Chapter Four
Dakota
I’d been around men like Charming most of my life, courtesy of Specter.
While my big brother tried to keep me out of things, we’d spent enough time together that I knew guys like him didn’t always handle things legally.
I’d always tried to obey the law. Look where it had gotten me.
Some creeps who wanted to hurt my brother were after me, and now not only was I in danger, but so was my baby…
and Charming. The moment I’d realized those men meant to hurt me, I’d not wanted to reach out to anyone except the biker who’d wrecked me for any other man.
We might have only spent two days together, but he’d made an impression.
And not just because he’d knocked me up.
I was as much to blame for that one. Even though I’d been on birth control, I’d taken some antibiotics not too many days before his visit thanks to a nasty sinus infection.
The drugs had worked, and I’d been back to normal in less than a week.
They’d also made my birth control pills useless.
The doctor assured me she’d mentioned that could happen, but I’d apparently been too cotton-headed to understand what she was saying. I’d wanted the pills, some sleep, and to feel normal again. I’d gotten my wish.
I pressed a hand to my stomach as Charming spoke to the old lady at the bar once more. I waited by the door, scanning the street now and then, hoping like hell I didn’t see those men again. He came back over to me, taking my hand in his.
“Midge is going to have a little chat with everyone here. Make sure they don’t tell anyone you’re in town. These people know and trust her. If they’ll listen to anyone, it would be Midge. Carlos is nearly here, so we’ll wait out front for him.”
We stepped outside, and I tipped my head back to look up at him. “Who’s Carlos?”
“One of my prospects. He wants to patch in, and if he keeps this secret, it will go a long way toward earning his way into the club. Not sure everyone else will see it that way, but I’ll deal with that later.
Right now, I just want to get your car far away from here and safely get you into my house. ”
“I don’t like people being in danger because I’m here,” I said.
“Hey. You’re mine, okay? The baby you’re carrying? It’s a part of the Devil’s Boneyard through blood. I’m glad you called and came here to find me.”
“I’m yours?” I asked. What the hell did that mean?
“We can discuss it later. Carlos is here.” He jerked his chin toward a dark truck parking beside his bike.
The guy who got out looked my age or younger.
Charming stepped away to speak with him, but I saw the guy casting me glances.
I didn’t know what Charming said to him, but Carlos gave a quick nod of acceptance and held out his hands.
Charming gave him my keys. He retrieved my bag from the back before the guy drove off in my car.
A second man got out of the passenger side and Charming tossed him another set of keys. The man started up the Harley and gave me a slight nod before backing out of the space.
“When did you get my keys?” I asked, peering into my purse.
“It’s easy to pick your pocket, or in this case, your purse. You were too distracted inside.”
I wouldn’t ask how he’d gained that skill set. Something told me it was better for me not to know. If he was anything like my brother, his moral compass was a little different from the average person’s. Didn’t make him bad.
“Now what?” I asked.
“We follow him. He has cash to cover the rental space, and he has a fake ID he can use to secure a spot for your car. We’ll pick him up a few blocks from the place, in case there are cameras pointed toward the location.
As much as Carlos didn’t want to do it, he’s going to remove his cut and make sure none of the writing is visible until he’s back with us.
He’ll also make sure his face is never on camera. ”
“You’ve thought of everything,” I said.
“Not quite. I’m making it up as I go right now. Once we get home, I can work on a plan. I also need to know more about the men who are after you.”
I got into the truck and buckled. “Can I ask you something?”
He nodded.
“If you asked people about me, won’t that be traceable? What if the men find out and come here, anyway?”
“Shade is good at covering his tracks. And if he missed anything, Wire and Lavender will handle it. Trust me. No one is going to risk putting you in danger. They don’t want your brother paying them a visit.”
“Can’t say that I blame them. Most people don’t enjoy finding him on their doorstep.”
Charming smiled. “Everything will be fine. You’ll see.”
He gave me a quick kiss before he walked around to get in on the driver’s side.
By the time we were on the road, I’d realized something.
