“Busy night, brother,” Maverick murmurs, walking into the kitchen the next morning to take the one stash of coffee we have until someone can get more.

I glance over at him. “Makes you say that?” I mutter.

“Heard that girl screamin’ from our cabin. Pretty sure she wasn’t doin’ that on her own.”

I shrug. “She wanted it. I gave it. Everyone was happy.”

He doesn’t say anything, and when I look back, he’s staring at me. Really fucking staring. I hate when he does that, like he can see I’m a fucking liar and he knows it. Of course he knows it. Everyone in this place knows it. Charlie is under my skin. No matter how fucking hard I try and fight it. She’s there, and I can’t get her out. Every time I look at her, my chest tightens.

Fuck.

This is not good.

It’ll only cause pain. So why the fuck can’t I walk away?

“You and I both know you could get any woman. We also know that woman is protected. You wouldn’t fuck her for the fun of it, and we both know it. You got feelings for her?”

I shoot him a glare. “No, I do not have fuckin’ feelings for her. I like her, she’s a good chick, she’s fun, and she’s hot. End of story.”

Maverick shakes his head. “Like to hope that’s the end of story, because if you don’t have genuine feelings for her, you should back the fuck off, brother. She’s havin’ a hard time, and we’re supposed to be protectin’ her. Can’t be doin’ that if you’re in her pants for a bit of fun. Trustin’ you to have her back.”

I clench my fists because he’s making me fucking angry now.

“First of fuckin’ all, don’t ever make out like I’d stray from my job over pussy. And that’s all she is, just pussy. I wouldn’t, not for a single fuckin’ second. Second of all, told you, it was a bit of fun. Not goin’ to let it get in the way. But if it makes you happy, I’ll get pussy from somewhere else from now on. As I said, it’s all the same to me.”

He shakes his head.

He knows.

I fucking know.

But he also knows I won’t say it.

She’s more than pussy.

His eyes go up and over my shoulder, and his face softens just a little. I know, even before he murmurs, “Mornin’, darlin’,” that she’s there. I know it, I can feel the fucking vibe as I turn and see the most beautiful woman on the face of this Earth, standing in a long tee, hair messy, cheeks rosy, looking so fucking perfect it hurts, and staring at me with a hurt expression.

I just called her pussy.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Fuck.

“Just pussy, hey?” she says, running her hands through her hair. “If that’s the case, you can get it from somewhere else, and I’ll stick with Mason. And Mason alone.”

My jaw clenches. She’s getting on my nerves. She is hitting me back hard, and I probably fuckin’ deserve it, but I don’t like it. Not at all. The thought of her fucking Mason, his cock sliding into that perfect fucking body, makes me wild with anger.

No.

Fuckin’ no.

I don’t say that, I just glare at her for a few seconds. Then I grind out, “Whatever you want.”

Worse thing I could have said, because her face falls just a little, and her eyes flash with that strong rage I’ve come to know so well. When Charlie is mad at you, she lets you know, and she does not back down. She’s strong, and she’s not into quitting.

“Awesome,” she bites out and then walks past both of us and grabs my coffee mug straight off the bench then saunters out with it.

Fuck me.

“Well done, bro,” Maverick mutters, grabbing his mug and shaking his head. “One day you’ll learn that when a good one comes along, you don’t fuckin’ push her away or you’ll end up very fuckin’ alone. And I’d hate to see that. You’re already bitter enough.”

Then he walks out.

Well, fuck me.

I make another coffee and move out onto the patio where Malakai, Scarlett, Amalie, and Maverick are all sitting around on chairs. Charlie is standing, back against a pole, and she doesn’t look at me when I come out.

“Hate to push, especially this early in the morning,” Malakai says to her, “but gotta ask a question, darlin’. Gotta get this show on the road today, try and finish this so we can make you safe again. To do that, we need your help.”

Charlie looks to him, her eyes empty. I hate seeing that look. That broken fucking look.

