by Ali Parker
Something told me that he would try to no matter what the cost.
***
After a long afternoon of sorting through files with Oliver, we finally had what we needed. I locked the over-stuffed binder on Tanner King in my desk drawer and waved goodbye to a few people as I left the precinct for the day. I wanted to see Johnny, but I knew he had a few things to deal with.
I decided to stop by to see my dad at the church, though it was the last thing I really wanted to do.
The parking lot had only his car sitting out all by itself as I drove up. My sister's grave sat in the distance in the cemetery just beyond the church playground. It was peaceful knowing that dad was only a few steps from Tani's grave at all times. I didn't know why the thought offered me some rest, but it did.
"Hey."
I turned to see my father walking up with a basket in his hands. "I was grabbing some wild flowers from the field for Tani's grave."
"Let me help." I reached out and took the basket from him. "How are you?"
"Worried." He reached out and squeezed my shoulder as we walked toward the cemetery.
"About?" I forced a smile. Our relationship had gone to pot a while back, and now that Seth and I weren't together, my father rarely said two words to me.
"You." He shrugged. "How are you?"
"I've been better." I reached into the basket and pulled out a few wild flowers. "Remember when Tani talked me into throwing wild flower seeds into the yard, and you got really mad at us?"
He chuckled and moved to his knees in front of her grave. "Yeah. I remember that. I couldn't mow the lawn for months because I might hurt your flowers."
I smiled. "And you didn't do it."
"Because I loved you girls." He reached out and took a few of the flowers. "I still love you."
"Do you?" I moved to my knees beside him. "Cause I feel like you love me when I'm good enough. When Seth loves me or when my jobs not dangerous or when I'm doing all the right things."
He glanced over at me. "Is that how you feel?"
"Absolutely." I set the basket down and finished putting the flowers in the vase in front of us. "Tani left because she wanted more love than you and I could provide for her. Now, it's just us."
"And now you're the one running." He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ears.
"Do I have a choice?" I took his hand into mine and turned my attention back to the gravestone. "My job's dangerous and my husband decided to love someone other than me."
"And I'm sorry for that." He dropped his head to his chest and took a shaky breath. "How do we fix it, Dani?"
"This is a start I think." I leaned toward him and rested my head against his strong shoulder. "I'm dating a criminal who has more tats than one person should be allowed to have. He drives a big, loud bike and cusses a lot."
"And you love this hoodlum?" There was no condemnation in my father's voice. It was a bit shocking.
"I think I do." I turned a little and glanced up at my dad. "And I think he loves me."
My dad turned and smiled. "Then I guess that's enough."
Chapter 23
Ryder
Axel pulled up beside me and pulled off his helmet before speaking. "He's going to know we're here."
I turned my bike off and motioned for the other guys in the MC to do the same. "He already knows where here, Axel. He's been goading me to do this for years."
"That's true, boss." Sabian moved up beside me, the bastard never wearing a helmet. "What's the plan?"
"We're just going in both barrels blaring. Try hard not to get your ass shot. Got it?" I turned and looked at everyone as they crowded as closely around me as they could.
"Let's do this shit." Hyde started his hog again and swerved around all of us.
"Well damn." I pulled my helmet back on and took off after him. The bastard was crazy as all get out no matter what we did. Scary enough, time wasn't going to change that, or it didn't seem like it was.
I half-expected shots to be fired at us from the windows, but the house sat quietly as we drove up. I motioned for two of the guys to move around to the back and one on each side just in case anyone made a run for it.
After parking my bike, I walked up to the front door with my gun drawn. Axel stood just to the left of me.
"Let me kill him, Jon. You got Jason you need to raise and a family that depends on you. I ain't got anyone. Let me do this for you. For all of us."
"Not a chance." I stopped in front of the door and glanced over at him. "Besides, there's a pretty girl back at the shop that's just waiting patiently for you to stop being a pussy and ask her out."
"Ellie?" He almost sounded surprised.
I snorted. "I hate you sometimes."
"Ditto."
We turned and kicked the door down before pulling back. Nothing. I knelt and leaned around the opening to see if anyone was waiting for us. No one.
"Weird. Where are these mother fuckers?"
"Not in here." Hyde walked through the lobby of the mansion toward us.
I rolled my eyes and got up. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"Taking one for the team. Hello?" He waved his gun around.
"Put that up." Axel nodded toward the gun. "Check all the rooms and see where these mother fuckers are."
"They knew we were coming." I walked in and tucked my gun in the back of my pants. "How though."
"Fucking Tanner King has eyes everywhere, man. You know as well as I do that his little sister probably told him. She plays whatever part he gives her. We all know that." Sabian walked in through the side door near the study. "She told him."
"And he ran?" Jax asked. "No way. That's not King's style at all."
"Jax is right." I turned in a full circle before catching the scent of gas. "Get the fuck outta here. The place has a gas leak."
Everyone ran for the front of the house and bounded down the stairs. We barely made it to the yard before the house exploded, which sent us flying. Fire lit up the night behind us, and the sound of groans filled the air.
I lifted up in time to see a bike cut across the field with two people on it. One had to be Cade and the other? A woman with long hair. I couldn't make out her figure as my ears rang and my face burned.
