Dare found Maverick sitting at the desk in his office, his fingers flying over the keys. They had a 911 e-mail alert system that sent e-mail and text messages to every man in the club, and it was the easiest way to get urgent information out fast. Sitting in one of the chairs, Phoenix had his cell to his ear, deep in discussion with Walker Harrison, president of the Brothers of Steel MC, headquartered about two hours away in West Virginia.
Dropping into the wooden chair next to Phoenix, Dare braced his elbows on his knees and scrubbed at his face. What a clusterfuck this whole thing was, though on some level he wasn’t surprised. He’d known for weeks now that Baltimore wasn’t done with them and that shit was playing out right now, just like his gut had told him it would. Because sometimes the past just wouldn’t fucking die.
The only thing he hadn’t counted on was that Haven would be at the center of the danger.
Sonofabitch.
But now at least he knew exactly what the threat was. Dominic and these Iron Cross fuckers. And Rhett Randall and however many men he had at his side.
“Thanks, Walker. We’ll see you Friday,” Phoenix said, and then he hung up.
“They’re in?” Dare asked.
“A hundred percent,” Phoenix said. The Brothers were a newer, smaller MC that the Ravens occasionally crossed paths with, since they rode and lived in the same general region. Eager to build their reputation, the Brothers sometimes did business with the Ravens and had almost always followed the Ravens’ lead when the chips were down.
And they were fucking down. Right now.
Maverick punched a key and turned toward them. “Word’s out. I’ll handle assigning people as they make their way in.”
“Good,” Dare said, looking his cousin in the eye. If he had to walk through hell, there was no one he’d rather do it with. “I need to catch Doc up on all this.”
“Before you do,” Maverick said, looking from Dare to Phoenix and back again, “we really paying this money?” Skepticism was plain in his voice.
That right there was the hundred-thousand-dollar question, wasn’t it? Dare shook his head. “Fuck, no.” It wasn’t that he didn’t have the money. And it wasn’t that he wouldn’t pay it for Haven if he had to, because he would. In a heartbeat. Hell, he’d do it for anyone they took under their wing, because they knew the risks involved with taking on the world’s lowlifes.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Phoenix said, nodding.
Maverick’s expression took on a grim satisfaction, and not a little relief. “So what’s your play?”
“Caine gets us the identity documentation and relocation logistics on Friday. We move the women as soon as we have it. Friday night, we cancel Saturday’s exchange and tell Dominic—”
“He can go fuck himself,” Phoenix interjected.
Dare nodded. “That, too. We tell him to send Randall our way if that’s what he needs to do. And then we take care of the threat that’s going to keep on coming whether we pay off the Iron Cross or not. Paying them not to talk isn’t going to keep Haven’s father from finding her if that’s what he’s intent on doing. He’s too close as it is.”
Maverick nodded. “That’s right. The Iron Cross is a distraction in all this.”
“Exactly,” Dare said.
Phoenix shifted in his seat. “You think this Dominic fucker’s just gonna take that?”
“No,” Dare said. This whole train of thought had been spinning in his head since the phone call ended a half hour ago. “I think these assholes are gonna be a burr in our saddles from here on out. The question is whether we want to do something about them, too, because this sonofabitch is too fucking big for his skinhead britches. But I think we have a couple days’ breather on deciding. We’ll talk about it in Church tomorrow.”
Both men nodded.
“How’s Haven?” Maverick asked.
“She’s tougher than she thinks she is,” Dare said, swallowing hard. He’d hated the terror that paled her face as the call took place. And he hated Dominic for putting it there, for treating her like a pawn, and for trying to get him to do the same. It had taken everything he had not to go to her side as they’d strategized an immediate response. There’d been no way he could stay away after. Dare had needed to touch her, hold her, prove to himself that she was still there and unharmed.
Prove to himself that he hadn’t failed her. And wouldn’t. Because he couldn’t handle failing someone else he loved, like he had before.
Loved? Yeah. Fuck.
He’d promised Haven safety, a fresh start, a new life away from violence and chaos. And he was going to keep his word. It didn’t matter what it cost him—not his money, not his time, not his heart.
