The morning broke earlier than we were ready.

My bones ached in a way that reminded me that I’d spent half the night fucking Charlie senseless.

And there was no way I was going to complain about that.

She seemed even more beautiful than before.

I didn’t know how that was possible but Charlie looked like a fucking angel, her red hair splayed out on the flat, pathetic excuse for a pillow, the sunlight picking up golden glints like clover honey in the jar.

Her eyes fluttered open and she caught me staring at her like a crazy person.

Charlie blinked and surprised me with a shy smile that made my heart stutter.

Stretching, she grimaced slightly, admitting, “God, I’m sore,” which only made me want to scoop her up and hold her against my chest all morning.

Jesus, I’d turned into a sappy asshole.

“You hungry?” I asked.

“Starved.”

“Me too.” There was a small diner down the street. It seemed safe enough to grab a bite. “Get dressed and I’ll put some food in your belly.”

Charlie nodded, warning me, “I can put away some food. I’m so hungry I could eat a pancake as large as you.”

A smile broke my seamed lips as I pictured my little hottie plunking herself down to a flapjack my size. “I’d pay to see that,” I teased.

Charlie giggled and climbed out of the bed, torturing me with an absolutely boner-causing view of her hips and tits, and quickly shimmied into her jeans and shirt.

I swallowed my disappointment but my cock was already making life uncomfortable in my pants.

Too bad. Food first.

I ignored my boner and we walked to the diner.

The mom and pop place smelled of bacon and coffee, two smells that made my stomach immediately growl.

It wasn’t much to look at but the food was probably the kind some country grandma made — hearty, made with butter and cream, and landed like a lead balloon in your gut — basically, my favorite.

My head on a swivel, we took a booth seat away from the window, and while I was ready to eat, I didn’t like being out in the open.

Too much to lose at this point.

The last few days had been a flashpoint of clarity.

I couldn’t believe I’d been so blind, plodding through my own life with blinders on.

If I’d been paying attention, I would’ve seen the signs long ago that Manny had no plans for my future, that he’d been using me for as long as my body would hold out.

I guess the fucker hadn’t expected me to last as long as I had.

My shoulder ached as a reminder that I’d sacrificed my body along with my hopes and dreams a long time ago.

I looked up and found Charlie watching me.

Her gaze was soft yet vulnerable, as if she weren’t sure how to act around me now that we’d explored every inch of each other’s bodies.

I didn’t blame her.

We were both in uncharted territory.

I didn’t keep girlfriends.

Communication had never been my strength.

As a kid I’d had a speech impediment.

Until I grew big enough to beat the shit out of anyone who dared to bully me, I’d learned to remain quiet.

But I wanted to share things with Charlie.

My tongue felt suddenly tied, like when I was a kid, so I did what I normally did.

I remained silent.

Charlie didn’t want silence.

“Why’d you protect me that first night?” she asked.

“I don’t remember.”

“There had to be something that made you react. Had we seen each other before?”

I searched my memory but came up empty. The truth was, I had no idea why I chose that moment to charge into the situation and snatch Charlie away from her fate.

All I knew was that I’d do it again.

“You had a black eye,” I recalled. “They were dragging you into the back. I guess I thought they were going to rape you or something. Maybe I thought if Ma were alive she’d be so devastated if I sat back and did nothing while a woman was being roughed up.”

It was a guess – and a good one, at that — but only God knew why I intervened.

“I never truly thanked you for saving me,” she said. “You have no idea how scared I was.”

“You were giving them a run for their money,” I said, cracking a small smile at the memory. The little spitfire had planned to go down swinging and that was hot as hell in my book. “You might not have needed me after all.”

I was teasing her. We both knew what would’ve happened. Charlie’s warm smile reached her eyes and I swear she had a glow about her. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t leave me to test your theory.”

Our food arrived and just as promised, my girl tucked into her plate like a wolverine.

Her voracious appetite made me think of other things her hunger sparked. Everything about Charlie was intense. She was the most alive human being I’d ever met.

I didn’t have much experience with virgins but I’d expected her to be more delicate after everything I’d done to her body.

But hell no, my woman was a quick study with a wicked curiosity.

My woman.

I knew I was messing with fire.

Charlie wasn’t mine just because I’d popped her cherry.

But even as I told myself that, the discordant tone that twanged inside my head said differently.

Charlie was mine.

I’m not sure how she felt about that but when this was all over — if we survived — I guess we’d have to figure it out.

In the meantime, I had to keep her safe.

“What happens if Terrance doesn’t take the bait and call Chantel?” Charlie asked, wiping her mouth after inhaling her pancakes with extra syrup. Man, the woman had a sweet tooth. “I mean, I don’t know what we’re supposed to do while he’s making up his mind.”

