by Rebel Hart
“You’d be nervous, too, if you were in my shoes.”
He barked with laughter. “Damn right I’d be. That girl was practically--”
John nudged him in his ribs and Rupert grunted. He swallowed his sandwich before casting John his own glare, and I pulled my eyes away from them. I peeked down the hallway. I really needed Dani to hurry up. We were thirty minutes away from this hotel and we needed to leave five minutes ago.
“Gorgeous! I’m sure you look fine! We have to get out of here!”
I heard a door open. “Three more minutes! Just got to get my lipstick on.”
I furrowed my brow. “Lipstick?”
Rupert chuckled. “Oh, you’re gonna be greatly underdressed.”
I stood from the couch as my voice dropped. “Will it be ready for her when we get back tonight? Or do you need more time?”
Rupert nodded. “I’ve already seen it. It’s perfect, Max. She’s going to love it.”
John came over and clapped my shoulder. “She deserves this, and so do you.”
Rupert took another bite of his food. “All you have to do is be yourself.”
John pointed at me. “But if you want to channel anyone in this situation, I suggest--”
Dani’s voice pierced our conversation. “All right. I’m ready. I just need to find my purse. Have you seen it anywhere?”
I saw John’s jaw drop open as Rupert’s eyes widened. And when I turned around, my heart stopped in my chest. My God, Dani looked incredible. Like the perfect specimen of an angel that had dropped from heaven just to save me. My eyes roamed her body as I pulled away from John’s grasp. The floral-printed dress she wore accented the sunkissed glow of her skin, hitting her just above her knees. The heeled boots she had on made me salivate. Her curves were accented by a bow tied behind her back. She had her hair pulled back into a half-ponytail, making her eyes sparkle as her ruby red lips curled into a grin.
She knew exactly what she was doing to me.
And it only confirmed that I was making the right decision.
“You look amazing, gorgeous.”
She smiled. “You don’t look half bad yourself.”
Rupert snickered. “He looks like shit compared to you.”
I shot him a look as Dani laughed, filling the room with her comforting, relaxing sound.
“Thanks, Rupe.”
He winked. “Anytime, Bambi.”
I offered my arm. “Ready to go?”
She threaded her arm with mine. “Please tell me we’re taking your bike.”
“In that dress you’re wearing?”
She shrugged. “Why not?”
John stepped in. “For one thing, it’s not safe.”
Rupert added on, “And for another, the wind is going to shove that dress right up your legs the second you two hit the road.”
Dani reached down, slipping her dress up. “I’ve got that covered.”
I peeked down and saw the spandex road shorts she had on underneath. And damn it, I couldn't have loved this woman any more if she sincerely tried. I grinned as she smiled up at me, warming my frozen heart as it started fluttering against my chest. Then her wonderous voice filled my ear.
“Remember, handsome. We aren’t doing this for them. We’re doing this for us.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“I’m not expecting this to go well at all. I’m not expecting them to just automatically be okay with you and be okay with what we’re about to tell them.”
“I don’t know if that’s supposed to make me feel better or worse.”
She giggled. “Just stick to the plan. Honesty above all else. No matter what they say, don’t fire back.”
“Unless they disrespect you.”
She nodded. “Yes. If they lose all respect for the situation, have fun. But I don’t expect them to do that this time. If they don’t respect me, or you, we’re out of there. Because if we can keep our cool, so can they. Okay?”
I winked. “You got it, gorgeous.”
“Great. Now, who do I have to blow to get you to agree to take your bike?”
I growled as John and Rupert burst out laughing. Dani smiled brightly up at me before she kissed the tip of my nose, making my soul melt into a pile of goo. Damn it, she was the cutest thing I’d ever come across in my life. But fucking hell, if she didn’t have a spitball fire of a strong woman deep inside that innocent soul of hers.
“Let’s get out of here,” I murmured.
“Ready when you are, handsome.”
The bike ride over to the hotel seemed so quiet and serene compared to what we had been through. I rode without worry or pretense, without constantly checking my rearview mirrors. I couldn't remember the last time I’d taken a ride and felt as free as I did right now, with Dani tightly wrapped around me as we crossed town. I waved to a few people who waved at us. I didn’t bother with speeding, or running yellow lights, or pursuing shadows I thought might be following us. I languidly drove, enjoying the view and the ride and the feeling of my entire world wrapped tightly around my waist.
But once we were seated in front of her parents, all of that faded away.
“So,” her mother said as she broke the silence, “how long have the pair of you been… seeing each other?”
Dani answered. “About a month or so. Possibly six weeks.”
Her mother’s voice fell flat. “Got pretty serious quickly, then, didn't it?”
I looked down at Dani and watched her smile effortlessly.
“Yes, it did. And I’d like to tell you both what’s been happening since Max and I started seeing each other. As soon as those scowls on your faces are gone, please.”
I looked over at her father and watched him turn his head away. Ever since we walked up and joined them in their booth, he had his lips pursed. His eyes wouldn’t meet mine. Her mother still hadn’t looked at me, but she certainly made sure to turn herself as far away from me as possible. It was clear I wasn’t welcome. But it was also clear that Dani wouldn't tolerate any of that.
