Morgan made her way into the living room, keenly aware of the clubbing outfit she was wearing. Never in her life had she made the walk of shame to her house. She only hoped that Mama Ricci wasn’t there to see her.
Davin nodded to the door. “I’ll drive you to the shop.”
She nodded in response, now having difficulty finding anything to say. A moment later they were in his car and on their way.
They rode in silence to the book store. She kept fiddling with the hem of her dress, not quite sure what to say. Mercifully, it wasn’t long before they were outside her door.
Morgan turned to Davin. “Thanks for the ride.”
He nodded and glanced her way. “I guess I’ll give you a call.”
The words hit her like a sledge hammer. She tried to hide the pain hearing those words brought.
“Sure,” she said, her voice wavering.
The idea of tiny heart break now seemed like a desperate delusion. She now only hoped that she could at least reasonably function over the next few days.
Morgan opened the door. She was nearly out of the car when a large hand landed on her arm.
“Wait.”
Morgan turned around to look at Davin. He ran a hand through his dark hair.
She stared at him, putting all her effort into not crying in front of him. She sighed and closed the door.
“Fuck,” Davin said. He sighed and leaned his head back against the seat. “This is just so fucked up.”
She frowned, now more confused than anything. “What?”
Davin turned and slid his hand down her arm until their palms met. “This.”
She swallowed hard. “I still don’t understand.”
“I’m just not cut out for this sort of thing.”
Morgan yanked her arm away. “And what sort of thing would that be?”
Davin looked her in the eye, staring at her until she was certain he could look right into her very soul. She only barely stopped herself from shivering.
“I’m a bad man,” he said finally. “I killed that man last night. He wasn’t the first, and he’s not going to be the last. I’m not even going to say that I’m broken up about it.”
Her heart hammered in her chest. She hadn’t forgotten what he’d done but instead pushed it to the very back of her mind.
“It doesn’t matter,” Morgan whispered.
Davin raised a brow. “Doesn’t it? Isn’t it the most important thing?”
He placed a hand on her cheek, and she covered it with her own. Morgan leaned into the warm palm and closed her eyes.
She didn’t know what she expected. That he would quit doing what he did and live happily ever after with her? The idea of Davin working at the book store almost made her laugh out loud.
A bitter piece deep inside twisted knowing that sort of thing was exactly what she hoped.
“I don’t care,” she whispered. “I need you.”
Davin pulled his hand back and tilted her head up by the chin. “Now I know that’s not true.”
She pressed her lips together. “Fine,” she said defiantly. “I want you, then.”
His gaze waivered, and she wondered if she’d broken through past the brick wall he’d managed to build up around himself and into his cold heart.
Davin nodded toward the store. “You better get inside before customers start arriving.”
Morgan sighed. That wall was just as solid as ever. Too tired to argue, she opened the door once again.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said.
She closed the door behind her once she was on the curb.
With a stiff back, she made her way to the side of the building and started to climb the stairs.
“I’ll pick you up after work tonight,” Davin said.
For a second she didn’t quite process what he’d said. Then she stopped and turned at the top of the stairs to look back at Davin.
He stared at her from the bottom and not the car. He looked like he had sprinted over and still wasn’t quite sure what he was saying.
Morgan couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. Maybe she’d been wrong about everything.
“You want to see me tonight?” she said, not bothering to hide the joy in her tone.
“I don’t know what we’re doing, but I know I need to see you tonight.”
Good enough. It wasn’t a promise, but it didn’t mean nothing.
“Tonight then,” she said softly.
Davin nodded and turned back to his car.
Morgan stepped inside and closed the door behind her. If anything, it meant she had another chance for him to see they were made to be together.
Chapter Thirteen
What the hell was he doing?
Davin didn’t know what the hell had come over him. It was bad enough that he’d spent the night with Morgan. After so many years of fighting his attraction, he’d let himself give in.
He knew all the reasons it was a bad idea. He’d spent years both before and after leaving town telling himself those reasons anytime he thought about sleeping with her. In the end, it all boiled down to safety.
Yes. His time with Morgan had been the best night he’d ever had, but he just couldn’t afford to put her in danger.
Men like him didn’t stay with one woman for too long for a reason. It just left them open to the enemy. Or worse, it left the women they saw open to them.
Davin had dealt with a lot of ruthless men in his time, but his current enemies were near the top of the list. They’d already gone after the women of men in the Kelly Clan, so he couldn’t pretend they wouldn’t go after Morgan the minute they connected her to him.
He couldn’t have that. There was no way he was going to let his shit seep into her life like that. Morgan had led a good and honest life, despite the shit she’d had to deal with growing up. He’d left her to save her from his stench.
Davin grunted. His final words to her had been such a colossally bad idea. He knew that. There was no way he’d delude himself otherwise.
It just didn’t change anything. He couldn’t help but want Morgan. To have the life that neither of them had been given. He wasn’t going to complain that it wasn’t fair, but still it was hard not to think that at times.
