My Darling Mayhem
: Chapter 11

My neck ached from looking over my shoulder so many times, hoping Wren would come out and check on me. I had started early, not wanting to wake her or Cruz, so I just slipped through the gaping hole in my fence, setting up all the materials. I had contacted Thistle and another member, Gunner, to come out a little later, but until noon, I wanted to be the only person in her yard.

Her back patio was a small square of cement with two loungers and a myriad of toys covering the surface. Chalk drawings covered the free space leading up the small step to her glass sliding door, but I noticed another entry point to where her bedroom door probably was. There was another small slab of cement with a plant sitting outside of it, and covering the glass window of the door was a long shade closed for privacy.

Her grass looked like it had recently been cut, but tire marks had cut into it, creating patches from where Thistle had run through the gate. I’d have to replace a way to fix her grass, too. She hadn’t mentioned if I’d need to contact her landlord; it seemed she was dealing with everything. Honestly, I was still shocked that she hadn’t called the police on us.

Glancing over my shoulder again, I checked her slider and secondary patio door to see if she’d come out and say hi.

It wasn’t like I needed her out here with me while I fixed her fence, but after last night, something was sitting in my chest that needed her to come tell me we were okay. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted her as a friend. I just also really wanted to fuck her last night, and she will never know how close I was to lifting her off that couch and walking her back to her room.

It took all of my strength to stop, and it was for this reason right here. I didn’t want to feel like she’d shut me out.

My muscles shifted as my mind churned over the details of last night and how I probably fucked all this up regardless of my hope for her to see me as something other than a random hookup, but by noon, she finally came out. Arms crossed over her chest, she held her sweater closed.

“Archer. Hi.” Her eyes were bright, but her tone was curt.

Guilt tugged at my heart, making me want to kick my own ass for making her feel embarrassed. I wanted to explain to her that this was more to me than just something physical …that something had shifted in me while I sat there with her last night.

She’d told me she wanted a fairy tale and how impossible it would be for her to ever have it, and then I’d broken her trust by breaking the fence. Instead of pushing me out, she pulled me in. She’d asked questions about me like she genuinely wanted to understand.

She let me near her son. She sat next to me, felt comfortable enough to touch me…

It was a very odd realization, this clear and perfect moment where I looked around, saw her and Cruz, and discovered that I had a fairy tale of my own that I wanted.

Something I would be a fool to ever hope for but still wanted regardless.

“Hi.”

“Just wanted to see if you needed anything before we take off.” Her eyes trailed over my face and down to the grease pencil in my hand. My mind snagged on her words, which had me turning and setting the pencil down.

“Where are you guys headed?” Not that it was my business, but damn, I wanted to know.

Wren glanced back at the door and then gave me her attention again. “I’m heading into work for a bit.”

“Does Cruz want to stay and help me? I can watch him play in the backyard…I mean, only if you’re comfortable with it.” Fuck, now I was embarrassed. There was no way she would let him do that after last night. Not just the almost having sex thing, but the fucking hole in her fence.

Her lips twisted to the side as she glanced back at the house.

My neck felt hot as I tried to shake off her impending rejection. “I’m sure he’d rather hang with you, but if it helps, Kane’s foster mom offered to drop him off in an hour, so he’ll be here too.”

Just then, Cruz opened the sliding glass door, looking dejected. “Do I have to go with you, Mom? I hate going into your work.”

Wren winced the smallest bit as she took stock of the grass before glancing up again and focusing on me.

“That’s really nice of you to offer.” She hesitated, then seemed to let out a silent breath. “I’d love it if he could stay with you.”

My head snapped over, making sure I heard her right.

“Seriously?”

She laughed, a smile spreading across her lips. “Don’t seem too surprised. I am trying, you know.”

Something shifted in my chest at the sight of the sun cutting through the clouds, making her eyes brighter than usual. I dipped my head and gave her a smile in return.

“Fair enough.”

She turned away to go talk to Cruz before spinning back toward me.

“Oh yeah…uh, cell phone numbers…we need to exchange them in case you need to contact me.”

I felt a jolt in my chest. “Yeah, of course.”

It was okay; this was fine. I stretched my fingers out so they didn’t shake as I grabbed my cell, but Wren was there a second later, stepping closer to hand me her phone. She smelled so good, I didn’t even know what it was. It was floral and somehow also spicy, but it was perfect on her, and every time I breathed near her, I withheld a groan. I added myself as a contact and then sent a text so she could replace me easily in her text threads.