“Dad?” she asked.
He licked his lips. “You can speak whenever you’re ready.”
Dani nodded. “Get rid of the scowl.”
Her mother jumped in. “I get that you want us to respect your decisions. And we’re trying. But you don’t get to dictate our facial expressions after jumping down our throats about setting expectations for you that you didn’t want to meet.”
I nodded. “That’s a good point. Dani?”
She sighed. “Fine. Okay. Yes, I--I completely get that.”
Her father nodded. “Thanks.”
Her mother leaned back against the booth cushion. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Dani nodded. “Thank you. But in the interest of time, I’d like to ask that you not interrupt and let me get through to the end before we start picking things apart. Can you do that?”
Her parents looked at one another and worry dripped over their faces. The scowls were gone, but in their places were questions and anxieties I knew we’d have to address before we left.
Everyone just keep a damn lid on it.
“All right, we can do that,” her mother said.
“Dad?”
He sighed. “Just get through it as quickly as you can.”
I had the great pleasure of sitting there and watching horror cross their faces as Dani recounted everything. The confrontation with my father. The chair. How she got tied to it. I watched anger rise in her father’s face until Dani told him about me jumping in after her in the pool. She walked them through our plan we concocted with the police department to get rid of everyone involved. Handcuffs, the S.W.A.T. vehicle. She left no stone unturned as she filled her parents in. Their tears broke my heart. The way they sat on the edge of their seats made me wonder if they’d actually get through the story before jumping in.
But, as Dani wound things down, they stayed true to their word.
“So, yeah,” she said as she leaned back, “that’s what happe
ned. From beginning, to end. Benji’s in holding, for now. And once his father is discharged from the hospital, he’s going straight to jail. Probably until his trial starts. But even though they’re off the streets, the captain of S.W.A.T. has suggested that Max and I get out of town for a little while. Until the trial, just so things don’t kick up and get messy again.”
Her father blinked. “So, after all of this, the two of you are just leaving town?”
Dani looked up at me. “Yeah. We are. Just until things settle down. We’re going to be keeping in contact with--”
Her mother interjected. “What about your schooling? How in the world are you going to keep up with your classes?”
I licked my lips as Dani heaved a heavy sigh.
“I actually went to the dean’s office today and dropped out,” she said.
Her father’s voice reddened. “You what?”
I watched her mother put a hand in his lap to keep him from blowing his top. But I knew we were one stark revelation away from this place becoming yet another war zone. Her father drew in a deep, sobering breath. And me? Well, I wrapped my arm around Dani to keep her seated. Because I felt her growing more on edge, too.
“Danika, your education is very important,” he said.
She nodded. “And so is my sanity. It’s been a crazy few weeks. I need some time, and so does Max.”
Her mother clicked her tongue. “When are you leaving, honey?”
Her father hissed. “You can’t possibly be okay with this.”
Dani leaned against me. “Tomorrow, actually.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “Tomorrow? Are you kidding me!? That’s not enough time. We can’t possibly--you can’t--but your stuff--it--”
I watched her father grind his teeth together to keep from speaking as her mother leaned forward.
“Sweetheart, that’s not enough time. Please reconsider this. So much has happened, and we just--”
Dani shook her head. “I won’t reconsider. I can’t. But I can tell you I’ll stay in touch. I’ll keep you in the loop. You have my word on that. Once we get to where we’re going, I’ll call you. I’ll tell you all sorts of stories and keep you abreast of what’s happening. And I won’t ever lie to you again. Not a single word. I promise you.”
Her mother swallowed hard. “No lies?”
Her father turned to face her. ‘You can’t be seriously considering this, Rena. She’s twenty years old, for crying out loud!”
She snapped at him, “And if it wasn’t for your hot head and your insane actions in the first place, we wouldn't be here. Peter, where in the world do you think our daughter gets it from, huh? The not thinking. The jumping in head first. The irrational decisions based on her gut and nothing else. Who in the world does that sound like?”
Dani suppressed a giggle as I stroked my fingertips along the back of her arm. Her parents bickered with one another before her father got up and walked away. Which didn’t shock me one bit. I was proud of Dani for not trying to stop him. I was proud of her for focusing on her mother instead of indulging the walk-off and ending the dinner.
“You just have to try and see this from our point of view, sweetheart. Like we’re trying to do with you,” she said.
Dani nodded. “I know. I’m trying to do that. And I know this is hard for you guys. You two have dictated most of the moves I’ve made ever since I was born. But you also have to understand that constantly hovering and trying to control my movements is part of the reason why I never felt I could talk to you about this in the first place.”
Her mother’s eyes watered. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
She took her mother’s hand across the table. “I know, Mom. I know you are. And I know this is hard. Genuinely, truly hard for you guys. But from now on, no more lies. No more secrets. Complete and total transparency, from here on out.”
“Can I ask just one thing of you?”
“Anything, Mom.”
She sighed. “Is it possible to have this captain’s number? I mean, just in case something happens while you’re gone and you can’t get in touch with us?”
I smiled. “I’ll make sure you get it before we leave, yes.”
