knows what's best for me.”
Monster perks up.
She knows.
Yeah.
Apparently, we’re not the only ones keeping our mouths shut.
But that can wait.
“You know what I am.”
She freezes.
“Unspoken agreement, remember?”
Fuck me.
A laugh almost escapes.
Almost.
“You're something else.”
“So are you.”
“No argument there.”
Her mouth twitches.
Just barely.
And that tiny almost-smile hits me harder than it has any fucking right to.
Then she folds her arms beneath her breasts. My eyes drop.
Goddammit.
“Havoc.”
I jerk my gaze back to her face.
“Yeah?”
“My eyes are up here.”
“I know.”
“You sure about that?”
“I’m trying real fucking hard to remember.”
Color blooms across her cheeks.
Monster purrs.
The bastard actually fucking purrs.
Wolf my ass.
“Go home,” she says, but there’s less bite in it now.
“You first.”
“I’m working.”
“Then I'm staying.”
“What?”
“I came for a drink.”
“You already had one.”
“Feel like having two.”
Her eyes narrow.
“You're going to sit there and watch me all night, aren't you?”
“Probably.”
“That’s creepy.”
“I've been called worse.”
“I bet.”
She turns toward the door.
“Gabby.”
She pauses.
I don't know why I say it.
Maybe because Monster is clawing at my ribs.
Maybe because I can still smell how tired she is.
Maybe because staying the fuck away from Gabriella Santos lasted exactly three days and I already know I'm not strong enough to make it four.
“Don't let anybody give you shit in there.”
She looks over her shoulder.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know.”
I mean it. And that seems to surprise her.
Hell, it surprises me.
“But if you decide you don't want to?”
I let Monster show just enough that my eyes burn hot.
“You point them out to me.”
Gabriella stares at me for a long second. Then she shakes her head.
“You're fucking crazy.”
“Been told that too.”
She disappears inside. I stand alone in the alley, staring at the closed door.
Monster settles beneath my skin for the first time in days.
Satisfied.
Because we’re close to her.
Fuck.
This is not good.
Not good at all.
I came to Dick’s Watering Hole to get Gabriella Santos out of my head.
Instead, I follow her back inside, take a stool at the end of her bar, and spend the rest of the night making damn sure nobody gives my pretty little secret-keeping female any trouble.
Stay the fuck away from her?
Yeah. Sure.
Apparently, I’m doing a fantastic job with that.