“You know,” Maverick said, “if the plan is to take out her father, maybe there’s no reason—”
“There’s every reason,” Dare said, knowing where Maverick was headed, because a part of his brain had been playing with the idea, too. If her father was out of the picture, maybe Haven didn’t have to leave. Except it wasn’t that goddamned simple, and Dare wasn’t taking any chances of her falling into the wrong hands if things didn’t go as planned. The consequences would be too dire for her. “Even assuming this thing with her father goes down like we want it, we are always involved in some shit here. Always. And now we’ve got the Iron Cross breathing down our necks, with her at the center of the conflict, which is going to lead to who knows what. That woman has been a prisoner of her father for the last eight years. He abused her and controlled her every way he could. She deserves a life free from violence, free from danger, free from all this bullshit,” Dare said, raking at his hair. His gut gave a big old check that he ignored like a motherfucker.
Maverick held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I hear ya. I get it. Just wanted to make sure . . .”
Dare glared at his cousin. Like he wouldn’t have thought about it. “All right. Lemme call Doc before it gets much later. I want him to hear the bulk of this from me.” Because his grandfather wouldn’t be happy about the way this was all going to go down. One way or the other, the Ravens were going to have to cross some lines.
But sometimes, that’s just what you had to do.
HAVEN HADN’T EVEN tried to sleep. She knew there wasn’t any chance of that happening, not when every little sound had her jumping with the possibility that it might be her father—there to take her prisoner again, there to force her back to a life she’d rather die than have to lead. Especially now that she’d had a taste of something more, of something free, of something that was even beautiful.
She couldn’t go back.
Instead, Haven baked. Because that’s what she did when her brain was too loud to let her rest. And it felt better to be useful than to be a burden. Which was exactly how she felt.
“Let’s go to bed,” Cora said, scooping fresh cookies off a baking sheet and laying them out to cool. Her eyes were bleary, her face pale. Unlike Haven, Cora was not a night owl, and it was nearly one in the morning.
Laying out balls of dough on a sheet of her own, Haven shook her head. “You go ahead.”
Cora had been trying to talk her into taking a break for the past two hours, but Haven had promised Bunny she’d get some things done before the morning. And going upstairs was pointless anyway. Yawning loudly, Cora finished what she was doing and joined Haven at the counter. “It’s gonna be okay, you know?”
“I hope so,” Haven said. But did she know it? No. Because she knew her father too well. He was a man who didn’t like to lose, to be disrespected, to be made to look the fool. And she’d done all three to him when she’d run away. He wouldn’t stop until he had her.
“Haven—”
“You should go up,” Haven said, dropping her spoon into the bowl of dough and forcing a smile. Cora had been trying to cheer her up since they’d overheard Dare’s phone call. But Haven was so angry at the unfairness of the entire situation that she was afraid she’d take her friend’s head off simply because she’d be a convenient target. Being alone to seethe would be best all the way around. “I’m not going to sleep feeling like this, and it makes me feel worse to know you’re staying awake just to keep me company.”
“That’s what best friends do,” Cora said, giving her a small smile.
“Which is why I’m telling you to go to sleep. Because you’re my best friend, too. So let me take care of you, because unlike me, you don’t do well without sleep. Staying busy makes me feel better. You know that. I’ll be okay. Really.”
Cora yawned again and her eyes watered. “Ugh, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Haven said. “We got a lot done today. We made a good team. The two of us and Bunny.”
“We did,” Cora said. “Okay. But if you need me, wake me up. Any time. Promise?”
“I promise.”
Holding out her arms, Cora said, “Come here.”
Haven returned the hug. “I’m sorry I’m so moody.”
“Oh my God, Haven,” Cora said, pulling away. “You’re entitled to be freaking pissed at this whole situation. You don’t have to apologize to me. I’m pissed for you.”
Tears pricked at the backs of Haven’s eyes, and she blinked quickly to hold them back. “Thank you.”
Cora nodded. “See you in the morning.”
“Yeah.”
Alone in the kitchen, Haven threw herself back into her work with more banging and slamming than was strictly necessary. Cookies. This is so unfair. Cinnamon rolls. I hate my father so much. Muffins. I can’t believe this is happening. A couple of pans of brownies. I am so freaking angry I could scream.
When she was done, she stared at the rolling pin for a long time, imagining the damage she could do with it if she ever got within swinging range of her father. Sick and twisted? Maybe. She didn’t feel bad about it, though.
Finally, Haven loaded the dishwasher and washed what wouldn’t fit until her fingers pruned. She was just loading a bunch of cooled cookies into a big plastic container when the door to the kitchen swung open behind her.