Her mother looked over at me with eyes full of relief, and I knew we’d made a lot of progress. Maybe not with her father. But certainly with her mother.
And for that, I was happy.
“Do you have any questions for me, Mrs. Young?” I asked.
She released Dani’s hand. “Plenty.”
I chuckled. “I’m more than willing to answer any you have.”
Dani leaned against me and I cuddled her close.
“Actually, I just have one question I need answered right now,” her mother said.
I nodded. “Shoot.”
“Max, do you love my daughter?”
I didn’t skip a beat. “More than anything or anyone I’ve ever come across in my life.”
She pointed at me. “Then you do everything you can to protect her while she’s gone. You got it?”
“You don’t have to worry about that at all. The entire reason why I’ve planned this getaway for us is because I know it’s for her safety. She’ll have a good time, we’ll get our minds off things, and she’ll be safe. You have my word.”
Her mother dropped her voice. “And make sure she calls me. You know how she can be.”
I leaned forward, winking. “I’ll call you myself if I have to.”
She smiled. “Good. I think we’ll get along just fine, then.”
Her father never did come back to the table, but that didn’t seem to bother anyone. Dani, Mrs. Young, and I had a fabulous dinner together where she got to shoot questions my way and I answered them to the best of my ability. The dinner went a great deal better than either of us thought it would. And while I was sad at the fact that her father didn’t feel like he could return, I knew he’d like me with time.
Once he figured out the kind of man I was, anyway.
Mrs. Young yawned. “That meal requires a nap.”
Dani yawned, too. “You’re not joking.”
I chuckled. “I could go another round, honestly.”
Her mother giggled. “With how big you are? You could go another two rounds, I’m sure.”
I chuckled. “Big boys gotta eat.”
Mrs. Young reached for the check. “I’ll get this.”
I quickly reached out my hand, wrapping it around her wrist. “Let me.”
Her eyes met mine. “Let me do this for you guys. As a small gesture of peace. And don’t you worry about my husband. I’ll make sure he comes around.”
Dani slid her hand down my arm. “Thanks, Mom. We appreciate it.”
She pried my hand away from her mother’s wrist and intertwined our fingers. It didn’t sit well with me, her mother paying for us. But I guess it was the best decision. We’d need all of the money we could pool together for this trip we were taking. Especially after the money I’d just dropped on the gift I had for her back at the house.
“Will you call before you leave?” Mrs. Young asked.
Dani nodded. “Of course we will. We can’t tell you where we’re going. At least until the captain says it’s okay. But I’ll call you before we leave and after we land.”
Mrs. Young nodded. “Okay. Good, good.”
“Will you tell Dad that I love him?”
I jumped in. “That we love him?”
Her mother smiled at my words. “Of course I will, you two. Leave it to me.”
Dani smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”
Her mother nodded. “And thank you both for this dinner. While I’m not completely settled on anything, I feel a bit more stable. It’ll take time. Lots and lots of time. But give us that time and we’ll work with you.”
I nodded. “Whatever you need.”
36
Dani
I closed my eyes. “Well, that was… interesting.”
Max chuckled, sliding on his helmet. “Interesting is one way to put it.�
�
“At least Mom stayed for the entire dinner.”
“You think you’ll hear from your father tonight?”
I shrugged, putting on my own helmet. “I doubt it. But it’s not my problem anymore.”
“I’m really proud of you, you know.”
I paused. “For what?”
“For no longer letting people in your life guilt trip you into things.”
I smiled. “Thanks, handsome.”
“But don’t get tired on me yet. There’s still a bit of business we need to see to before we head to bed for the night.”
I furrowed my brow. “Business? What sort of business?”
He cracked a wry grin. “You’ll see, gorgeous. You’ll see.”
My curiosity got the best of me on the ride back. I grew anxious in all the best ways as we crept closer to the house. I clung to Max, wondering what in the world he had in store. Had something gone wrong during dinner? Was there some sort of surprise waiting for me? Had the captain called him or something while we were eating?
I didn’t know what to expect.
But as we rode down Max’s street, I didn’t expect to see what was there.
The street was lined with motorcycles. One behind the other, in and orderly and fused fashion. I stopped counting the bikes after twenty-two, because it was very clear to me that the entire Red Thorns crew was here. I shook my head as Max pulled into the driveway. We slid our helmets off and stowed them away. Then, without a word spoken to me, he offered me his hand.
“Care to join me, Dani?”
I slipped my hand into his. “What in the world is going on?”
He didn’t answer my question. He simply led me into the house. We walked through the front door together and were immediately bombarded with cheering and whooping and hollering. I jumped at the sound. The guys clapped and pumped their fists in the air as I threw my head back in laughter. They all patted me on the back. A few gave me hugs. But not one time did Max ever let go of my hand.
It was like he didn’t want to lose me in the throng of men.
For those that didn’t hug me, they clapped my shoulder. They shook my hand in a brotherly fashion, and it made me feel part of something greater. Something stronger. Something more united than I’d ever experienced in my entire life. I had to keep blinking my eyes for fear that I’d cry on them. The show of strength and unity they all possessed took my breath away.
