by Bella Jewel
Wouldn’t surprise me.
I’m not sure how I’ve managed to stay low for this past week while I wait for our I.Ds to be made. I’m trusting a stranger, because he could tell anyone where I am, and all they’d have to do is get ahold of me to find out where Braxton is. It’s a risk, I know this more than fucking anyone, but it’s a risk I have to take.
For my brother.
For his life.
“Had to come here. Need you to know things have changed. Can’t get you out of this, Braxton.”
His eyes widen, and for a second I see panic in them. Pure terror. These men scare him far more than he’ll ever let on. He knows it’s dangerous. He knows that if he gets caught he’ll die a slow and painful fucking death. I’d be scared, too. Hell, I am fucking scared. Scared for him. Scared for me. Scared for everyone involved. Because if I get us out of this, it’ll be a damned miracle.
“So, what? I’m just goin’ to die? You’re goin’ to let them fuckin’ kill me?” he rasps out, fists clenching, face angry.
I lean across the table. “Do not fuckin’ speak to me like that. I’m the only person you’ve got on your side, and I have no intentions of lettin’ you do this alone. What I am going to do is try and get you away from it. I can’t change it. You got a hit on you, brother, a fuckin’ big one. Don’t matter if I killed every motherfucker workin’ for this prick, they’re goin’ to make sure you’re dead. The hit is clear sign of that. You gotta run. Only way out.”
“I can’t run,” he says, running his fingers through his hair, the fear apparent in his eyes. “Can’t fuckin’ run, Dakoda. They’ll hunt me down. Find me. Kill me.”
“Not if I can get us out with a whole new identity. Means leavin’ this life, all of it, every single person you know. Means movin’ somewhere far fuckin’ away, stayin’ low for at least five years, never comin’ back.”
His eyes meet mine. “And you think that’ll work? You think I can just disappear? These men, they know how to find people. They will track us down.”
“Maybe they will, or maybe they won’t.”
“I fuckin’ rolled them over,” he barks, clawing at his face. “Runnin’ is not goin’ to save me, I’m a dead man.”
“You’re a fuckin’ dead man if you stay. Either way, you’re probably dead. This way gives you a damned chance.”
“What if I fake my own death? It can be done; people do it all the time.”
I stare at him. “It takes a whole fuckin’ lot of plannin’ to do somethin’ like that. Believe me, I considered it. But we don’t have time. Those people are hot on your trail and it won’t be long before they find you. The best chance we have is to flee. Leave the weapons where they are, they’ll find them, they’ll re-sell them. Still want your head, no doubt, but it might calm them enough to remove that hit. Then we’re dealin’ with only one fuckin’ monster.”
Braxton shakes his head. “I don’t think we’re walkin’ away from this, Dakoda. If, by some small fuckin’ miracle, we actually get out of the state, all it will take is for them to find the name of the person who gave you the new identity. They’ll track us from there.”
“Maybe, or maybe he will deny ever seein’ me. Seemed like a good man. Family man. Don’t think he’s a problem.”
“You’re being naive!” he roars, causing a worker to turn around and stare at us.
He forces a smile and waves.
She studies us for a few moments, then turns back.
“Listen,” I hiss, leaning over the table so I’m in his face, “you got yourself into this mess. I’m only tryin’, best I fuckin’ can, to get you out of it. You don’t take my help, you’re dead the second they find you. This is the only hope, it might be a fuckin’ small one, but it’s all we have. You’re either in it with me, or you’re not. You’re not, I take my shit, change my name, and fuck off away from all this. Alone. What’s it going to be, Braxton?”
He stares at me, his eyes flaring with rage and anger.
“I don’t have a fuckin’ choice, do I? I’m dead either way it goes, but at least I’ll have longer with your plan.”
I understand his hesitation and fear. Hell, I really fucking do. He’s probably right. There is a good chance we’ll be found. I even thought of going to the cops, giving information, helping them bring down the operation in exchange for our safety. But, again, that’s a risk. There is a good chance they’ll lock Braxton up and he’ll only get killed anyway.