Davin’s gaze flicked to a house, and he thought of Finn.
There was a part of him that longed for that kind of permanence. The house. The wife. The two point five kids and the dog.
Maybe it was possible to pull something like that off. After all, his cousin had been able to do it, and given Finn’s father, he started out even more destined for violent bullshit.
Davin pulled up outside of Kane’s house. Several other cars were already gathered there for the meeting.
The truth was his personal life was important to him, but no one else had time to care. They were in the middle of a war, a war that had a battle the night before.
He didn’t have time to think about what a mistake he was making with Morgan. For now, the Russians had to be defeated.
Davin stepped out and made his way to the door. He knocked. Kane opened the door and motioned for him to enter.
Once Davin was inside, Kane closed the door and raised a brow at him.
Davin frowned and shrugged. “What? Do I have something on my face or something?”
“If only.” He shook his head. “Bain is pretty pissed about the stunt you pulled last night.”
Davin grunted. It wasn’t that they weren’t used to shit going down, but usually they had it planned out when they did.
Even though he didn’t regret protecting Morgan and taking out some trash, he’d put everyone at risk with his cowboy shit. If Bain was pissed, he had every right to be.
When Davin stepped into the living room, Bain stared quietly at him from the corner.
“That was some party last night,” the large man said, his voice almost chillingly quiet. He narrowed his eyes.
Davin ran a hand over his head, keenly aware that the men were hanging
on every word like it was some kind of soap opera. For all their gangster ways, in the end, the assholes all liked drama like a bunch of high school girls.
Unlike those girls though, Davin needed to make sure he maintained the dangerous respect of his men, especially given how he would be asking them to risk their lives.
“Yeah,” he said coolly. “Shit happens.”
Bain cut him with his dark brown eyes. They stared at one another, no one saying much of anything. After a few seconds, Bain shrugged and leaned back against the wall.
“Shit happens, I guess,” Bain grumbled.
The tension in the room slipped away. Davin would have to have a little chat with Bain. Smooth things over. Normally he wouldn’t have left a guy hanging like that, but nothing was like normal when Morgan was around.
He sat down in the chair nearest to the door.
“So,” he said, and leaned in a little. “What’s the news?”
“You mean what’s the news since we all but pissed on their mamas last night?” Torin said from the corner of the room.
Davin snorted. “Yeah, that news.”
“Well, the Russians have been silent,” Kane said. “Like dead silent.”
“Huh?” Davin frowned. “We pop one of their guys, and they’re silent? Not even asking around?”
Kane shrugged. “Pretty much.”
It didn’t make sense. No gang worth their cred didn’t retaliate. And generally the sooner, the better, as everything was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
Even if the leaders didn’t want it, given the way these guys operated, there was no way they could keep their men in line that long. Vengeance fueled them.
Some of Finn’s guys, like Noel, had learned that first hand.
“Maybe you missed something,” Davin said.
Bain shook his head. “No. They’re quiet because they have a plan. They’re not gonna be dumb asses and just charge right at us and get more guys killed.” The corners of his mouth twitched.
Davin could tell he was still pissed. He didn’t really know the quiet man all that well, but Bain did his job and he did it well. That was about all he really needed to know.
“You hear something, or is that just a guess?”
Bain nodded and stepped forward. “They were just starting to talk about it when you went all Houdini on them.”
Davin couldn’t hide the twitch of a smile that appeared. He did have style.
“So what’s the plan?” Torin asked.
Bain shook his head at Torin. “Most I got was that they had some guys hiding out keeping tabs on people.” He stared at Davin. “Said it wouldn’t be long before they could make their move.”
Davin clenched his fists. “Boris. Fucking little rat.”
Bain nodded and leaned back against the wall again. “Looks like it.”
Davin’s gaze shot over to where Griffin sat on the couch. The large man was slumped over a computer screen, his glasses slipping down his nose.
“What’s the situation on the security?” Davin said. “You going to be ready if we get hit?”
Griffin looked up from the screen. “About there,” he said. “I’m adding in a few trip spots and surprises to anyone that tries to slip in. It’ll make sure no one goes anywhere near the common grounds at the back of the fencing. I’ve got it heavily reinforced.”
Davin glanced over to Torin who nodded.
“I’ll spread the word,” Torin said.
“One more thing,” Bain said quietly. All eyes fixed on him. “They are getting a new shipment of the drug tomorrow night.”
Davin nodded. That was how they would hit them: wait for the shipment to get in and take it for themselves. If they controlled the drug market, they could hold all the cards. It was how the game was played.
“Tonight,” he began, “we just make sure we get the place fortified. I don’t want any of these Russian bastards sneaking up on us. Tomorrow we hit them where it really hurts. The bank.”
The men in the room mumbled their agreement.
“All right, get to it.”
His eye caught Bain, who still leaned against the wall. The other man jerked his chin toward the back door. Davin followed him.