She smiled thinly before explaining to Cruz that he’d be staying with me. My heart grew inside my chest when I saw his head swing over, a huge smile taking over his cute little face. He jumped excitedly like she’d just told him he was going to Disneyland. Fuck, that made me feel a thousand feet tall, knowing he liked hanging out with me. I would do whatever it took to protect that feeling in him. Make sure I never let him down. Which meant I couldn’t fuck things up with his mom.

Thistle and Gunner were helping with the fence and having a great time with the boys. The sun came out in a shock of late September heat, which honestly took me by surprise. Both Kane and Cruz kept squinting and trying to shield their eyes while their cheeks turned rosy. I knew they needed sunscreen and hats, most likely.

“Hey, Cruz.” I pulled him and Kane under the covered patio where Wren’s furniture was set up. “Do you know if your mom has sunscreen?”

His little cheek dimpled as he smiled. “In our beach bag, I think.”

I didn’t want to go sneaking around Wren’s house. Maybe I should just go to the store. Although, I’d have to replace one that sold hats, and most drug stores didn’t.

“Where’s the beach bag?”

Cruz grabbed my hand. “I’ll show you.”

We walked inside, leaving the slider open so Kane could come in and replace me if he needed to. Cruz walked through the kitchen and crossed the hallway to a closet. Twisting the knob, he pulled it open, revealing a few shelves and a large multicolored beach bag on the floor.

Bingo.

I tugged it free, bending at the knees, and started pulling out neatly folded towels and sifting through clean beach toys. There in the side pocket was sunscreen and even a few sun hats. Right as I was about to shove the bag back into place, I noticed a clear tote to the left of it. Inside, near the bottom, was a business card with a black, dripping heart inked into the middle—the same as her tattoo.

“Thanks, buddy. I got it from here. You can head back out with Kane, and I will be out in just a second.” Cruz gave me a swift nod before turning around and darting through the sliding glass door. Kane was already playing under the covered patio, out of the sun. I decided to take a few seconds while they were there to remain inside.

The clear tote sat there in the closet full of secrets. It was an invasion of her privacy…I shouldn’t.

But I had to know.

I gently pulled the tote free and slipped the cover off. Inside the tote were old hoodies, tattered, torn, and smaller. As if a teenager had worn them. I pulled them out and continued to sift. Photographs were tucked inside a journal; a few sticking out showed a younger-looking Wren. Early teen, or somewhere close to that. She had a huge smile that could carry the world; it was aimed at someone who looked almost identical to her, except a few years older. Dark hair, amber eyes, same brown skin, but his smile was aimed at an older woman who looked like she could be their mother.

I knew the boy’s face.

Staring down at the image, it seemed that Wren was related to him, but if that were true, then…I tucked that one back and pulled another. This time, it was of Wren and this guy, a few years older, in front of a restaurant boasting the best tacos in Rake Forge.

My hands shook.

There had to be some sort of proof that she wasn’t related to him. She couldn’t be.

I flipped through image after image until, finally, a name caught my attention in the journal.

Dear Juan,

I wish I’d been.

Being your sister was the best thing that happened to me, but you acted like you couldn’t care less. I hate that you turned your back on…

DOESN’T MATTER.

Just take care of Mom and Leo. You’ll never even read this, but it feels good to write. I love you. I will always love the version of you that existed before El Peligro. You promised you’d never take it over. You swore you’d never walk in our father’s shoes.

You lied.

Kane and Cruz laughing from the patio broke me out of my thoughts, forcing my hands to move quickly to replace all of Wren’s memories. I felt sick to my stomach for invading her privacy, for reading something so personal.

But something else was there, too…a feeling of replaceing a missing piece to a puzzle. Wren wasn’t so different from me; she had a jaded past with an affiliation that others looked down upon. It likely shaped her outlook on being so close to danger because she wanted to escape it.

Her home was made of the same material as mine. Her memories were all ash and used up hope. She created a new life for herself while I forged mine out of the ashes my father left. She was my match.

My equal.

Mine.

Regardless of her connection to her brother’s gang, she belonged with me, and I’d do whatever it took to prove that to her.

After a while, Kane and Cruz both joined in and helped carry boards, even holding the drill for me as I added in the screws. I’d pulled my truck down Wren’s driveway and propped her side gate open so I could access my tools easily. I watched the boys play in the front yard while I sat on the lowered tailgate, eating a burger next to Thistle.

