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“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” He asked, his entire demeanour changing as it dawned on him that I wasn’t about to back down.

“Yes. Yes I am.”

“Rachel—”

“No, Dante. I don’t want to hear it. We’ve exhausted this topic to death. The difference now is that you’ve stopped caring. For the past two weeks, you’ve thought of nothing other than yourself and your own plans. And so I’m doing the same thing. I’m no longer taking your feelings into consideration. I’m doing what I think is best for me and Bee. That’s it.”

“I’ve not been thinking of myself at all. Every thought I have, every plan I make, it’salwayswith you in mind. I never stop fucking thinking of you.”

“Sure you don’t,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “This is just another manipulation tactic of yours. Actions speak louder than words, Dante.”

“Don’t do this, Rachel,” he said suddenly, trying to reach for my hands. I pulled them away from him before he could make contact. “Rachel… please… I’m a proud man, but if begging is what it takes, I’ll do it. Please stay. Please trust that I can keep you safe. Trust that I will do my best for you. Trust that I will do everything for you, give you the entire world, and ask for nothing but your mere company in return.”

“It’s my mere company that’s causing the issues, Dante! How can you not see that? I don’t want to risk my life for a club I don’t want to be a part of! I have asked you time and time again to leave this life behind and be with me, and you refused every single time. If you truly wanted me that much, you’d at least consider it. But it’s not something you’ve entertained for even a split second!”

“Of course I’ve fucking entertained it!” He all but roared at me. “Don’t you think that if I had a choice, I’d leave all this behind and ride off into the sunset with you? Don’t you think that’s what I fucking want? I want us to have our own fucked up happily ever after, but we’re in the middle of our story, andyou’re trying to jump to the end chapter! These things take time!”

“No, they don’t! Because if we give it too much time, the hands of fate are going to rip out those middle chapters and they’re going to rewrite the ending. Our ending. I know in my gut that we’re not both going to survive this. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you, or to Bee…”

“Rachel…” he breathed, rushing forward to grab my hands. I let him this time. He squeezed them tight and held them against his chest. “Rachel, look at me. Please.”

I lifted my gaze to his.

“I’m sorry for shutting you out. I’m sorry that I didn’t open up to you about the Riders. I’m sorry that I have made you feel left out and neglected. But—”

“No!” I snapped, stepping away from him. His hands dropped to his sides and his face fell as he realised how futile his words were. I wanted to cave. I wanted to give in to him. It killed me to see any sort of hurt on his features, but I knew in my heart this was for the best.

“If you let us go willingly, I promise we’ll return to you when things have calmed down. When the heat has died down, we’ll let you know exactly where we are, and you can come and collect us. But if you fight me on this, I’ll take Bee, and you will never see either of us again. I have enough evidence to ensure there’s not a court in this country that will fight me over custody. Bee sees me as her mother. I have helped raise her, and I can keep her far safer than you ever could. I’m giving you this choice, Dante. Choose wisely. And choose quickly.”

Any traces of hurt immediately left his face, and in its place was the fiery flash of anger that I had become so familiar with.

“You really think you can take my daughter out of here, and that I will do nothing to stop you?”

“Oh, I think you’ll try, if that’s the decision you choose to make. But you won’t be successful.” I pulled the dreaded box even closer.

“I’m warning you now, Rachel. I will never let you leave. Either of you,” he glared down at me, slowly stepping towards me. I held my ground, refusing to be intimidated by him. I raised my head with every step forward he took, keeping my eyes locked on his. “If I have to tie you to a chair again, don’t think for a fucking second I’ll hesitate to do so. You’re my oldlady. Officially this time. Your place is here, with me. Don’t fucking test my limits.”

“Dante… I’m warning you. Don’t push me to my fucking limit, either, because I assure you, you won’t like the consequences.”

“Do your best, Kitten. I’ve seen your limit before, and I was the one who came out the victor. You’re still fucking here, aren’t you? Still under my control. Still doing exactly as you’re fucking told.”

I moved forward, closing the distance between us. My hand came out to slap him, but he was faster than me, his hand grabbing my wrist and bending it backwards. He pulled me against his chest, and I fought back, my free arm pounding at him. He spun me around and wrapped both of his arms around me, seizing my hands and pinning them to my chest, holding them in place. I bucked backwards, fighting to get out of his grip, but it did nothing to move him. I managed to push our hands upwards and sank my teeth into the fleshy skin between his thumb and index finger. He growled, and let go of one of my hands, but still did not let me go completely.

I reacted without thinking. My hand snatched into the box and immediately grabbed the cool metal. The momentum of the movement had me able to free myself, and I spun, his eyes finally seeing what I was holding.

Without hesitation, I aimed, pulled, and then fell to the floor as the resounding shot almost deafened me.

Chapter 59

Rachel

“Is Daddy coming?” Bee asked me as I tucked her into her bed for the night.

I had grabbed her from Jenna and bundled her into the car, speeding off before anyone could question me, and before Dante had time to recover from his gunshot wound.

It was only a minor wound to his leg. I hadn’t aimed to kill. I had aimed to injure, that was all. And he had survived far worse.

But it didn’t mean he wouldn’t fucking kill me with his bare hands if I let him come near me before he had the chance to calm down.

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