She turned on a gasp. “Dare. Hey,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t sound as startled as she felt.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. Tall, dark, and brooding, he was rough sex on legs, even if he seemed to have darker-than-usual circles under his eyes.
She blew out a breath, irritated at her fear. “It’s okay.” Although it didn’t feel okay. None of this did. And she was so . . . freaking . . . pissed.
“No, it’s not,” Dare said, advancing on her like a lion on its prey. “None of this is okay.” He got right up in her space, crowding her against the sink.
She stared at him a long moment, her insides nearly shaking with rage, and then she let the truth fly. “Okay, you’re right. None of this is okay.” She shook her head, trying to rein herself in. “What are you still doing up?”
He searched her face. “Could ask you the same thing.”
Haven shrugged. “I can’t sleep on a good day, let alone when I feel like this.”
“Like what?” he asked.
She crossed her arms. “Scared. Pissed. No, so freaking mad it feels like I might explode apart.”
“Haven—”
She pushed around him, restless and needing space. “I mean, shit, why does everyone in my life find me so hard to want and to love?” she asked, the question spilling out of her as she started pacing. “My mother just walked away when I was a baby and left me in what she knew was a bad situation, or she wouldn’t have run away herself. And my father never looked at me as anything more than a nuisance or a possession, something he could use or sell to the highest bidder.” The words represented her ancient, most fundamental hurts, and saying them was like purging a sickness from deep, deep inside.
Dare grasped her arm. “Haven, what your parents did has nothing to do with you being lovable—”
“Oh, really?” she said, yanking her arm free and spinning on him. “And this coming from the man who said it would be better for everyone when I’m gone, who said he wasn’t serious about me and I wasn’t anything special.” She glared at him, the anger she’d been trying to beat back all night welling up inside her and finding a target.
Dare froze for a moment, and then his shoulders sagged. “Shit,” he said, raking his hand through his hair. “I’m an asshole.”
Strange laughter bubbled out of Haven. “Uh, yeah. A confusing asshole, at that. Kissing me one minute, pushing me away the next. Cuddling me one minute, telling your closest friends I’m nothing to you the next.” In some distant part of her mind, Haven tried to tell herself to stop. Did she really want to spend her last hours fighting with him? When she had so few left? But now that her anger had escaped, she couldn’t stuff it back down.
“Haven,” he said, stepping closer.
“No,” she yelled, moving back against the opposite counter. She pointed at him, a silent command for him to stay put.
He did. “You’re right. I’m an asshole for all of that. And for lying to the guys about you.”
“Lying,” she repeated, weighing the word on her tongue. She scoffed.
Dare nodded, the circles under his eyes darker, his face a shade paler. Tired. “It’s true. I didn’t mean what I said to them. And I hated that you overheard me say it.”
Shaking her head, Haven resisted the words. Believing them would just open her up again. Open her up for more hurt.
“I didn’t mean it,” he said again. He took a small step closer.
She threw her hands out in exasperation. “Then why did you say it? And why did you let the words stand until now if you didn’t mean them? Why would you let me believe them?” Giving voice to the questions that had been weighing on her drained away some of her anger.
“I said it because I didn’t want to admit that I cared,” he said, coming closer. “Because then I’d have to admit that letting you go was going to fucking suck.” Closer. “And I let you believe it because I hoped maybe, somehow, it would make it easier for you to leave and for me to watch you go.” Closer still until he stood an arm’s reach away.
She shook her head. “Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear.”
Suddenly he was right up in her face. “I didn’t mean it. You are special to me. Very special. And I am interested, even more than I should be, given our age difference and my general moody disposition and your innocence and all the good things you deserve. And I don’t fucking think it will be better for me for you to go, but it will be better for you. Safer. The fresh start I promised and you deserve after everything you’ve been through. That’s not a line, that’s the God’s honest truth. On my mother’s and brother’s graves.” His expression was fierce, his eyes blazing.
Haven’s heart was a runaway train in her chest. His declarations were thrilling and healing. He’d never invoke his mother and brother that way if he didn’t mean it—she believed that down into her very soul. Not that she knew what to do with what he’d said. It didn’t change the fact that she was going away. Soon. She shook her head, exhaustion settling over her and calming the fight inside her. “Okay.”
“Okay?” he asked, an eyebrow arched. “That’s it?”
“I don’t know what else to say,” she said. “Thank you for telling me.”
His whole face frowned. “Don’t thank me. Not for that.”