He took a drink of his soda before quietly talking. “Dozer texted me this morning a report of what they found when they looked into the Gentry Boys MC in Jersey.”

I tried not to think of what I found in Wren’s closet and how this problem had nothing to do with the gang activity in the city that was threatening my club.

Thistle continued, “Your old man has been spotted wearing their colors. Riding with them. So we’re assuming he’s under their protection.”

“Gentry Boys grow in the past year and I not know it?”

Kane was laughing so hard at something Cruz did that his eyes started to water, and it made my own water for a different reason. I liked seeing him so happy and free. Like a kid should, in a place where he truly knew he was wanted and he belonged.

Thistle shifted next to me. “Not that we can tell unless they’re pairing up with some outside club we don’t know about. He won’t have the numbers to make a move against you.”

“Unless he’s going to leverage Mayhem Riot and see if I’d give it up for Kane.”

Joke was on him. I would have to do that regardless because there was no way I could win my case if I didn’t prove I’d stepped away from them.

My vice president finished off his food and crumbled the wrapper. “I have a contact. They’re waiting on my call to tip them off, but we can dump evidence from what your dad did in front of the detective who was initially on Brit’s case after she died and Saul disappeared. They’ll open it back up, and now that we have sights on Saul, he’ll have to go in for questioning.”

It wouldn’t be enough if they couldn’t pin it on him. “They’ll be nervous to prosecute unless we can tie him to both my mom and Brit; otherwise, they risk double jeopardy.”

“Still might be enough to make the judge give you custody.”

That was true. Even if Saul was acquitted, it was enough to tie him up in questioning that the judge wouldn’t say yes.

“Make the call.” I jumped down from the edge of the truck bed and tossed my garbage in the burger bag. Cruz and Kane were on the ground, drawing in chalk all over Wren’s driveaway. I was about to see if they were ready to return to the back and finish the fence when I heard a car approaching.

I looked up and saw a familiar Tesla.

What the fuck was Brian doing here?

When his car stopped, I saw Wren’s dark head of hair in the passenger seat as she started gathering her things. Brian jumped out of his side of the car and glared at me as he ran around to her side and opened her door.

There was something like electricity crackling in my chest; like any second, I was going to catch fire and burn down everything in front of me. Starting with that fucking Tesla. Brian smiled at Wren and held his hand out for her to take. I’d already cataloged how I’d break his fingers so he’d never be able to offer it to her again for any reason.

Trying to control my emotions, I made eye contact with Thistle, who knew my moods and understood what I was telling him because he called the boys to help in the backyard. They ran after him excitedly, probably hopeful it would be one of their turns to use the drill again.

Once they were in the back, my feet carried me to the Tesla.

As I rounded the car, I saw Wren still gathering her things, about to accept Brian’s hand. I was there first, so I dragged Brian by the shirt, which made him stumble back. That electric feeling lit up my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

Why the fuck was she with him? Why was he here? Was she casually seeing him again?

There was no way.

Not after she’d ridden my cock through my jeans and begged me to fuck her last night. Not when I knew, deep down in my bones, that the fairy tale she talked about, she wanted with me. Maybe I was delusional, but fuck if I cared. I would be that man for her, and there was absolutely no way that Brian would enter her life again.

“Hey, what the hell is your—” Brian started, but I took his place in front of Wren, offering her my hand.

She looked up at me, kicking one of her legs out of his car. As a silent moment passed between us, she placed her hand in mine.

But Brian was there again, and I didn’t see his fist coming as he sucker-punched me, which had me jolting to the side as he stood over me. “I’m really getting sick of you being here, you redneck motherfucker.”

Wren was out of the car instantly, holding her laptop bag, purse, and folders while her eyes blew wide.

“Brian!”

Gunner was over at my house and heard the commotion. I saw the second he registered it was me who’d been hit because his face twisted. He dropped the box of screws, pulling something from his pocket. I knew they were brass knuckles, and his stride to Wren’s house was brisk.

Shit. This was about to get out of hand.

Thistle knew what had just happened, too, but I didn’t need the club’s help with this prick. I held my jaw while Brian tried to go in for another punch, and before Gunner could approach, I turned, so when Brian went to hit me, his fist hit his car.

Gunner stopped, likely realizing that I was essentially fighting someone with the survival skills of a paperclip. I saw him smirk and shake his head as he headed back to my driveway.

