Havoc's Fox: The Legacy Series, page 16
“If you two can manage to get your act together, that house you’re in is a fine house. You could be happy there.”
“Yeah, I thought of that. I’d love to raise Harley there.”
“Then raise Harley there. We got a construction company here, too.”
“I want to raise her with Analise.”
“Whether or not that happens, you got people here. You should tell Brandt you want that house and you’re thinking of staying. Even if it’s not full time, go ahead and claim the house unless you want a different one. I’m sure he’d appreciate a heads up about what’s going on with you and Analise as well.”
“I love this house. It’s like I made it for my own family.”
“Tell Brandt today. Tell him all of it.”
“I will. I’ll take care of it,” Havoc said.
“Give the girl her time. Step back. Make her wonder what you’re thinking. You’re not playing games. You’re doing exactly what she asked.”
Chapter 16
Havoc showed up at the construction site right after lunch.
“Yo! You coming to work?” Ronan asked. “You do know I’ll be your boss since you’re new here.”
Havoc laughed, slapping his little brother on the shoulder before shaking his hand. “Hey, gotta start somewhere, you know?”
“I’m just shitting you. Seriously, though, you coming to help out?” Ronan asked.
“Maybe, have something to talk to Brandt about.”
“Brandt’s on the back side of building three. He’s finishing up back there today.”
“Alright, I’ll see you later, yeah?”
“Oh, yeah. Maybe go get a beer or something?”
“And one of Uncle Vince’s burgers… I been craving one.”
“Tonight!” Ronan said.
“Give me a couple of days.”
“You gonna be around that long?”
“Yeah, I will.”
“Glad to hear it. Let me know when.”
“I will. Third building, right?” Havoc asked, walking in the direction Ronan had pointed him.
“Yep.”
Havoc walked in that general direction, raising a hand in a wave each time a high-pitched whistle caught his attention and welcomed him to the site.
By the time he made it around back of building three, Brandt was waiting on him. “Wondered who everybody was greeting,” Brandt said.
“Me. I am a celebrity,” Havoc teased.
Brandt laughed as they shook hands. “You doing alright?”
“Oh, yeah. Just came to talk to you about a couple things.”
“And they would be?”
“The house, the lodge, the one you let me stay in?”
“Nice, huh?”
“Man, it really is. I couldn’t have designed something myself I’d have liked better.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. Hellen helped with that one. It’s actually built a lot like hers.”
“I noticed that. Hers has the same feel to it.”
“Yep, but it’s a little different in that hers has lighter wood, and little less of it. Daisy was designing the extra homes for when people come home and might need a place to stay instead of with their families, you know? Hellen got hers just the way she wanted and Daisy had started to design the lodge. Hellen offered to help and I really think Hellen did this one with you in mind.”
“She was thinking maybe I’d come home.”
“I think so.”
“Funny, that’s kinda what I wanted to talk about.”
“Oh, yeah. You coming back to us?” Brandt asked.
“Maybe,” Havoc said, pressing his lips into a straight line as he considered it. “I’d like to. But I don’t want to make Analise uneasy.”
“She doesn’t live here,” Brandt said.
“I know, but I don’t want to stop her from coming to visit.”
Brandt nodded and appeared to hem and haw a little bit before looking Havoc in the eye. “Thinking since she spent the night with you last night that might not be a problem.”
Havoc raised an eyebrow at him. “Anything you don’t know?”
“Possibly, but that’s something we’d all be aware of. We’ve been hoping things would at the very least settle, at the most work themselves out.”
“Yeah, me, too. But I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”
“You claim her?”
“Yep.”
“She happy about it?”
“I think stunned is the more applicable word here.”
“She didn’t know you claimed her?”
“I can’t see how she didn’t, but she says she didn’t. And she’s saying it was just a night, and I’m saying, no the fuck it wasn’t. Told her she was mine, had always been mine and now we were bonded and weren’t going to fucking break the bond.”
“Smooth.”
Havoc laughed. “Yeah, well, I want to move back. I’m hoping Analise will come around, but even if she doesn’t Harley loves it here.”
“You want to build? You can pick a lot anywhere on our property.”
“No, I want the lodge. I love it there. It’s perfect. Feels like home.”
“And that’s where you claimed your mate.”
“That is a part of it. But even if she never comes around, I want the lodge. Hellen knows me inside and out and if she did build it with me in mind, she was spot on.”
“It’s yours, then.”
“Any paperwork to sign or something?”
“Yeah. Just making it official and agreeing to pay back the clan for the materials to build it. Labor was clan labor so you don’t owe that. Just start pitching in to help when we build again, and if anybody needs anything. You know how it goes.”
“What if I only live here part time, what do you need from me?”
“When you’re here, you’re one of us. See somebody needing or trying to do something, jump right in. You grew up with us all, Havoc. You know how it works.”
“I do. I just want to be sure that I can be what I need to be to belong.”
Brandt shook his head. “Havoc, you’ve always belonged. The problem was how you treated people when your hormones started raging. I don’t see that being a problem anymore. Whatever happens between you and Analise, as long as the two of you keep it respectful, we’ve got no problems.”