“Then what do you want?” she asked, meeting his intense gaze.
“You, Haven. Always you. I’m fucking starving for you. All the time. You think you’re not wanted? I want you. I want you so much I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. Every minute of every day, all I can think about is you.” Breathing hard, eyes flashing, Dare loomed over her, the words hanging in the tight space between them.
And they were the most amazing, life-giving words anyone had ever said to her. Which made her know exactly what to say. “Then have me.”
At first, he didn’t react, but then Dare leaned in slow, so maddeningly slow that Haven thought she might die before his skin brushed hers. But for all that slowness, the instant their lips collided, a flashfire ignited. His mouth claimed hers, hard and urgent, and she gave back as good as she could—grasping his hair, pulling him deeper, sucking his tongue until he was groaning and rock hard against her belly.
“Can’t go slow,” he rasped, pinning her against the counter.
“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t hold back.” She wanted him just like this—raw and rough and real.
He jerked her jeans open and pushed them down until she could step out of them. “No one’s around right now,” he breathed harshly into her ear as he bared himself, shoving his jeans down his thighs. His cock fell heavy and hot against her belly.
“I don’t care if they are,” she said. And she didn’t, not in that moment, maybe not ever. She was leaving, after all. In less than two days, now.
“Aw, feel that pussy.” Two of his fingers slipped between her thighs, stroked at her clit, spread the wetness he drew out of her. Haven moaned and thrust her hips forward, so on edge from the fight and her anger and his words, and from wanting him and thinking she’d never have him again, that she felt close to exploding. “Gotta get in you,” he said.
“Please,” she whispered.
Dare found a condom in his wallet and rolled it on, and then he kissed her deeply while he pushed his cock between her legs. He grasped and lifted her thigh, hooking it on his hip. And then he bent his knees, angled his hips, and penetrated her inch by achingly good inch until he’d given her everything he had.
A groan ripped out of his throat when he bottomed out inside her, and then his hips were flying, the strokes fast and deep, his hold on her thigh and the back of her neck tight and almost bruising. Holding onto him, too, she wasn’t complaining, because being needed, being claimed, being wanted—even if it was all temporary—was still the best thing she’d ever known. And she’d carry the memories of these stolen moments with Dare for the rest of her life.
Their foreheads together, their hair wild around their faces, their harsh breaths caressing one another’s lips—it was all beautiful to her. Beautiful beyond anything she’d ever known—and Dare was the one who gave that to her. He’d told her once that she could find beauty in the world, and he’d been right.
It was him, all along.
His cock filled and stroked her so deliciously, and his pubic bone smacked against hers again and again and again until she was holding her breath and straining, straining for release.
The orgasm hit her like a shock wave, throwing her head back and knocking her knee out from under her so that Dare had to hold her full weight. Her breath exploded out of her on a long cry as her fingers dug into his shoulders, seeking an anchor in the storm of him.
“Fuck, yeah,” he growled, his hard, grinding strokes crashing over her. “Fucking come all over me.”
“Oh, God,” she rasped, shaking and light-headed. “I wish you could come in me. I would die to feel that.”
“Jesus Christ,” he rasped, his mouth coming down hard on hers. And then he was groaning into the rough kiss as his cock jerked inside her. He moved through his release, his hips slowing, his body shaking, his face the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen.
On a long exhale, he eased out of her and let go of her leg. But he didn’t let go of her. Dare wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her tight against him until they were touching from knees to forehead, her face buried in the crook of his neck, his hand stroking the back of her hair. His pulse raced against her cheek, and it was such a rush to know she wasn’t the only one so affected by what they’d done. They stood like that for a long time, him just holding her, stroking her, soothing her.
Finally, he released her with a soft kiss and disposed of the condom, and then he helped her on with her jeans.
“Are you okay?” she asked, taking in the more-pronounced circles under his eyes.
“Sure. Why?” he asked, his voice even grittier than usual.
“You look tired, is all,” she said with a shrug. “What are you doing now?”
“Not sure.” He leaned down to look right in her eyes and stroked his fingers through the side of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. It made her chest balloon with emotion. She adored how he always got so close to her, like he couldn’t stand the distance between them any more than she could. Like he craved being all over her. Like he couldn’t breathe when they weren’t touching.
Because that was how she felt.
“Lay down with me for a little while?” Something told her he needed it as much as she did.
Dare took her hand in his and pulled her from leaning against the counter. “That sounds like heaven.”