“Brian, what the hell is your problem?” Wren yelled, but he was now on the ground, holding his hand.

I bent over, placing my hands on my knees. “If my brother and Cruz weren’t in the backyard, and Wren wasn’t standing right here, you would be headed to the hospital. You need to let that register. I have two members here with me. You attacked their president. They wouldn’t have stopped until you were on life support. You and me we have a problem. You keep trying to spend time with and even touch someone who isn’t yours.”

Brian glared up at me and scoffed. “She sure as fuck doesn’t belong to you.”

“Yet,” I snapped back at him, resisting the urge to stomp his ankle hard enough to snap it. “She will be, and until then, there isn’t a single man on this earth that will take that pleasure from me, and that includes giving her rides.”

“Her car broke down, I was helping.”

I tilted my head, knowing he shouldn’t have even been at her job and was probably harassing her. “Next time, call me. I’ll come get her.”

“Archer.” Wren let out a sigh, but I wasn’t going to mince words or not say exactly what I meant to this fucker.

“Do you understand me?” I asked Brian, making sure I had his full attention.

He flicked a pensive expression at Wren. “You may be used to getting your way in your club, but I have a lawyer, and I will⁠—”

Using my knee, I pinned his bicep down while I gripped his wrist with one hand, and with the other, I pulled out my knife and held it over his forearm.

“How about I carve my cell phone number into your arm? That way, there’s no confusion about what it is I’m asking. If. Wren. Needs. Help. You. Will. Call. Me.” I pressed the tip of my knife to his skin and heard Wren start toward me.

“Archer.”

Brian’s eyes bugged out, his mouth gaping as he registered that I was serious. “Fuck, okay. Okay. I heard you. I’ll call you.”

A trickle of blood followed from the line I’d started on his arm to form the number two. I released him and stood up, pocketing my knife.

“Good. Now get the fuck out of here.”

My hand found Wren’s hip as I moved her away from his car and took her laptop bag from her shoulder. Brian’s tires squealed while he peeled out of her driveway and sped down the street. Wren’s shoulders were rigid while we walked inside the house alone.

I set her bag down on her little entryway table when she spun on me, her silky, brown hair flying.

“You can’t reject me one second and the next—” I backed her up against her door and held her chin in my hand.

Her eyes searched my face frantically, her chest rising and falling quickly, but her hands were tangled in my T-shirt.

“I didn’t reject you, Wren. You said you wanted a fairy tale, then tried to fuck me out of your life. I know you probably don’t see it that way, but it’s what makes me different than that asshole who just dropped you off.”

Her mouth parted like she was surprised, and her dark brows dipped into the center of her forehead. However, her fingers gathered more fabric, like she was worried I’d step away.

“I may have said I wouldn’t fuck you, but that sure as hell doesn’t mean I’ll share you with anyone. I’m doing something here…” I trailed my finger down her jaw and leaned in closer.

She wet her lips, rasping, “Doing what?”

“Right now, I’m kissing you. The rest, you’ll replace out soon enough.” I smiled before closing the space between us. Our lips met, slow and tentative. Wren tilted her jaw and opened for me. My tongue slid over her bottom lip, and then her top, and she pulled me closer with her hands while moving her tongue against mine.

My chest felt too full, there was that clashing electricity sparking and lighting every nerve ending on fire. My hands came up to cup Wren’s face. She moved with me, sliding her tongue against mine while her hands moved from my shirt to around my neck.

I felt like she’d pried her fingers between my rib cage and began weaving thread around my heart, stitching in words that I never imagined would be a part of my story. It fucking terrified me as I felt the weight of hope begin to fill me so much that I released her and pinned my forehead to hers.

Thistle knocked on the glass slider door right then, and I stepped away from her.

Her lips were swollen, her face a pinkish hue, and her eyes… looked like they’d finally found something she’d been searching for.

A heavy thrum behind my chest filled me, making me move toward the door. Wren was breathing hard, and so was I.

“Archer,” she said softly.

I paused at the back slider and looked back over at her.

“I need a ride to work tomorrow.” Her lips spread into an easy smile, and I felt my own stretch into one that matched hers.

“Done.” I slid the door open, but before stepping out, I reminded her, “Oh, and Wren?”

She was holding her arms over her chest, fighting a smile. “Yes?”

“Don’t think I forgot about the other thing either…I don’t plan on stopping.”

Her brows hit her hairline in surprise as I slid the door closed and joined Thistle outside.