"There." I lifted my hand to point to them before I dropped back down on my side. I blinked a few times and growled as someone pulled me by my arms back away from the house.
"He alright?" Flex dropped down beside me.
"Yeah. Give him some fucking room." Axel growled.
"I'm good." I rolled onto my stomach and tried to get up. The world spun a little, but I reached out and grabbed Axel's arm. "Fuck. Did the-"
"Yeah. The goddamn house exploded." Jax walked up. "Unbelievable. You know how much money that fucking house was probably worth?"
"King doesn't care." Sabian reached out and patted the side of my face. "Ryder. You alright, boss?"
"Yeah. Someone lit that fucker on us." I pointed again. "I know I saw Cade drive off, but there was a woman with him."
"Candace?" Axel asked.
"I don't know. I don't think so." My head throbbed painfully as worry danced deep inside of me. Had Dani been on the back of that bike? Was that her promise to Tanner? She'd told me straight up that she was to deliver me to him. What better way to do it than piss me off with the idea that Tan was fucking with my girl. That he had somehow hurt her or kidnapped her?
Was Jason in on it too? He'd been the one to plant the seed.
"Hey. Stay with us, buddy." Axel was in my face. "You alright."
"Yeah. Get the hell outta my personal space." I pushed at his chest and walked away from them as the fire burned bright behind me. I had to get myself together. I was getting paranoid. We'd come to take Tanner out, and the bastard had almost single handedly taken all of us out - together.
He couldn't have pulled that off alone.
Not without the help of someone close to me.
Or several someones.
; ***
It took a while to get back to the lodge, but when we did, Candace was still there. The bartender confirmed that she'd been there the whole time, and hadn't used her phone once. She was pretty pissed when I insinuated that she was in with Tanner.
"Axel. Take her to your place, man." I pointed at her and narrowed my eyes. "I find out that you were involved in this shit and you're gonna wish you never showed up here for help."
"Jon. Seriously?" She locked her jaw.
"Yeah. I'm dead serious right now." I nodded at Axel, who gave me a look of understanding. He had my back, even if it meant taking my pregnant ex-girlfriend to his place until things could calm down. "I'm going home to sleep for a few hours. I'll touch base later. Thanks for tonight."
"Anything for you, boss. Sorry, it got fucked up." Sabian's voice followed me out of the lodge as he and the other guys tried to figure things out.
Frustration and fury burned deep in my stomach as I reached my bike and got on it. If Candace hadn't left the lodge, then who the fuck was on the back of Cade's bike? There were only a few choices, and really only one that made sense.
Danielle.
"No," I mumbled and started the bike, deciding to forgo the helmet. Death was coming for me sooner rather than later. I might as well enjoy living on the edge until it showed up.
The ride home helped to calm me down a little, but not nearly as much as I needed it to. The sound of someone in my dining room when I walked in had me on edge.
"Don't pull out that gun." Tanner walked out from the kitchen with his gun in his hand. Cade sat at my kitchen table with his gun pointed right at me.
"I can't believe we mattered enough tonight for you to blow up your daddy's old mansion." I put my gun on the table and walked to the kitchen, moving around them like they were guests in my house. I grabbed a beer and popped the top, drinking half of it before walking back out and sitting down at the kitchen table. "Your mom would be heartbroken if she knew that house was trashed. She sold a lot of pussy for that place."
"Fuck you, Jon." Tanner hit me in the back of the head - hard.
I took another sip of my beer and leaned back, letting out a sigh. "What can I do for you boys tonight?"
"You know why I'm here." He moved around me and pulled a chair right up to mine before dropping into it.
I reached out and gripped his head, smacking mine into it and busting his nose.
"Boss?" Cade stood and moved closer, his gun pointed right at my face.
"You fucker. I shouldn't have fallen for that." Tanner gripped his nose and smiled as blood dripped down his white shirt. "How many times have you broken my goddamn nose?"
"Too many to count." I finished my beer and let out a growl before shifting my attention to Tanner's boy. "So tell me something, you big fucker."
"What?" Cade barked out as he reached over to get a towel off the kitchen table. He tossed it at Tanner.
"Who was on the back of your bike tonight? Out at Tanner's momma's house?"
"Dani." Cade tilted his head to the side and smiled. "Who did you think it was? Your baby momma?"
"What do you want from me, Tan?" I leaned back in my chair as if I was more than relaxed having them both in my house. It wasn't a surprise. Tanner King was predictable at best. He didn't want to fight. He wanted loyalty. He wanted to feel like I belonged to him like I was still in his camp.
"I need that file. Dani has it in her desk drawer, brother. Ask for it."
"I'm not your brother, mother fucker. You were dead to me a long time ago. You know this."
Tanner chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Axel never made it home with Candace."
"What are you talking about?" I tried to keep my voice steady even though my nerves were on edge.
"One of my guys put a bullet in her head about a mile from the lodge." He shrugged. "And you're welcome."
"What?" I moved to grab him, but Cade pushed me back.
I stumbled over my chair and fell on my ass, hitting my already-sore head on the wall behind me. "You killed your own fucking sister?"
