Thank. Fuck.

When I hear the distant voices moving closer to the cabin, my shoulders ease just a tiny bit. Yesterday was hell. Barely two words were spoken between Charlie and me. She was off all afternoon, staring at her phone, and then losing herself just looking at nothing, not even me. She didn’t eat. She went to bed early.

It’s fucked.

I need something to break it up.

I stand out in front of the cabin, arms crossed over my chest, and watch as Malakai, Amalie, Maverick, Scarlett, Mason and Boston come into view. I nod in their general direction, and it’s Scarlett that skips over first with a big smile on her pretty damn face.

“Hi there, Koda. Is Charlie still alive?”

I stare at her, then grin. She’s one of the only women I actually like. I’d go as far as calling her a friend, and I have very few of those with a pussy. I don’t do women very well. But Scarlett, I can handle her.

“That depends on what you class as alive? She’s still breathin’ ...”

She shoves my chest lightly. “You’re awful. Where is she?”

I jerk my head toward the house and Scarlett waves to Amalie. I nod and smile at the shy, beautiful girl that captured Malakai’s heart, and she smiles back, lifting her hand in a wave. When they’ve disappeared inside, I walk over and shake Malakai’s hand. “Glad to have you here, brother.”

He grins at me. “Surely she’s not that fuckin’ bad?”

I snort. “You have no idea. Biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever come across in my life.”

Maverick chuckles. “Do you good to interact with a female, bro. Fuck knows all you do is screw ‘em and send them on their way.”

“Exactly how it should be,” I mutter.

I shake Mason and Boston’s hands, and then help them set up camp, pitching a few tents. There isn’t enough room in the cabin for everyone. We’ll let the girls stay in there, if they want, that is.

“Well, there she is, lookin’ as pretty as ever.”

Malakai’s voice makes me lift my head, to see Charlie standing on the porch with Scarlett and Amalie by her side.

“Hello, Malakai, did you bring me someone else for protection yet? I don’t like Dakoda very much. In fact, I’m surprised he’s still alive.”

I glare at her, and she throws me a sarcastic smile.

“Watch yourself,” I warn.

“Come now, darlin’,” Malakai chuckles. “He ain’t all that bad.”

Charlie crosses her arms, and nearly every man there zones in on her tits. Fucking perfect tits.

“I’m starting to think you put me up here with him on purpose. I mean, surely you have other members of your club that could protect me. Are you getting some sort of twisted satisfaction out of this?”

Malakai grunts, then laughs. “Oh, abso-fuckin’-lutley.”

“Jerk,” she mumbles under her breath. “Well, I’m telling you, if any bad guys actually found me, there is no guarantee your man over here wouldn’t throw me right at them.”

“Too right,” I mutter.

“Now now, you two.” Maverick grins. “We’re here to break things up a bit. For a few days, you won’t have to talk to each other at all if you don’t want.”

“Thank God,” Charlie murmurs, shooting me a look.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” I snap.

“Okay.” Scarlett claps. “Now we got that out of the way, is it safe if we take Charlie for a walk to the river?”

Malakai looks to me. “Thoughts?”

“No one can get to the river without coming past the cabin first. They’re fine.”

Scarlett claps. “Yes!”

“Don’t get eaten by anythin’, darlin’,” Maverick tells her, his eyes lusty. “That’s my job later.”

Scarlett flushes, Amalie giggles, and Charlie grins.

Of course she grins.

Dirty bitch.

Fucking like it, too.

The girls all rush off toward the river, and I turn to help finish setting up the tents.

“Any more information?” I ask Malakai as we hammer the pegs into the ground.

“Fuck all, was hopin’ you had something?”

“Been doin’ research every night. Tryin’ to get information. Names. He’s keepin’ himself well hidden.”

“He?” Malakai asks, stopping and crossing his arms.

“Can’t tell me a chick is running a show this big.”

He thinks on that, then nods. “Yeah, probably fuckin’ right. Charlie said anythin’ more?”

“Not a fuckin’ word.”

“She’s closed lipped, eh?” Maverick says, joining the conversation.

“Tight as fuck. Won’t say a word. Not sure if it’s out of protection, or fear.”

“My guess,” Mason throws in, “fear. Fear makes you do far more stupid shit than protection does. She’s a hard woman, closed off, blocked everything out. Most people only do that when they’ve been forced to.”

“Agreed,” Boston mutters. “Whatever she knows, she’s scared of it.”

“Mmm,” Malakai murmurs. “I’ll try talk to her later tonight, see if I can get anythin’ out of her. We need to get this show movin’, if we don’t, things are only goin’ to get more dangerous for her, and us. We gotta get her safe, and the club.”

“Agreed,” I tell him. “You have a go, see what you can get outta her. She won’t tell me a damned thing.”

Maverick chuckles. “Like a fuckin’ married couple, you two.”

“Don’t insult me, Maverick,” I warn.

“See Sugar didn’t do her job properly the other night,” Malakai adds. “You’re still cranky as fuck.”

“You see how you go with her attitude swingin’ around,” I growl. “See if you can keep your cool.”

“Challenge accepted.”

Good luck to him.

She’s more than a handful.

~*~*~*~