Dutch (BLP Motorcycle Clubs #4)

7. Makari

I leaned against the wall of a building with my arms crossed as Dutch paced back and forth while he made the call. His tone had returned to all business as I caught snippets of the conversation.

"…the situation is handled. Yeah, she's good. I'm going to take a ride to clear my head. I'll keep you posted."

Dutch's neck muscles were tense, and his jaw was clenched tight enough to crack pecans. He was stressed, but it was classic of him not to show it.

He ended the call, his hazel eyes finding my gaze. "You cool?"

I smirked. "Almost getting stabbed was the highlight of my evening. It really got my blood pumping.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. "I see your humor is intact."

"Baby, it's all I have left. Are we going to go or stand here looking pretty all night?"

Dutch cleared his throat. "I need to clear my head, so I was hoping we could take a ride."

I arched an eyebrow. "Are you asking me out, Mr. President? Because this would make one hell of a first date." I laughed.

He chuckled. "You always could make me laugh."

"You know you love it." The words slipped out before I could stop myself, and my face heated up. Damn.

Dutch's dark eyes flickered, and I swear there was more than amusement, but the cool mask he wore quickly replaced it.

He nodded toward the bike. "Come on." He straddled the bike and revved the engine.

I hesitated. "Fine, but if this is a date, I at least expect a burger and fries. You could at least feed a girl."

Dutch threw his head back and laughed, and it warmed my insides. "Your wish is my command."

I hopped on behind him, and I couldn't help but feel exhilarated as we hit the freeway, wind whipping through my locs.

"You good?" Dutch asked, his deep voice carried over the wind.

"Yeah, but your driving is rusty. Old age is catching up to you," I teased.

I felt his chuckle more than I could hear it. "At least my feet can reach the pedals."

"What? I'll have you know, I'm vertically gifted," I countered, giving him a light swat on the shoulder.

"Is that what they're calling tall these days?"

I felt good, and for a moment, I almost forgot the real reason I was here with my arms wrapped around this man. Still, reality crept back in no matter how fast we rode.

"Are you going to tell me where we're headed, or is this some type of kidnapping situation?" I joked.

Dutch took a sharp turn, and our ankles were close to scrapping the ground. "I thought you trusted me, darling."

"Trust is a hell of a strong word," I joked with no heat behind my words. Despite everything I'd gone through, Dutch was probably the only person I trusted, well, besides Tiya.

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."

Dutch and I climbed back on the bike. His scent hit me, and I was transported back in time.

He revved the engine. "Hold on tight," he instructed over his shoulder.

The vibration of the Harley ran through me, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. Memories flooded me, but I shook my head, not wanting to get lost in the past.

"Are you ever going to upgrade this rust bucket, or are you waiting for it to fall apart?"

"Baby, don't hate the classics. This bike has more character in the spark plugs than most people do on a good day.

"Character, more like tetanus," I quipped.

He reached back and squeezed my thigh, sending a jolt through me. "Keep trash-talking, London, and you'll see what happens."

"Keep dreaming, old man."

I couldn't help but smile. It felt like old times before my loss and pain. Small parts of me wished we could stay suspended in time forever. After a while, the landscape changed, and the sky lightened a bit.

"Dutch, you never told me where we're going."

He didn't immediately answer. "Somewhere safe," he finally responded.

"That's cute, safe in our world." I almost believed we could outrun my problems. The road narrowed and then there was a dense patch of woods. "Dutch."

"I see it, hang on," he muttered.

My eyes scanned the tree line. "What's the play?" I asked.

The words barely left my mouth when the crack of gunfire sent bullets whizzing by us like angry hornets.

"Fuck!" Dutch roared, gunning the engine. His tires screeched against the asphalt as we lurched forward.

I clung to him as if my life depended on it. Well, it kind of did. "What the fu?—"

Another shot clipped his side mirror, and glass sprayed, stinging my cheek.

"Hold on!" Dutch yelled. He swerved hard, taking us off the main road and into this brush.

Branches whipped at our faces as we careened through the trees. The bike jolted beneath us, threatening to flip us with each dip or bump. Suddenly, we were airborne, and my heart stopped for a moment before crashing down hard. Dutch groaned in pain as the impact jarred us.

"Dutch!" I shouted, but my voice was swallowed up by more gunfire.

We burst through the tree line onto an old logging road. The engine was screaming as Dutch pushed the Harley to its limits. I looked back to see the dark shape emerge from the trees. They were still in pursuit.

"They're still behind us!" I yelled.

Dutch didn't respond, but I felt his muscles tense under my hands. We rounded a sharp turn, and suddenly, the bike slid out from under us. Time slid to a crawl as I felt myself being thrown.

Dutch reached for me, but I hit the ground, and my world went black.