Chapter 20 #4
“He’s had food delivered when I forget to eat. He’s had men protecting me since everything with Dread.” The words spilled out like I’d opened a floodgate. “I didn’t know about any of it until recently.”
Havoc’s expression remained frustratingly neutral, which somehow made it worse. I’d expected shock, maybe even anger.
“And you’re surprised by this?” he asked finally.
I blinked. “You’re not?”
“Annie, the man kidnapped you from a party because another man touched you. Subtlety isn’t exactly his strong suit.” Havoc leaned back in his chair, studying me. “I suspected you were seeing one another.”
“You did?” I blinked. “How?”
“Let’s just say I’d have to be particularly thick not to see that you had feelings for him. The way you talked about him, even when complaining, there was something there.”
Heat crept up my neck. “You’re not mad? He’s your Nemesis.”
“God, no. If anything, I’m relieved. I was worried you might start warming up to a Hero. I wasn’t sure I could stomach it if you dated one.”
I stared at him, utterly baffled. “But you’re a Hero.”
“Exactly. I know what they’re like. All that restraint, all those rules. The last thing you need is to be with someone else who’s a rule stickler,” Havoc said, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “You’re already wound tight enough for both of you.”
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it. He wasn’t wrong.
“Wait.” I suddenly froze as a memory clicked into place. “Oh god. I just realized something.”
Havoc raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“Your driver, the one who took me to the charity event with Valor a few days ago? I’m pretty sure he’s one of Cipher’s men.” Pretty sure? Didn’t I mean one hundred percent sure.
I winced, bracing for the explosion, waiting for Havoc’s outrage at this security breach, at my failure to report it immediately.
He just shrugged.
“I know.”
My mouth fell open. “You know?”
Havoc looked almost amused. “Of course I know what’s happening in my own damn tower with my own staff, Annie. I’ve been aware of the infiltration for weeks.”
“And you just let it happen?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice.
“I wanted to see what he was planning to do before I acted. Turned out he used it to kidnap you.” He gave me a pointed look.
That night at the Neon Maze. Of course he knew I’d been kidnapped.
Of course. “But you didn’t seem particularly bothered by the kidnapping since you never mentioned it to me. ”
Heat rushed to my face. “I—that’s not—“
“I’ve been giving you space to work out whatever is happening between you two,” Havoc continued, mercifully cutting off my stammering. “And it seems you have.”
I stared at him, trying to reconcile this calm acceptance with the man who once leveled half a city block because someone insulted his costume design.
“You’re not even a little outraged?”
“Oh, I’m outraged,” Havoc said, his voice deceptively casual. “But I’m also curious. And patient, when it suits me.”
The smile that spread across his face then was pure Villain. It was a reminder that beneath the Hero facade, Havoc was still the same man who had terrorized the city for decades before switching sides.
“Besides,” he added, “if I eliminated every person who tried to infiltrate my organization, I’d never get anything done. It’s practically a weekly occurrence.”
I laughed as some of the tension drained from my shoulders. Sometimes I forgot that beneath all his heroic restraint, Havoc was still just a cranky, murderous Villain at heart.
I walked over and planted a kiss on his forehead. “I’m going to my office to send those files to Wraith.”
“Be careful with him,” Havoc warned, his expression turning serious again.
I nodded.
In my office, I transferred the case files to Wraith’s secure channel, then slumped back in my chair. Now for the hard part. I pulled out my phone and stared at Cipher’s name on the screen.
He would absolutely be monitoring me. He probably had access to every camera in the city. And if he saw me heading to a warehouse at midnight?
It wouldn’t end well.
I took a deep breath and typed out a message.
Going to be later than I thought. Havoc needs me to handle something.
What kind of something?
Of course he’d ask that. Cipher didn’t do vague.
Alliance business. Confidential.
You’re a terrible liar, Sparks. I can see your pulse jumping through the vein in your neck.
My hand flew to my throat. Damn it. He was watching me right now.
Please don’t monitor me tonight.
Now I’m curious. What exactly are you up to?
I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to look at the security camera in the corner.
Please, Cipher.
A long pause followed.
Fine. My business with Inferno is taking longer than expected anyway. Message me when you’re done and I’ll come get you.
I thought I’d feel relieved if he agreed, but there was only the sinking feeling of dread. If he found out about the potential danger I was putting myself in, the consequences would be catastrophic. He would lock me away and swallow the key.
My fingers trembled as I typed my reply.
I will. Promise.