Cops can’t be trusted.
Most of them are being paid off.
Someone, somewhere would give information and we’d be found. Money talks, and people like this Shanks, they have fucking money. They have it and they have people in all areas working for them, including the cops.
Can’t risk it.
The only two people I need to know about this change is Braxton and myself.
And the man who changed our I.Ds.
He’s one person. Only one person to worry about.
That’s exactly how I need it.
“Only choice we have, like it or not. Got one week until the new identities are ready, until then you stay here. So far nobody knows where you are and you’re safe. At least for now. Eventually, they’ll find out you came here, and they’ll come after you. Can only hope we have a week’s worth of time.”
“And if we don’t?”
I hold his eyes. “Can’t think of that right now. Can only think of gettin’ us the hell out of here.”
He shakes his head, closes his eyes and takes a shaky breath. “I’m a fuckin’ idiot.”
Yeah.
He is.
But he’s still my brother. I reach over and grab his chin in my fingers, squeezing hard enough for him to meet my eyes. “Yeah. You’re a fuckin’ idiot. You did somethin’ incredibly stupid. But you’re only human, and you fucked up, and you were strugglin’. We all make mistakes, some bigger than others. All you need to know right now is that I’ve got your back and, no matter what happens, I’ll keep havin’ your back. You go down, Braxton, I’m going with you.”
His eyes get glassy, and he growls, “Love you, Dakoda.”
“Yeah, brother, I love you, too.”
And I wonder.
Is that the last time I’ll get to say that to him?
~*~*~*~
NOW – KODA
“Busy night, brother,” Maverick murmurs, walking into the kitchen the next morning to take the one stash of coffee we have until someone can get more.
I glance over at him. “Makes you say that?” I mutter.
“Heard that girl screamin’ from our cabin. Pretty sure she wasn’t doin’ that on her own.”
I shrug. “She wanted it. I gave it. Everyone was happy.”
He doesn’t say anything, and when I look back, he’s staring at me. Really fucking staring. I hate when he does that, like he can see I’m a fucking liar and he knows it. Of course he knows it. Everyone in this place knows it. Charlie is under my skin. No matter how fucking hard I try and fight it. She’s there, and I can’t get her out. Every time I look at her, my chest tightens.
Fuck.
This is not good.
It’ll only cause pain. So why the fuck can’t I walk away?
“You and I both know you could get any woman. We also know that woman is protected. You wouldn’t fuck her for the fun of it, and we both know it. You got feelings for her?”
I shoot him a glare. “No, I do not have fuckin’ feelings for her. I like her, she’s a good chick, she’s fun, and she’s hot. End of story.”
Maverick shakes his head. “Like to hope that’s the end of story, because if you don’t have genuine feelings for her, you should back the fuck off, brother. She’s havin’ a hard time, and we’re supposed to be protectin’ her. Can’t be doin’ that if you’re in her pants for a bit of fun. Trustin’ you to have her back.”
I clench my fists because he’s making me fucking angry now.
“First of fuckin’ all, don’t ever make out like I’d s
tray from my job over pussy. And that’s all she is, just pussy. I wouldn’t, not for a single fuckin’ second. Second of all, told you, it was a bit of fun. Not goin’ to let it get in the way. But if it makes you happy, I’ll get pussy from somewhere else from now on. As I said, it’s all the same to me.”
He shakes his head.
He knows.
I fucking know.
But he also knows I won’t say it.
She’s more than pussy.
His eyes go up and over my shoulder, and his face softens just a little. I know, even before he murmurs, “Mornin’, darlin’,” that she’s there. I know it, I can feel the fucking vibe as I turn and see the most beautiful woman on the face of this Earth, standing in a long tee, hair messy, cheeks rosy, looking so fucking perfect it hurts, and staring at me with a hurt expression.
I just called her pussy.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Fuck.