“Keep our heads down, keep a low profile,” I answered. It was the best I could offer. We both knew our fates were completely at the mercy of two fickle people. “We can hide out at the motel until tonight.”

Charlie chewed her lip, unhappy with the prospect of remaining in that cramped motel for longer than a minute. “I need clothes,” she said finally. “We have to go back to my place.”

“No.” Charlie had to know that was a stupid idea. “Your house isn’t safe.”

“I know, I just…I don’t know, I can’t spend all day in that motel room. It makes me claustrophobic thinking about it.”

My hackles went up. “Sorry princess, better accommodations aren’t available.”

Her gaze flew to mine with a scowl. “Don’t get pissy. I’m not saying I don’t want to be around you, I just don’t want to be stuck in a roach motel. Cut me some slack, will you?”

And this was why I didn’t keep relationships — I sucked at the talking thing. “Sorry.” I was out of my element. “I’ve got cash. I’ll buy you new clothes.”

“You would do that?” she asked.

“Of course. It’s Davonte’s money. I say we blow it on whatever we want. It might be our last hurrah, anyway.”

Charlie laughed. “I like that idea but we should probably save some of it in case we need to book it out of town.”

“Smart,” I concurred but I liked the idea of buying her new clothes much more. Being sensible had never had a reputation for being sexy.

All jokes aside, I realized I wanted her to know something. It was important enough for me to risk ruining the mood.

“I plan to run The Underground different than Davonte.”

Charlie stilled, dropping her hands into her lap as she processed my admission.

Finally, she said, “I know you would. It doesn’t change how I feel. That place killed my brother. I’ll never have any love for cage fighting.”

“It wasn’t the cage that killed your brother. He never should’ve been in the ring with his opponent. I want to bring The Underground to the surface and make it legit for kids who want that future, for real. I don’t plan to use and abuse them like Davonte does.”

She cast a wounded look at me for crashing our good morning but I needed her to know that I wasn’t like Davonte. My intentions were pure, even if she didn’t like them.

“What are you asking me, Damon?”

Hell, I didn’t know. Her forgiveness? Her understanding? Maybe both. “I just wanted you to know that I was different.”

Charlie inhaled a deep breath and said, “We should go.”

My cell rang and I checked the caller ID.

It was an unknown number.

I answered.

“Your contact was eager to cooperate. You weren’t blowing smoke up my ass.”

I mouthed, “It’s Terrance” to Charlie then said, “You two going to meet and discuss options?”

“Yes. She happens to like Thai food. I like her already.”

“Sounds like everything is falling into plan.”

“Yes, well, not everything is as neat and tidy as it seems.”

I quieted, my gut clenching. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what Terrance was about to say.

“Chantel had her own demands. I couldn’t say I disagreed.”

“Oh? What’s she want?” I would’ve thought Chantel happy with the idea of not having Davonte on her ass every month but I should’ve known Chantel would get greedy.

“She wants Davonte dead. Seems she’s got a personal beef with him.”

“What’s that got to do with me?” I asked, sweat starting to bead on my upper lip. I had a bad feeling.

“We need bait.”

Charlie.

“Your little woman will work perfectly.”

“No.”

“This isn’t a negotiation.”

I could feel Charlie becoming restless. She sensed my agitation.

“You’ll say you found his little runaway bitch and you’ll set up a negotiation. You’ll tell him that you are willing to trade her for ownership of The Underground. He’ll respond with threats but if he really wants the woman, he’ll try to arrange a meeting. When he does, give him the address I am texting to you now. I’ll take care of the rest.”

The line went dead.

Charlie pounced. “You look like you’re ready to puke. What did he say?”

“He wants me to use you as bait to lure Davonte to a specific location.”

She paled. “What?”

“I told him no but he didn’t take my answer seriously.”

I quickly shared the rest of the details.

For a long moment Charlie simply sat there, thinking. Then she surprised me with a nod, saying, “I think he’s right. Davonte won’t quit. He never will. He’ll chase us forever and this is a way to put him where he belongs — in the ground.”

“You’re okay with leading a man to his death?” I asked.

“No. But Davonte isn’t a man. He’s an animal and yes, I’m okay with helping to put down a rabid beast. Frankly, it feels like a public service.”

I regarded Charlie with something close to wonder.

There wasn’t an ounce of reluctance in her clear-eyed gaze.

Charlie had already come to grips with the knowledge that Davonte was bad and the world would be a better place without him. I responded by kissing her hard, saying, “You’re a fucking bloodthirsty woman. Remind me to never to piss you off.”

She laughed against my lips. “You were right; you aren’t dumb, after all.”