“I’m hoping she’ll be there with me eventually. But if not, nobody else will be.”
“You can’t live the rest of your life alone, Havoc.”
“Can, too. Don’t want anybody else.”
“That’s your choice, man. I hope it works out with whatever is best for the both of you.”
“Me, too.”
“You planning on working?”
“I can. You need a hand?”
“Not really. Just finishing up the last little touches. We aren’t coming back full crew for another week. I was meaning more if you move back here.”
“Definitely. I move back full-time, I’m going to be right here every day.”
Brandt grinned. “That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear. Welcome home, man. I’m glad you’re back.”
“Maybe. I’m at least part-time home. Eventually I hope to be full-time.”
“Nah, you’ll be here full time. You just have to get used to it.”
“Depends on Analise.”
“Depends on you and what you want for Harley.”
“I disrupted Analise’s life before. I don’t want to do that again.”
“Good for you. She’s also a grown ass woman, now. She doesn’t like it, she can adapt.”
“Let’s hope she does.”
“When you planning on moving in?”
“I’ve already got the little bit of clothes and shit we brought with us in there. I’ll see what happens in the next few weeks then I’ll decide how to proceed. Thinking about putting up a fence, though. Is that a problem?”
Brandt laughed. “You think we got a homeowners association or something?”
“Just making sure. Been out of the fold for a while.”
“Well, now you’re home. You know how it works.”
“Yes, I do,” Havoc said.
“Glad you’re back, man.”
“Me, too.”
~~~
It was late in the afternoon by the time Emmalyn pulled herself up off the sofa and headed into the kitchen for something to eat. Settling for popcorn, waited patiently until the microwave finished doing its thing, then quickly melted some butter and drizzled it over the freshly popped corn.
Analise’s bedroom door opened and she wandered up the hallway and into the kitchen. “Ooo, popcorn.”
“With melted butter. And candy-coated chocolates mixed in.”
“Did you make enough for me?”
Emmalyn looked protectively at her giant mixing bowl of buttered popcorn and candies. “Fine, I’ll share. You get us some root beer?”
“On, it,” Analise said, going in the kitchen to get them both a bottle of Barqs. You got napkins?” she called.
“I got a whole role of paper towels.”
Analise hurried into the living room. She shooed Emmalyn up and into a sitting position on the sofa.
“Hey!” Emmalyn complained.
“I want to sit by the popcorn, too!” Analise said, handing Emmalyn one of the bottles of rootbeer, then sitting right next to her and yanking part of the blanket over to cover her own legs while they watched television.
“You’re lucky I like you,” Emmalyn grumbled as Analise reached into her bowl and stole a handful of popcorn and candy.
“You know nobody but me likes you, so you have to like me,” Analise said, munching away.
About halfway through the show they were watching, a very quiet knock interrupted them. Emmalyn leaned over toward her left, away from Analise to see through the window by the front door. She started giggling and sat back up. “You have a visitor.”
“No! Absolutely not. I said I needed time. Less than twenty-four hours doesn’t qualify.”
“It’s not him.”
“Huh?” Analise asked.
“I’ll get it,” Emmalyn said, handing the bowl to Analise.
Emmalyn went to the door and unlocked it, then pulled it open. “Well, hello there, child.”
“Don’t you remember? I’m Harley.”
“I know. I’m just teasing.”
“I smell popcorn.”
“That’s because we’re having popcorn.”
“I don’t have any popcorn.”
“I see that. Would you like some of our popcorn?” Emmalyn asked.
“Yes!”
“Are you sure? It has little candy covered chocolates in it.”
“I really want some.”
“Mmhmm. Come in, then.”
“Thank you!” Harley shouted happily and ran past Emmalyn into the house.
Emmalyn smirked as she followed Harley into the living room. “You didn’t waste any time, did you?” she asked, when she saw Harley already sitting beside Analise all cuddled up beneath the blanket.
Harley grinned at her.
“So, does your dad know where you are?”
“Nope. He’s been grouchy all day. So, I went outside to play while Poppy and Val were giving him a good talking to.”
“He’s needs a good talking to,” Emmalyn said.
“I thought so, but when I sat by him and he hugged me, I almost think he started crying. But then he tickled me and pretended like he was okay, but he’s not okay. Poppy yells at him even when I’m there, but Val doesn’t. She waits until I’m sleeping or outside. So I went outside so she could yell.”
“You are just full of all kinds of information, aren’t you?” Analise asked.
Harley stuck her little hand in the bowl of popcorn, digging around, obviously trying to get to the candy at the bottom. “It’s got butter, too!” she said delightedly.
“How about a bottle of root beer, just like the almost grownup young lady you are would normally have with her chocolate and popcorn?” Emmalyn asked.
Harley looked at the bottles sitting on the floor beside the sofa that belonged to Analise and Emmalyn. “Yes, please!”
Emmalyn went into the kitchen and while taking a root beer out of the fridge, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and called Havoc.
“Hey! Hello?!” he said, answering excitedly before it even finished its first ring.