“Just pussy, hey?” she says, running her hands through her hair. “If that’s the case, you can get it from somewhere else, and I’ll stick with Mason. And Mason alone.”
My jaw clenches. She’s getting on my nerves. She is hitting me back hard, and I probably fuckin’ deserve it, but I don’t like it. Not at all. The thought of her fucking Mason, his cock sliding into that perfect fucking body, makes me wild with anger.
No.
Fuckin’ no.
I don’t say that, I just glare at her for a few seconds. Then I grind out, “Whatever you want.”
Worse thing I could have said, because her face falls just a little, and her eyes flash with that strong rage I’ve come to know so well. When Charlie is mad at you, she lets you know, and she does not back down. She’s strong, and she’s not into quitting.
“Awesome,” she bites out and then walks past both of us and grabs my coffee mug straight off the bench then saunters out with it.
Fuck me.
“Well done, bro,” Maverick mutters, grabbing his mug and shaking his head. “One day you’ll learn that when a good one comes along, you don’t fuckin’ push her away or you’ll end up very fuckin’ alone. And I’d hate to see that. You’re already bitter enough.”
Then he walks out.
Well, fuck me.
I make another coffee and move out onto the patio where Malakai, Scarlett, Amalie, and Maverick are all sitting around on chairs. Charlie is standing, back against a pole, and she doesn’t look at me when I come out.
“Hate to push, especially this early in the morning,” Malakai says to her, “but gotta ask a question, darlin’. Gotta get this show on the road today, try and finish this so we can make you safe again. To do that, we need your help.”
Charlie looks to him, her eyes empty. I hate seeing that look. That broken fucking look.
Especially because it’s on me.
“Anything,” she says, her voice softer than it usually is.
I hurt her.
And I’m a fucking idiot for that.
But maybe it’s for the best. Malakai is right. We need to get her safe. My head needs to be in the game for that. One hundred percent.
“It’s a long shot, but was wonderin’ if you might know anyone in your dad’s little group, anyone at all, that might be willin’ to double cross him.”
Her eyes widen and she glances at me for a split second before saying, “You mean someone who will go out of their way to betray him?”
“Only way we’re gonna take him down is to start a war with someone bigger. We need an inside man to do that. Someone who is willin’, for the right price, of course, to do what we need them to do to make that happen.”
“Like start a war?” she breathes.
“Exactly. Men with power that big need to be taken down by someone bigger. You cause a war for them, and we step back and let the big dogs destroy him. Keeps our name clear. Gets you safe. But we need someone who we can trust. Someone close to him. Someone willing to do some pretty dirty work. You know anyone, anyone at all, that might do that?”
She thinks on it, and almost immediately, she says, “Yes.”
It’s so quick, for a moment everyone is stunned. Quiet. Even a little confused. She didn’t have to think long, seconds barely, and she had someone. Does Shanks really have that little loyalty? Benefits us if he does.
“There is a man who is very close to him that I think would do it. I knew him quite well, though he doesn’t say much. He’s been loyal to my father for a long time, since I was a child, but I used to watch him. He’d just stare at him, like he wanted to tear his head off. I could never figure out exactly why he stayed; my guess was always that my father had something over him. Something big. Something that made him stay. It’s a risk, because I could be wrong, but I am almost certain he hates my father more than me.”
“Any chance you can find him?” Malakai asks.
“Yeah.” She nods. “He’s lived in the same place since I was younger; last time I knew, he was still there. He may have moved, but I have his name. I don’t think he’d be hard to find.”
“Let’s get his name and get to work then,” Maverick says, standing.
“One second,” I mutter. “Sounds to me like this man won’t take too kindly to people just showing up and asking questions. We need to take Charlie, too. If he knows her, it’ll be the only chance we have of gettin’ him on our side. Can’t just roll in without her.”
“He’s right,” Charlie says, her voice hard. “As much as I hate to admit it. You’re going to need me. And you’re going to want to leave the club out as much as possible. I think whoever comes, we keep it minimal. Just in case.”
