Page 36 of Never Wed an Outlaw

“That's where you're wrong, darlin'. My whole damned life's been leading up to this point. I ain't missing mychance to clean house for good.” He stared at me, his eyes determined. “My boys deserve to be happy. Shit, everybody wearing the patch keeps getting hitched and popping out kids lately. A man looses his taste for blood when he's got a family to chase after. My job's making sure my brothers never have to worry about catching a bullet, or coming home to their kin in pieces.”

I smiled. Underneath the endless badass bluster and 'fuck all' armor, there was a heart underneath, a selfless one.

“What aboutyourfuture, Dusty?” I asked, running my fingers over his brow. “Don't you ever think about what it'll take to make you happy? Maybe someday you'll find something that makes you want to settle down with more than just your business and bikes.”

“Plenty of time left to sort that out,” he said, his eyes growing distant and cold for a moment, before they snapped back to mine, warmer than ever. “Tonight, I've got all I need to put the devil himself at ease. I'm looking at her.”

Could a woman swoon laying down?

Who knows, but his lips were suddenly irresistible, and not just because he had a knack for being kissable. By the time our mouths connected, his hand crawled down my spine, reaching for my ass.

Coding promised to be double hell tomorrow, after the fun was over and I watched him drive through my gate, returning me to loneliness. Didn't even matter.

I'd work my fingers hard, until they were just as tired as the space between my legs, and my own worn heart. I hadto do everything I could to settle my evil debts and save my life.

Because for the first time in a long time, I had a future that wasn't a complete shit show staring at me.

So close I could taste it, touch it, let it pick me up and carry me away. And that's exactly what he did, over and over, deep into the night.

We enjoyed each other for hours, collapsing in a satisfied purr when our bodies refused to let us have any more. Heaven met my bed, and it was beautiful.

We kissed, we caressed, and we drifted away with our hearts in a single rhythm. And we were almost asleep when we heard the banging I thought would end the world.

Dust bolted up,reaching for his gun, stumbling to get dressed. I just sat with the sheet pulled around me, my eyes filled with terror.

It couldn't be Dom or his men...could it? I chewed my lips, wondering if I should break down and soil our bit of heaven, confess everything I'd kept hidden for so long.

“Dusty? Where are you –“

He was already in the door frame, fully dressed, and spun around with a look that saiddon't ask.I nodded, the last glance we shared before he slipped out, slowly racing downstairs to meet whoever the hell was banging at the door at this ungodly hour.

I clenched my phone so hard I swore it would break in my fingers. Just listening, staring into the darkness, waitingfor the gunshots that would make me scream into the night.

They never came.

I counted to one hundred before I stood, slipped on my robe, and stepped out very carefully, taking the stairs down a floor slowly, like I feared they'd send me tumbling down with a single misstep.

“Shit. Fuck! We gotta get that kid back, dammit.” Dust stood in the entryway red faced, growling to a prospect, one hand on his forehead.

I'd been around Huck long enough to know that when a biker looked like this, it didn't mean things had just gone to hell. Somethingawfulwas happening.

“Prez, you want me to start rounding up the brothers? I came here first, soon as I heard. I'll hit the road, go by everybody's house, bang on their fucking windows 'til they're heading for the clubhouse.”

“Do it, and I'll meet you there. Call Firefly and tell him to getallour assets on lockdown. Can't have anybody local fuckin' with us while we're ass deep in emergency.”

The prospect nodded, and took off like a rabbit, running out the open door. My screen was about to slam shut when Dusty mashed his hand against it, heading for his bike.

“Dust!” I called after him.

He stopped, stared, and spun around like a whirlwind. He gave me about three seconds to catch up to him. I could tell he was counting in his head, wondering how much time slipped by.

“What's going on? You look terrible. Please tell me you aren't about to ride into danger without even a kissgoodbye.” It sounded selfish, but I meant it.

He looked me up and down, his steely eyes traveling over me, as if for the last time. That scared me worse than anything.

“Some sick bastards got their hands on Joker's kid. I ain't promising you shit, Hannah, because I fuckin' can't. Not now.”

“Jesus! Not the little boy...” My heart skipped a beat at the thought, and then again when I imagined what crazy, rabid Joker would do to get him back.

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