"Yeah. For you." He shrugged and stood up. "That wasn't your baby, man. She was a whore like mom was."
He was a sick motherfucker when we were younger, but he'd gone off the deep end now.
I reached for my phone, searching for it. "Fuck."
"Candace slipped it out of your pocket at the lodge for me." He pulled the rag from his face and moved closer to me. "Women can't be trusted, Jon. You know this. All of them are sick bitches, and they deserve what they get. Candace didn't care about you, neither does this cop."
"Get out or shoot me, bitch. I'm too tired for this shit." I turned to get up, and he kicked the hell out of my ribs. Blood dripped from my mouth as I groaned and still forced myself to stand. "Get out."
"Get the file."
"Or?"
"Don't ask, man. I have no soul. I'll take anyone and everyone out." He patted my back.
I swatted his hand away. "Whose baby was it, Tanner?"
"Jason's." He laughed and walked to the door. "Get the file, and the cop can go free. Otherwise, we'll dope her ass up and send her off to the next orgy as a free-for-all. Just like I did her sister, Tani. Super horny slut. I wonder if Dani is any better."
A scream of rage erupted from me as I forced myself toward him. "I fucking hate you."
"I know." He backed up and motioned for Cade to join him. "I hate you too."
Chapter 24
Dani
I didn't sleep a wink the night before. I couldn't. Too many worries kept me up. For some reason, it felt like I had so much more to lose than I already had.
After the sun filled my living room with light, I texted Johnny. I had to see him. It was time to clear things up between us. He was more than happy to meet me at a small coffee shop I loved near NYU. DeLuca. The coffee was fresh, and the people were nice.
I needed some normalcy in my life for a few minutes. Maybe being around other people in a crowded place with the man I was falling in love with would do the trick.
Doubtful, but maybe.
After getting dressed, I walked down to the parking lot to find Johnny standing beside his black Mustang. "Hey, beautiful."
"Hi." I walked up to him and slid my hands up his chest. "We need to talk. I want all this shit between us cleaned up."
"Even if Tanner King kills us both for doing it?" He slid his hands over my hips and rested his fingers on the top curve of my ass. "Cause all he wants is to take you from me, Dani."
"Do I belong to you?" I pressed my chest against his and breathed in deeply. The scent of his cologne lit my body on fire. There wasn't another man in my life or from my past that I remembered being able to do that with.
"Do you want to?" He brushed my hair back and leaned down to kiss me.
The softness of his lips against mine lifted my spirit. He wasn't involved in the situation at the precinct or with Tani. He wasn't the bastard that Tanner had tried to make him out to be. He couldn't be.
And if he was... I was going to take my chances and find out for myself.
"Coffee?" He touched his forehead to mine and smiled. "You want to go have a cup of coffee like a bunch of yuppies while the world is burning down around us?"
"With you? Yeah. I do." I kissed him and moved back. "Let's figure all of this out and put Tanner King in the ground if we can."
"I tried that last night." He walked around the car and got in as I got into my side. "He blew up the building around me. I was lucky to get the guys out of there before we all lost our fucking lives."
"Shit." I buckled and reached over, wanting to touch him. "He ran me off the road last weekend and I sunk to the bottom of the river near your house."
"Danielle! Fuck, baby." He turned and moved toward me, grabbing me roughly. The worry in his eyes was enough to melt me completely. "Why didn't you tell me that shit?"
"Because I wanted to try and do my part by myself. I don't need to be saved, Johnny."
"What
if I do?" He kissed me passionately, forcing his tongue deep into my mouth. I gave into him and closed my eyes as the world melted around me. Nothing mattered but the feeling of his fingers in my hair, his warm palm pressed against my cheek, his passion filling up the car. He broke the kiss and smiled. "I might have to drag you back upstairs and give you a good fucking before coffee."
I laughed and leaned back in my seat. "After we get this figured out, let's rent a room in a nice hotel and not leave for a week."
"I'm down with that." He licked his lips and put his hands on the steering wheel. "Tell me everything that happened with Tanner, baby. I need to know."
I took a deep breath and let it spill out. All of it. The sex traffic busts, saving Caroline, her telling Tanner my name, our shared kiss, getting driven off the bridge, kidnapped and the fucker being in my house. There wasn't a moment I left out just in case he knew anything about what I'd been through already.
"Dani." He pulled up in front of DeLuca and faced me. "I would never cheat on a woman. Not ever. I wasn't with anyone when I fucked Candace."
"Tell me what happened with you."
"I will. Let's grab a cup of coffee, and I'll spill." He leaned over and kissed me once more before getting out of the car. I met him at the front of the Mustang, and he took my hand and lifted my fingers to his lips, kissing them as we walked toward the cafe.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled my nose as I walked in and let the place calm my soul.
"Hey, guys. I'm Jenna. What can I get started for you today?" A pretty girl at the counter smiled at us.
"Hazelnut latte and whatever this big guy is having." I moved up and pressed my hands to the counter.
"Big?" Johnny walked up and smiled down at me. "That a hint?"
"She just called you fat, brother."
We turned as a good looking blond guy walked up and offered his hand to Johnny.