Especially because it’s on me.

“Anything,” she says, her voice softer than it usually is.

I hurt her.

And I’m a fucking idiot for that.

But maybe it’s for the best. Malakai is right. We need to get her safe. My head needs to be in the game for that. One hundred percent.

“It’s a long shot, but was wonderin’ if you might know anyone in your dad’s little group, anyone at all, that might be willin’ to double cross him.”

Her eyes widen and she glances at me for a split second before saying, “You mean someone who will go out of their way to betray him?”

“Only way we’re gonna take him down is to start a war with someone bigger. We need an inside man to do that. Someone who is willin’, for the right price, of course, to do what we need them to do to make that happen.”

“Like start a war?” she breathes.

“Exactly. Men with power that big need to be taken down by someone bigger. You cause a war for them, and we step back and let the big dogs destroy him. Keeps our name clear. Gets you safe. But we need someone who we can trust. Someone close to him. Someone willing to do some pretty dirty work. You know anyone, anyone at all, that might do that?”

She thinks on it, and almost immediately, she says, “Yes.”

It’s so quick, for a moment everyone is stunned. Quiet. Even a little confused. She didn’t have to think long, seconds barely, and she had someone. Does Shanks really have that little loyalty? Benefits us if he does.

“There is a man who is very close to him that I think would do it. I knew him quite well, though he doesn’t say much. He’s been loyal to my father for a long time, since I was a child, but I used to watch him. He’d just stare at him, like he wanted to tear his head off. I could never figure out exactly why he stayed; my guess was always that my father had something over him. Something big. Something that made him stay. It’s a risk, because I could be wrong, but I am almost certain he hates my father more than me.”

“Any chance you can find him?” Malakai asks.

“Yeah.” She nods. “He’s lived in the same place since I was younger; last time I knew, he was still there. He may have moved, but I have his name. I don’t think he’d be hard to find.”

“Let’s get his name and get to work then,” Maverick says, standing.

“One second,” I mutter. “Sounds to me like this man won’t take too kindly to people just showing up and asking questions. We need to take Charlie, too. If he knows her, it’ll be the only chance we have of gettin’ him on our side. Can’t just roll in without her.”

“He’s right,” Charlie says, her voice hard. “As much as I hate to admit it. You’re going to need me. And you’re going to want to leave the club out as much as possible. I think whoever comes, we keep it minimal. Just in case.”

Malakai looks between Charlie and me, sighs, and then nods. “Yeah, you’re right. Koda, Charlie, you can come with me to find him. Let’s see if we can get his exact location before we take Charlie out of hiding first.”

“And,” Scarlett pipes up, “I think we should disguise her, just in case.”

Girl is onto something. We don’t want Charlie being recognized and taken down before we have the one, and probably only chance, at getting this ended.

“You sort that out then,” Malakai says. “Charlie, what’s his name?”

“His name is Slater Knight.”

Bad sounding motherfucker.

Charlie gives out the last known address for him, and Boston and Mason are sent off to see if they can sight him after Charlie gives them a description.

“He sounds hot.” Scarlett giggles, and Maverick shoots her a glance that makes her cheeks flush. “What?” she protests. “He does.”

“He is,” Charlie says, her eyes zeroing in on me, and her glare getting heavier. “In fact, I think he’ll be even hotter now.”

Anger bubbles in my chest, but I don’t let it show.

I know what she’s doing.

She knows what she’s doing.

But I’m not going to bite.

Even though it’s fucking working.

“Well,” I mutter, standing up, “let’s get this shit done so I can get the fuck out of here and away from all of this.”

I don’t miss Charlie’s face flash, and then she snaps, “Nobody is making you stay, Dakoda. I’m very sure anyone else in the club will happily take over the role in protecting me if it’s too hard for you.”

I ignore her and walk off, fists clenched.

Fuck me.

This fucking sucks.

I should never have put my cock in her.

Because now I can’t get her out of my head.

And worse.

My heart.