“I expected you to do what you were told, Delilah. It’s the only way I can help you.”
“I don’t want your help, Hawk.” Her voice trembled with sorrow as she muttered, “How could you do that to Danny? How could you do that to anyone? I just don’t get it.”
“Some things happen here that are difficult to explain, but there are reasons for everything we do … including how we’ve dealt with Danny.”
“But he’s innocent!” Tears filled her eyes. “He’s not the one who tried to trick you, and you know it.”
“Maybe not, but he’s the only one who can lead us to the person who did,” I explained. “And don’t forget, he shot one of our brothers.”
“And what about me? I didn’t have a part to play in any of this.”
“I know you didn’t.”
“But that’s not good enough, is it?” She lowered her head as she wiped the tears from her cheek. “I’m never getting out of here, am I?”
“Not like this, you aren’t.”
“Why does it matter? It doesn’t matter what I do. You’re still going to kill me, especially now that I know everything and I tried to escape.”
“That’s never going to happen, Delilah. I’d never hurt you.”
“After everything that’s happened, how do you expect me to believe that?”
I didn’t have the words to explain it to her, so I showed her. I took a step towards her and placed my hand on the nape of her neck, pulling her mouth to mine. The touch of Delilah’s lips set me on fire, and I knew right then there was no going back. She felt too good, too right. The scent of her skin and the warmth of her mouth got to me in a way that no woman ever had, and I feared I’d never be able to let her go. My hands made their way past the small of her back down to her perfect ass as I pulled her close against my body. A soft whimper escaped from her lips as they parted, allowing me to kiss her deeper. It was like the world around us faded away and we became lost in each other’s arms, but sadly, the moment didn’t last long.
Just as my body was becoming hungry for more, Delilah brought her hands up to my chest and gave me a hard push, forcing me to release her. “What the hell are you thinking?”
“Don’t try to say you didn’t feel something.” I crossed my arms as I looked down at her. “’Cause I know you did.”
“It doesn’t matter if I did. This”—she motioned her hand between us—“can never happen.”
“It already has.” I turned and headed for the door. Before I walked out, I stopped and said, “You can try and fight it all you want. God knows I have.”
She placed her hand on her hip as she sassed, “You’re crazy if you think I’d ever want to be with a man like you.”
“That kiss just proved otherwise.” Before I closed the door, I told her, “Get some sleep, Delilah.”
I locked the door and went back across the hall, then collapsed down on the bed. The second I closed my eyes, I found myself thinking back on that fucking kiss—the one that would haunt me until I had her in my arms again. I knew it was fucked up, but I was a selfish asshole and even more stubborn than she was. I wanted to make Delilah mine, and I couldn’t just give up and walk away—not without at least trying. I was feeling more determined than ever as I finally drifted off to sleep. As soon as I woke the next morning, I went to check in with Shotgun. When I got down to the room where we were holding Danny, I found him standing in the doorway talking to Viper. As soon as I walked up, Viper announced, “Just the man I wanted to see.”
“About?”
“The girl,” he answered flatly. “Shotgun was just telling me about her visit with Danny last night. Said it was pretty clear she didn’t know anything about him.”
“Apparently so.”
“Well then, I don’t see any point keeping her around. We need to decide what we’re going to do with her.”
“It’s not like we can just let her walk out of here. It’s too fucking dangerous.” Shotgun ran his hand down his beard as he continued, “If she goes to the cops, we’re—”
“Wait, she’s just an innocent bystander in all this, and you’re saying we should end her?”
“You got another way to handle her? ’Cause Shotgun’s right.” Viper’s eyes narrowed. “If she runs her mouth or even thinks about going to the cops, then—”
“She wouldn’t go to them.”
“You sound pretty certain of that fact.”
“That’s because I am. No way in hell she’d do anything to jeopardize Danny’s life any more than it already is.”