Page 15 of Dutch

We sped down an empty road, and I clung to him as if my life depended on it. However, if I was being real, I also enjoyed the closeness.

"Hold on, let me see if this reminds you of my driving skills."

"Oh, hell no. If you get us killed, I will haunt you for eternity!" I laughed.

Right now, I enjoyed the moment, but tomorrow, I will have to face reality again. As he sped down the open road, my mind drifted back to that night over three years ago.

Dutch and I lay in the bed while he traced my tattoos with his finger. It was like he wanted to memorize every detail about me. After Malakai's funeral, it was a moment of weakness and supposed to be a one-time thing, but damn if it didn't feel like more.

I shook my head at the memory.

"You good?" he asked.

"I was wondering if we were going somewhere, or were you just showing off?"

Dutch's laugh rumbled through his body. "Why do you always have to have the last word?

I smirked. "I don't know."

We hit another curve, and my thoughts shifted to Jahlil — another piece of the messed-up puzzle that didn't fit right.Why did he come to my shop to warn me instead of taking me out when he had the opportunity?

"Dutch, have you ever had someone threaten you and save you at the same time?"

"No, what does that even mean?" he asked.

I shrugged, forgetting he couldn't see me. "Jahlil came to my shop, and he cornered me. He could have ended me right then, but he told me to run instead."

Dutch was quiet. "There has to be more to the story than we understand."

Frustration bubbled inside me, and I leaned my forehead against his back, inhaling the scent of leather. "There's something else bothering me."

Dutch's chest tightened under my hands. "What?"

At first, the words stuck in my throat. "He asked about a ledger that belonged to Malakai."

"Are you sure that's what he asked about?"

"Yes, does that mean something to you? Do you think they were looking for the ledger in my apartment today?" I asked.

Dutch didn't answer right away but tension radiated off him. "I think things may be more complicated."

"I thought I was done with this shit, Dutch. I made a new life for myself, and now…" I quit talking, not wanting to admit I was scared.

Dutch slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. We climbed off the bike, and he faced me. "Look, I don't know what any of it means, but I'm going to find out."

As much as I wanted to believe him, the walls I'd built were solid. "I don't know. I can't go back to that life."

He reached out to touch me, but his hand dropped. "If them looking for a ledger is real, it could be the key to bringing down some dangerous people."

"I just want to be left alone in my boring, normal life."

Dutch chuckled. "Makari London, you've never been boring or normal a day in your life."

I glared at him, but his laughing took the sting out. "You're such a charmer."

He looked at me. "I understand you didn't sign up for this, but like it or not, we're stuck together for a while."

I nodded. "I guess we are."

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