Chapter Three
Charming
“Are you sure no one knows where she is?” I asked Badger. I’d been keeping tabs on Dakota through Shade, making sure she was all right. But he got a ping this morning showing she’d turned in her apartment keys and left. It seemed sudden, and now I was worried.
“Look, she stayed for a bit, took off, and we didn’t exactly keep in touch. Why are you asking? If you’d made a big enough impression, she’d have given you her number,” Badger said.
I didn’t want to admit what I’d done. Not to him, and I sure the fuck didn’t want Specter finding out.
While I’d had every intention of it being a one-night stand, after one taste, I’d known I wanted more.
But he was right. I’d left my number, and she hadn’t called, nor had she given me a way to reach her. Maybe this was all one-sided.
I hadn’t realized at the time who she was.
It wasn’t until I’d been home a few days before the pieces all clicked together in my head.
Overprotective brother. Went to the Devil’s Fury for protection.
People wanted her only for her connections.
My little sweetheart was the baby sister of one of the most feared assassins in the world.
“None of your fucking business. I just need to find her.”
I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since I’d come back home.
Not once in my life had a woman ever wormed her way past my defenses until now.
I’d wanted to hold on to her, even before I realized who she was.
Dragging her into my world hadn’t been the best of ideas.
At least, not when I’d thought she lived a somewhat normal life.
Sure, she’d hinted she had connections to dangerous people.
Didn’t mean any of that nastiness ever touched her.
I’d been giving her space, hoping she’d come to me on her own.
By nature, I wasn’t an overly patient man.
Not when I really wanted something. Then Shade had given me the heads-up.
It looked like she’d abruptly left town.
Something was going on, and I didn’t like the thought of her being in trouble.
Why the fuck hadn’t she called me? I’d made sure she had my number.
“No one here has seen Dakota since she left after her short visit. I asked Outlaw to track down her last known address. It was a dead end, which you know, since that’s the entire reason you’re searching for her.
Honestly, you’ve seen her since any of us have.
None of us will be much help. We didn’t keep in contact with her. ”
“Shade has found nothing on her either. She couldn’t have vanished.
” Not without some assistance. What if someone hurt her?
Or worse… she’d died. With a guy like Specter in her life, plenty of people would use her as a pawn to get to him.
I didn’t like the thought of her out there alone, with no protection.
The fact she hadn’t reached out bothered me.
Here I was thinking about her non-stop, and now I had to wonder if I’d only been a bit of fun for her.
It fucking sucked, especially since I knew damn well I’d done the same thing to many women over the years.
I felt like a fucking teen girl. My club would give me shit for months if they knew.
I ended the call and ran my hands through my hair.
I didn’t understand why I felt this driving need to find Dakota.
I wouldn’t rest until I knew she was at least safely tucked away somewhere.
Even if she’d started over again and put me in her rearview, all that mattered was her. I wanted her to be happy.
Fucking hell. I groaned and shut my eyes. I did not fall in love with a woman in twenty-four hours. That shit didn’t happen. I didn’t care what any of my brothers said. I didn’t believe in love at first sight, or any of that other nonsense.
I texted Shade, hoping he’d found something else. Anything.
Where the fuck is she?
Instead of a text, he called me.
“Pres, no offense, but chill the fuck out. I’m doing the best I can.
I even have Wire and Lavender helping, and I spoke with Outlaw.
None of us can find her. The woman hasn’t used any credit cards.
If she has a cell phone, it’s one of those pay as you go types.
Which means no contract. Without a number, there’s not much I can do. ”
“I don’t like this,” I muttered.
“We could call Specter,” Shade said. “Just one problem. He’s already reached out to Wire. He can’t find her either. Although, from what I’ve gathered, she hasn’t been in contact with him in over a month.”
My gut clenched. Shit. If her big brother didn’t know where she was, then what the hell had happened to her? Not calling me was one thing. Why the hell hadn’t she called her brother?
“He’s concerned,” Shade said. “One of his recent marks had Mafia connections. He’s heard those men are searching for Dakota. They’re going to hurt her, Charming. They’ll make Specter pay, by using her.”
“Find her. I don’t give a shit what it costs.”
“Pres, I need to know. Why are you trying so hard to find Dakota? What’s really going on?” he asked.
