Page 65 of Kneeling to Candy

The MC president’s eyebrows rise. “Brandon said that?”

“Yes, he did.”

Atlas rubs his jaw, eyeing me cautiously. “You met with Brandon before joining this meeting, asking if he thought you could handle working on this case. Meaning you came in here prepared to volunteer for this mission?”

“Yes.”

Atlas sits back in his chair. A look of awe softens his hard face. “Wow.”

“Think about it. When you realize I’m right for the role, come find me.”

Without saying another word, I leave the office. Butch is on an official timeout for the foreseeable future—until he sees the errors of his ways. If he doesn’t come around, there may not be much of a future for us. I refuse to be in a relationship where a man steamrolls over me.

With his eyes following me, I put as much distance between myself and Butch as I can.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

BUTCH

Although I’m furious with my woman, I follow her to the stairwell and watch her march her fine ass upstairs to what I assume is our room. She takes the landing to our floor and disappears out of my sight. A few seconds later, a door slams, probably Candy flexing her muscle to show me who’s in control.

If she wants to have a tantrum, fine by me. I’m too damn pissed to care if she’s upset with me. With her safety, I will not submit.

Heated, I storm back into Atlas’s office, ready to go to blows if need be. “Do not think about putting her on the case, Prez.”

Atlas and Gauge exchange an uneasy look. I don’t like it, not one bit.

Blowing out a long sigh, Atlas eyes me warily. “Butch, I think you need to consider this from Candy’s point of view.”

“There’s nothing to consider. I’m not okay with her confronting her abuser in an unknown environment with a bunch of trafficking filth surrounding her.”

“I get you’re not okay with it. But Candy is. More so, she wants to be involved in this covert operation.”

“Wants to be involved?” I scoff, unable to accept Atlas reasoning. “No. She feels guilty. Like Tank, she’s trying to right a wrong.”

“Candy didn’t volunteer under duress or guilt,” Atlas explains. “Not trying to make you angry by disagreeing with you, but Candy deserves to seek her own vengeance. She’s volunteering because she wants to nail the slimy ball sack to the wall herself.”

“No,” I shake my head, refusing to accept my woman getting herself involved with the dirty work of our business. “It’s my job to protect her. Putting her in contact with the piece of shit who hurt her is not protecting her.”

“Who says you wouldn’t be protecting her?” Atlas asks. “With you beside her, she’d have more courage to pull this mission off while confronting her rapist. The two of you together would be a powerhouse.”

Can I see myself being her anchor while taking on her abuser? Yes.

Would she be spectacular putting on her performance? Without a doubt.

Amazing as she would be, it still doesn’t mean I want her in this vulnerable position.

“Candy is her own person,” Gauge adds. “The survival techniques Candy accrued while in captivity would help her navigate her position in this investigation.”

“And what would her position be?” I ask heatedly. “Be Piero’s arm candy for the event?”

“She did it with my cousin,” Piero says nonchalantly, picking lint off his pants. “It would be a simple enough role to fill again. Only it would be easier, since she doesn’t need to worry about me selling her off.”

My mind feels numb, digesting everything the guys are telling me. It’s impossible to wrap my head around Candy wanting to face her attacker head-on.

“I can’t believe you assholes are considering this. Do you not care about her mental well-being at all? She’s not trained to protect herself if the bastard makes a grab for her.”

“Bro, come on,” Ziggy gripes, entering Atlas office. “If Brandon says she’s solid enough to handle this assignment, we need to weigh his opinion into our consideration.”

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