Malone's Fate (Haven, Texas Book 14)

Chapter 47

They were all out of their fucking minds.

Tanner couldn’t believe they were even discussing this. Because it wasn’t happening.

“I’ll do it.”

His heart stopped. His head nearly exploded.

“You will not!” Standing, he deposited her on the chair he’d been sitting on and started pacing. “This will not happen.”

“Tanner, it’s the best idea.” She stared up at him with wide eyes.

“No.”

“This is our only chance to get him out in the open. I take it you have a plan to, uh, take care of him.”

Tanner watched her swallow heavily as she said that. It couldn’t be easy for her to talk about killing her own brother, no matter how much of a monster he was.

“That’s where Tanner comes in,” Alec said. “And Raid. Butch too.”

“What?” Tanner asked. What was he talking about?

“We’re going to need to scout out a place where we can set you guys up so you can stay hidden with a scope and rifle.”

“You want me to shoot him?” Tanner asked. Not that he was against the idea, he was just surprised.

“You’re the best shooter we have. Raid and Butch are good too. Maddox, you’re on recon.” He turned to Maddox. “Need you to have eyes out there, watching for when he arrives. He’ll be expecting something.”

“Right.” Maddox nodded. “I think we should find somewhere open, where he won’t expect anything. It might mean you have to take a shot from a long distance,” he said to Tanner.

“I can do that if the conditions are right.”

“We’ll get onto scouting some places,” Maddox said, reaching for his phone.

“But there’s still a fucking problem,” Tanner said.

Alec sighed, looking at his girl, then at him. “We need to use her, Tanner. If there’s another way, then tell me.”

There had to be another way. Because he wasn’t allowing this.

“Fine, we make the bargain, but she stays at the home with the other women.”

“We’ll need some help to guard the other women,” Raid said.

“And Lilac. Because she’s staying here,” Tanner insisted.

Was no one listening to him?

Lilac got to her feet and grasped hold of his hands. “Tanner, I have to do this. I won’t be alone. You’ll be there. Alec will be with me.” She glanced over at him.

Alec nodded. “Both me and West. Regent said he’d sent Victor and some of his men. I’ll probably use them to protect everyone back here.

“That’s smart,” she said. “I wouldn’t put it past Stefan to attack while you were all occupied.”

Tanner turned to her. “You are not doing this. I forbid it.”

“You can’t forbid this.”

“I can forbid it. And if you even think of doing it, I’m going to spank you until you can’t sit for a month!”

Her gaze narrowed. “I’m doing it.”

“Over my dead fucking body.”

* * *

Lilac sighedas she watched Tanner pace back and forth.

After their argument in Alec’s office, he’d picked her up and carried her upstairs to the bedroom. And she’d let him because she knew he needed that.

He had to protect her.

But if this was the best opportunity, they had to take Stefan out, then she wanted to take it.

She had to. And she couldn’t let Tanner stand in her way.

He’d made her get into bed, telling her that she needed a nap.

But there was no way she could sleep when there was so much tension between them. But Tanner hadn’t left. He just kept pacing, thinking, muttering to himself.

“I feel bad for doing something that you obviously don’t like when I know you’re just trying to protect me.” She rubbed her belly. “I don’t want to argue with you. Or have you upset with me.”

“Fuck.”

He closed his eyes, looking pained. “I don’t want you to do this.”

“I know. But I think it’s the best idea we have. And you’ll make sure that I’m okay.”

“I promised you that you wouldn’t go within ten feet of him.” Opening his eyes, she saw the pain in them. The agony.

God, maybe she was wrong. Perhaps she shouldn’t do this.

“If I allow you to do this, then you do everything you are told, understand me?”

“I understand,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Tanner. I’m not doing this to hurt you. Or upset you.”

“I know, baby. Fuck, I know.” He sat, facing her. Cupping her face, he gave her a stern look. “But you will obey every order. And you will not get hurt.”

“I promise.”

He drew her to him, rocking her back and forth.

“I love you, baby. Nothing can happen to you.”

“It won’t.” God, she hoped nothing went wrong.

Pulling back, he kissed her gently. “You need to nap.”

“I need something else more.”

He raised his eyebrows, giving her a stern look. “You’ve already had your wicked way with me today. Restrain yourself.”

Dear Lord. She rolled her eyes at him. “Not that. I, uh, I think maybe you need something else and so do I.” She moved from the blankets and placed herself awkwardly over his lap.

He rubbed her ass. “You want me to spank you?”

She wouldn’t say want. But she thought that perhaps it would help the guilt in her stomach.

“I think it would help me feel better. And you, as well.”

“I’m not your brother, I won’t harm you.”

She turned to look up at him in shock. “I could never see you as my brother. Ever.”

He swallowed heavily. “Good. Because all I want is to protect you.”

“I know you do. This has nothing to do with Stefan. I promise.”

“Good. But I’m not going to spank you now. You’re still recuperating.”

“I wasn’t sick, Tanner. I’m not ill or injured. Please.”

He sighed and lowered her panties. He’d taken her jeans off when he’d put her to bed for a nap. “This won’t be hard or long. Because you’re not at a hundred percent. But I will wallop your ass after this is all over for putting yourself in danger. Understand me? You agreed to this plan, but you agree, knowing your butt will not sit comfortably for a week.”

“I agree.”

“Safeword?”

“Scotch,” she replied. The word was barely out of her mouth before his hand landed.

When he said it wasn’t going to be hard or long, she misunderstood, thinking it would be soft and quick.

It wasn’t.

Yeah, it didn’t last for too long, but when he finished, her ass was definitely hot, and she knew she’d be feeling it the rest of the day. She didn’t cry, but her breath was choppy as he turned her over and held her on his lap.

“I love you, baby. So, fucking much. Nothing can happen to you. Nothing.”