“I met her almost two months ago. We spent a little time together, and I’m worried about her. Don’t make a huge deal out of it.”
“Fine. I’ll keep digging.”
Shade hung up, and I pocketed my phone. I didn’t want the club asking me too many questions about Dakota.
The less they knew, the better. It wasn’t like the woman would ever be my old lady.
At my age, I’d decided I’d never have one.
I wanted to focus on the club, like Cinder had done until he’d claimed Meg.
I already had too many people dependent on me.
Even worse, I’d do anything to protect them, and everyone knew it.
They all could be used against me at some point, and the last thing I needed was to add a woman of my own to that mix.
I pulled a beer from the fridge and sat at the kitchen table.
Maybe I needed to get laid. I hadn’t been with a woman since Dakota.
Not that I didn’t have offers. The girls at the clubhouse would fight each other for a chance to get into my bed.
They all wanted the bragging rights of having been with the President of the Devil’s Boneyard.
There was a time I’d enjoyed that sort of attention.
Not so much these days.
“I’m getting too old for this shit,” I muttered to myself. I wasn’t ancient by any means, but I’d already seen fifty come and go. I wasn’t exactly getting younger as the years passed. One day, I’d have to find my replacement. Just as Cinder had chosen me when he’d been ready to step down.
My phone rang, and I pulled it out, frowning at the number. It was local, but not one I recognized.
“Hello,” I said as it connected.
“Halden.” The soft voice on the other end made me pause.
“Dakota. I’ve been searching for you,” I said, then wanted to smack myself. Way to sound desperate!
“I need your help. I didn’t know where else to go. Not my brother. If I called him, he’d have me married off before sunset. Can you meet me somewhere?”
I looked at my phone again. “Are you in town?”
“Yeah. There’s a diner nearby. Can you be there in about fifteen minutes?”
“I can and I will.” I hesitated. “Dakota, is everything all right?”
“Not even close. I’d prefer to tell you in person.”
“I’m on my way.” I ended the call and grabbed my keys, then hauled ass outside to my bike. I didn’t bother telling my club anything. As I approached the gate, Hunter threw it open, and I raced through. Now that I knew where Dakota was, it felt urgent that I reach her.
I parked outside the diner and went in, scanning the room for her.
I spotted her in the back corner and smiled as I made my way to her table.
She looked beautiful. I knew often our memories made things shinier than they’d been in real life.
Not the case with her. She might be thinner, and clearly hadn’t been sleeping well, but to me, she was still stunning.
“It’s good to see you,” I said.
She rolled her lips into her mouth and gave a quick nod. I took a seat and noticed her hands twisting on top of the table. I reached over and covered them with mine, hoping to set her at ease.
“I didn’t know where else to go,” she said.
“What’s wrong? You seemed happy when I left. Did your brother find you?” I knew that couldn’t be it since Shade had told me Specter hadn’t heard from her in a month or longer. But I wasn’t quite ready for her to realize I was aware of the fact.
She shook her head. “Worse. I noticed men around town who didn’t look like they belonged. Thought I saw them again on my way here. I’m pretty sure they’re after me, even though I don’t know why.”
“How did you find me?” I asked. “I left a phone number but not an address. Why the hell didn’t you call? I’d have come to get you.”
She smiled a little. “I knew your club was in Florida. Stopped along the way and asked if anyone knew where you were located. Got directions from a woman named Sammy a few towns over. I got a room at a nearby motel since I wasn’t sure you’d take my call.
As to why I didn’t call before coming here…
I guess part of me was scared you’d have forgotten me.
At least by waiting until now, I’d have escaped those men. ”
“Dakota, I left you my number for a reason. I’d wanted you to use it.”
“I know we only had a quick fling. You stayed for two days. It wasn’t a relationship or anything.”
I squeezed her hands. “Sweetheart, if I’d only thought of you as a quick release, I’d have never told you my name or left you a way to contact me.”
She sighed and nodded. “All right, but you may change your mind when you hear the rest of what I have to say. I wasn’t sure if I should tell you. Then those men showed up and I’ve been running the past day. Feels longer.”
“Whatever it is, we can work it out. You’re safe, and that’s all I need to know. I’ve been worried about you.”