*Can’t talk babe. Sorry. I don’t want you for 2 days. I want you for 2 weeks. You think I would miss your birthday?*
He had remembered my birthday. I melted into my chair, smiling at the thought of him being in a crowded place with a million things on his mind, yet he had not forgotten my birthday.
*When can I leave?*
I sat tapping my finger on the couch, waiting for his reply. I hoped he said tomorrow. I couldn’t wait much longer to see him. When I felt the vibration again, I hesitated, hoping he wouldn’t make me wait out the weekend.
*I’m hoping you already have.*
Chapter 12
Luke
“Is she coming?” I took a deep breath, trying not to jump across the table and snap the neck of the man I fucking hated. I looked up, to find Charlie waiting very impatiently for my answer.
“Yeah, she’s coming.”
“Good. At least she will be safe.” It would take less than three seconds for his eyes to roll back in his head and him to vanish from my life completely. That included the time it would take for me to get across his desk, and put my hands around his throat. I hated this fucking game. Charlie was going to make me wait before he told me where Crazy was. Crazy was one of Frankie’s guys, and had assisted in assaulting Dallas by hanging her in a barn, stripping her, and putting his filthy fucking hands on her. My jaw clenched, and my fists tightened, at the thought of him hurting her. The motherfucker would pay. He was also the man who Frankie had paid a million dollars to kill Dallas. My plan had been to kill Crazy, once I had located him, but that had all turned to shit when I found out he was working for Charlie. The motherfucker was so protected that nobody could get to him. Not even me. Charlie claimed he wanted revenge for himself, but what he really wanted was me at his mercy. He wouldn’t hurt Dallas, personally, but if he ever cut Crazy loose, there was no telling what he would do.
“Why are you so obsessed with Dallas?” If the question pissed him off enough to kill me, then so be it, but I wanted to fucking know. I watched as Charlie considered lying, but for some reason, decided to tell the truth.
“I’ve asked myself that question more times than I care to count. I don’t know if it is her, or the fact that she belongs to you, which makes me so anxious to have her in my life, but the need is there. I just want to make sure she has the best life possible.”
“She does. Trust me.” Charlie laughed and I wanted to take advantage of his gaping mouth, and shove my fist into it until he choked to death.
“Trust you? I will never trust you, Luke. I will never trust in you to provide her with the things she needs like I can.”
“What does she need? Safety? Is that what you’re referring to?”
“Her safety is not an issue. There is one man who wants her dead, and he can be taken down by any man in your club with bare hands. It is her future that I am concerned about. What kind of life will she have running with a group of dirty bikers like yourselves?” I closed my eyes tight, telling my mouth to stay shut before I asked any questions, or made any assumptions. Charlie would go to the ends of the earth to get what he wanted, and it didn’t matter how low he had to stoop to get it. But I couldn’t keep quiet. I had to fucking know, and even if he didn’t answer, I would know the truth by his body language.
“Why would a man like Crazy take money from a man like Frankie and decide to follow through on his promise? Why wouldn’t he just take the money and not risk losing his life when he knows if he comes after Dallas that I am going to be waiting?” Charlie’s posture didn’t falter and his eyes gave nothing away, but that split-second pause told me everything I needed to know. I stood up from my chair, knocking it to the floor, as I placed my hands on the table and leaned close to Charlie’s face. I could see his goons coming toward me from the corner of my eye, but I didn’t fucking care. “You motherfucker.” I spat at him, barely getting the words out of my mouth before I was pulled back and someone’s arm was wrapped tightly around my neck. I didn’t fight back because there was no need. I couldn’t win. I trained my eyes on Charlie, daring him to look away while I threatened him with words that held so much promise, even he looked a little worried. “If so much as one hair on her fucking head is harmed as a result of your little game, I will slice you from ear to fucking ear with the dullest knife I can find. If you want a fucking war, then you got one.”