Once the door was closed, he knew that smoothing things over wasn’t going to happen easily.
“You can’t do this,” Bain said.
Davin frowned. “It’s the best option we have until Boris either shows himself, or we get the drugs.”
Bain shook his head. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then what the fuck are you talking about?”
“The girl. You can’t go dragging her into this. This shit is going to get a lot hotter than what happened last night, and you damn well know it.”
Irritation sparked in Davin. “My romantic life is off the table for you.”
Bain crossed his arms. “Who you fuck is always on the table. Especially if they make my job harder. And that’s already happening.”
Davin glared at him. “Don’t go there.”
Bain leaned forward. “She makes you weak, and that makes me weak. And I don’t do weak.”
It was the first time he’d seen the other man angry like this. At least angry at him.
“What are you getting at?” Davin said, doing his best to keep his voice calm.
Bain shrugged.
“I’m hired to do a job, not get killed. You put me in a position to get killed, and we might just end up on different sides of the line.”
Davin squinted. “Is that a threat?”
Bain shrugged again. “Let’s just call it a warning,” he said with ease. “Have a good day, boss.”
Davin watched as he walked away and wasn’t surprised when Torin stepped out a few moments later.
“Trouble?”
Davin sighed and sat down on a wicker chair near the door. “He’s still pissed about last night. Said Morgan makes me weak.”
Torin sat down next to him. “Does she?”
Davin squinted as he stared up at the bright blue sky. It had been such a great morning. Even despite the weird, awkward start.
“Maybe, but I’m not so sure I’m better without her.”
He looked over at his friend. If anyone understood, it was him. He’d been there by his side all this time.
“Maybe you should just hold off a little,” Torin said. “Wait until things quiet down and then see where things go.”
Davin gave a small laugh. “Things quiet down for us?”
Torin chuckled. “Good point.”
Davin ran a hand over the stubble on his face. “Nope,” he groaned. “Looks like I’m fucked no matter.”
Torin sighed. “Story of my life, bro.”
Inspiration suddenly struck Davin. “Got any ones?” he asked.
“Dollars?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure, I guess. Why?”
Davin groaned. He had a shit plan, but it was better than just sitting on their asses.
“Because I think I have a colossally bad idea.”
Chapter Fourteen
Davin hadn’t showed.
Morgan snored. Of course he hadn’t.
She couldn’t say what she was most angry about: that Davin hadn’t bothered to call or that she actually believed that he would.
She could kick herself.
After last night, it was hard not to think that there might be more there. Some small chance at an actual relationship. But he’d tried to warn her this morning. She just hadn’t listened.
There was no chance for the two of them. Morgan knew this deep down inside, but still there had been just that little smidgen of hope that she’d clutched. She wanted to believe in that hope for the both of them.
For about the millionth time, Morgan looked at the clock. It was nearly one in the morning. Another five hours, and she’d be getting up for work again.
Then she’d be right back to the usual routine. Work, book club, drinking with the girls and no chance to ever f
ind love because she wouldn’t let go of Davin.
Morgan stood from the couch and switched off the TV show she’d been watching. It wasn’t anything she’d even seen before. Some crazy swamp show about creepy creatures that went bump in the night. Really just mindless stuff so she didn’t have to focus too much on the pain of Davin’s betrayal.
She wanted to throw her remote at the TV or smash a lamp or something.
That was it. Morgan was done with this crap. She was done waiting for a man who just didn’t seem to want her back, even after she’d given her heart and body. She was done with letting her heart be broken over and over again.
Morgan was done with it all.
She had stepped over to turn out the light when a soft knock came at the door.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, her heart leapt a little. A few seconds later, the anger returned.
“He better be dead,” she whispered. She peeked out the window. “Un-fucking-believable.”
Anger raged in her now as she swung the door open wide.
Davin stood there looking just as amazing as he did that morning. “Morgan,” he said softly.
She could smell cheap perfume and the stench of stale alcohol on him before he’d even stepped close to her.
When she wrinkled her nose, he gave a sort of sheepish look that could only mean one thing. There was another woman involved.
Morgan grit her teeth.
One day. He couldn’t even make it one fucking day. All his sweet words meant nothing in the end.
With all her strength, she tried to slam the door in his face, but he caught it just before she did, pushing his way in.
“Don’t be like that,” he said as he shut the door behind him, and stepped into the tiny apartment.
“Don’t be…” she sputtered. She stared at him in disbelief. Did he really think she wasn’t going to be mad? That she wouldn’t notice? Her cheeks flamed with anger. “Are you actually serious right now?”
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
She gave a short laugh. Being late was only half the problem at this point.
“Late?”
Davin sighed. “This is why it won’t work with us,” he mumbled.
Morgan crossed her arms over her chest. “Because you can’t bother to pick up a fucking phone and call?”
Davin: #6 (Kelly Clan) Page 7