Malakai looks between Charlie and me, sighs, and then nods. “Yeah, you’re right. Koda, Charlie, you can come with me to find him. Let’s see if we can get his exact location before we take Charlie out of hiding first.”
“And,” Scarlett pipes up, “I think we should disguise her, just in case.”
Girl is onto something. We don’t want Charlie being recognized and taken down before we have the one, and probably only chance, at getting this ended.
“You sort that out then,” Malakai says. “Charlie, what’s his name?”
“His name is Slater Knight.”
Bad sounding motherfucker.
Charlie gives out the last known address for him, and Boston and Mason are sent off to see if they can sight him after Charlie gives them a description.
“He sounds hot.” Scarlett giggles, and Maverick shoots her a glance that makes her cheeks flush. “What?” she protests. “He does.”
“He is,” Charlie says, her eyes zeroing in on me, and her glare getting heavier. “In fact, I think he’ll be even hotter now.”
Anger bubbles in my chest, but I don’t let it show.
I know what she’s doing.
She knows what she’s doing.
But I’m not going to bite.
Even though it’s fucking working.
“Well,” I mutter, standing up, “let’s get this shit done so I can get the fuck out of here and away from all of this.”
I don’t miss Charlie’s face flash, and then she snaps, “Nobody is making you stay, Dakoda. I’m very sure anyone else in the club will happily take over the role in protecting me if it’s too hard for you.”
I ignore her and walk off, fists clenched.
Fuck me.
This fucking sucks.
I should never have put my cock in her.
Because now I can’t get her out of my head.
And worse.
My heart.
-16-
NOW – CHARLIE
I sit on an old wooden post surrounding a paddock at Scarlett’s ranch. I hate admitting it, more than anything, but I’m hurt, gutted even, at what I heard Koda telling Maverick this morning. That I’m just pussy. Nothing special. Last night, I felt something, deep inside me. I felt, for the first time in forever, a warmth and affection for another person outside of my mother.
He got in.
&
nbsp; And then he crushed me.
I’ve been a lot of things in my life but hearing someone I gave a tiny piece of myself to calling me just pussy hurt.
I fight back the tears because I’m horrified by them. I rarely cry, rarely. In fact, I honestly can’t remember the last time I did. So, the fact that I’m letting some asshole make me feel any less is frustrating me and making me angrier and angrier by the second. I didn’t deserve that, especially not from him.
“Hey.”
I take a shaky breath and look to my left to see Scarlett climbing onto the railing beside me. She leans over, tucking her arms on so she doesn’t fall back, and stares right at me. Those intuitive brown eyes digging right into my pain and stirring it around. She knows something is wrong. She’s far too clued on not to.
“What happened between you and Koda?”
I hate what happens next.
I hate that I feel so hurt that my eyes burn and my lips shake.
I don’t cry, I refuse to fucking cry, but it takes a lot to fight it off.
“We had sex, last night … twice.”
Her mouth drops open, and she puts a hand up. “Whoa, wait, what?”
“It kind of just … happened. I don’t know. But it was incredible, Scarlett. I felt something, something I haven’t felt in such a long time. It was real. We talked. He opened up about his brother. We connected on a level I’ve never connected with another person, and then this morning I heard him telling Maverick I was just pussy. Nothing special.”
For a moment, Scarlett doesn’t say anything, and a million thoughts flitter through my mind. Like, is she thinking it’s my own fault for sleeping with him, when I knew he was hard? I mean, she would be right. I did know he was hard, and broken, and twisty, and everything I probably shouldn’t have slept with. I know all of this, very well. But even though all of that, his words still hurt. A whole lot. Because I didn’t truly expect it from him.
“I swear …” Scarlett’s voice is angry, shaking from the frustration. “I’m going to go in there and rip his balls off. Then I’m going to rip Maverick’s balls off for not doing it when he said that.”