“Well, hello there, asshole! It’s ten o’clock. Do you know where your kids are?” Emmalyn asked, adopting a serious tone at the end.
“It’s not ten o’clock. It’s four-thirty. And she’s supposed to be outside, but I’m guessing she’s not outside playing anymore since you’re calling me.”
“We’re having popcorn and chocolate and watching movies. Unless you planned this.”
“No, I did not. She just likes Analise. You, I’m not so sure of.”
“Hey! I’m a freaking delight. And we got this, just do whatever you need to. No rush or anything.”
“You sure? I mean, your sister isn’t real happy with me at the moment.”
“Did you sneak over to her place and spend the night throwing you and herself into a tizzy?”
“Huh?”
“Was it you who snuck over here in the middle of the night and then snuck away this morning?”
“No. She did.”
“Which is why I’m giving you the courtesy of a call and telling you to chill. We got this. Let the little Hellen-like-child hang for a while.”
“Thank you, Emmalyn.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Bye,” Havoc said.
“Havoc?” Emmalyn said.
“Yeah?” he asked, having almost hung-up thinking Emmalyn was done.
“This could be a start. Don’t make me want to kill you again. I do know some really, really bad people.”
Havoc gave half a laugh, relief flooding through him when he realized that Emmalyn was on his side. “I’m trying, Emmalyn. I’m laid bare. All I have is hers, all she has to do is let me give it to her. I’ll do anything, anywhere, anytime.”
“Laid bear? I thought you were a Wolf,” she said with a snicker.
“You know what I mean. I’ll be whatever she wants.”
“An Alpha, with a strong sense of who he is and what he and his mate deserve. But a humble one, too, ‘cause he knows he’s an asshole,” Emmalyn said. “Nobody respects somebody that has no backbone. But some have so much backbone they need that backbone shoved up their own asses.”
Havoc started laughing. “Yeah, I get you.”
“Bye, asshole.”
“Bye, Em.”
“It’s Emmalyn, I am a grownup now.”
Havoc laughed.
“Bye,” she said, ending the call.
She looked across the bar separating the kitchen from the living room and watched Analise and Harley, laughing and sharing what was left of the popcorn. She loved Havoc because they were of the same clan, grew up together; but hated the fucker, too, because he’d torn her sister apart. Still there was no denying what she was seeing happening here. Analise was actually laughing. She was relaxed. Her Fox wasn’t poised to go into fight or flight mode like she’d been since high school. This may well be the best turn of events for Analise and Havoc. Only time would tell. But if he hurt her sister again, they’d never find him. She wasn’t kidding, she really did know some scary people. And the old adage that people were scarier than animals was true.
~~~
Analise walked through the darkness listening to Harley’s incessant chatter. She held the little girl’s hand in hers and asked questions and laughed when appropriate. Harley’s eyes sparkled in the darkness, letting Analise know that it wouldn’t be long before her own little Wolf made an appearance. But none of that, not even the child looking adoringly up at her held her attention. Instead, her attention was on the Wolf tracking them. He stayed in the shadows and moved silently along with them, keeping a constant eye on them.
But Analise wasn’t afraid. The Wolf was there for protection. He was watching to be sure that his daughter got home safely, and maybe even that the female that walked her home was safe as well.
As they got close to the fork in the road on Kaid’s property, Analise looked down at Harley. “So, where am I taking you? Are you going to Poppy’s, or are you going to the house Daddy is in?”
“I guess Poppy’s. Because that’s where I was when I went to go visit with you.”
“Okay, let’s go that way, then,” Analise said. She and Harley skipped, and swirled and made a game of the entire walk from her parents’ home to Maverik’s. When they arrived and went up the steps, Analise knocked on the door.
Harley looked up at her questioningly. “Why are you knocking? I can go in whenever I want. I don’t have to knock.”
“Maybe not, but I do. I don’t live here, and while we’re in the same clan, we are not family, so it’s the right thing to do to respect people’s privacy. You don’t just walk into the house.”
“I know that. I knocked at your house. But you don’t have to knock. Poppy and Val said that you’re family.”
“They did?” Analise asked. “When was that?”
“When I was sleeping.”
“But not really sleeping?” Analise asked.
Harley grinned up at her.
“I think maybe you aren’t really sleeping too much. Adult conversations are private.”
“Just like their houses.”
“Exactly. I’m going to tell your Poppy to get you some earplugs.”
“What are earplugs?”
“Little pieces of soft rubber that you use to block your ears so you don’t damage them by hearing really loud noises. They also keep you from hearing things so clearly.”
“That doesn’t sound fun.”
Analise laughed, then turned to face the door when she heard it opening.
“There you are!” Valerie said. “You’re supposed to ask us if it’s okay to go where you’re going before you go anywhere.”
“I know, Val. I’m sorry. I just missed Analise so much! And Daddy was getting yelled at, so I went to see Analise.”
“Daddy wasn’t get yelled at. We were all just concerned, and Daddy was doing some of his own yelling.”
“Oh. Well, Daddy knowed where I was. I heard Emmalyn call him on the phone, and she called him a bad name, but she was laughing, so I don’t think he was mad.”