He hadn’t freaked over the baby. Had been searching for me.
And then he’d called me his. Charming didn’t have any plan to release me.
When all this was over, he wanted me to stay.
No, it was more than that. Something told me he wouldn’t be giving me a choice.
Whether or not I liked it, I’d be a permanent resident here.
Maybe I should have wanted to run as far and fast as I could, but it gave me a warm, tingly feeling inside.
Other than Specter, no one had ever really wanted me.
Even my mother had constantly called me a mistake.
While I might not have liked my sperm donor, at least he’d given me a connection to Specter.
Once my big brother found out I existed, he’d made it a point to make sure I was taken care of.
Whether it was money to help pay the bills or dropping in for short visits.
Specter had been a larger part of my life than either of my parents.
“What if I’m a bad mother?” I asked.
“Why would you be bad at it?”
“My mom wasn’t all that great. Specter’s dad knocked her up on accident. She didn’t want me, but she tried to shake him down for money. He paid her a large sum to not abort me. Too bad he wanted nothing to do with me.”
“Their loss. You’re smart, sweet, and thoughtful. Those two days we were together, I saw more kindness than I witness regularly. You gave a homeless woman a coat, helped some kids buy their mom a present, and made sure a veteran got the help he needed.”
I shrugged. “That’s all little stuff.”
“Not to the people you helped.” He reached over and took my hand. “I knew then you were better than me. It would have been best for me to give you a wide berth. Instead, I’d wanted you for myself, even if it was only for a day or two.”
“It doesn’t hurt to be nice to someone. I’d watched women yank their kids across the street to pass the homeless woman. They treated her like she was trash. The coat wasn’t anything fancy, but it would keep her warm on the cooler nights, and maybe bring a smile to her face for a little while.”
“To you, it wasn’t a big deal. But I bet if you went back and spoke with her, you’d find out that coat meant a lot to her. The fact you talked to her and treated her like a human being was more than she received from most people. Don’t belittle the things you do, Dakota.”
No one had ever made me feel the way Charming did.
The things he said, the way he treated me…
I hadn’t realized until now how little I heard that the things I did mattered.
Even with Specter, he thought it was cute when I gave a homeless person money.
Not once had he ever said that act of kindness made any difference.
I loved my brother. I didn’t see him as often as I’d like.
Once he’d gotten it into his head that I needed a man in my life, I’d started holding him at arm’s length.
It seemed better for my sanity. Not speaking to him for the last several months had been hard for me.
Even when he was off on a job, he made time to call me at least once a week, sometimes more.
I knew he didn’t understand my reluctance to let him plan out my life.
To his way of thinking, he was keeping me safe and making sure I’d be taken care of.
I wondered what he’d think about Charming wanting to keep me. Had the two ever met in person? Charming was closer to my brother’s age than mine. Would it matter to Specter? Or would he be happy I wouldn’t be on my own anymore? I hadn’t even told him about the baby.
We drove through the town where I’d stopped at Buxton’s to ask for directions and didn’t pull over until we’d gone two more towns over.
Charming pulled the truck into a parking space in front of a baby boutique.
I pressed my fingers to the window and peered at the little outfits.
I hadn’t bought a single thing for my child yet.
It bothered me, but I’d wanted to wait until I knew if I was having a boy or girl.
Now I wondered if I shouldn’t start gathering neutral items over the next few months.
It wasn’t like I needed pink or blue towels.
“I don’t want you going in there right now,” Charming said.
“I see the way you’re eyeing those baby clothes, and I promise to take you shopping soon.
Might be online until those fuckers are caught.
When we get to my house, you tell me which room you want to set up as a nursery and we’ll get started on it. ”
“Really? You’ll let me decorate a nursery at your place?” I asked.
He reached over and took my hand. “Told you. You’re mine. Both of you. We’ll discuss it more later. Right now, just know you aren’t in this alone, Dakota.”
“Thank you, Halden.”
He smiled. “None of that once Carlos gets in the truck. Around anyone else, I’m Charming. When it’s only you and me, that’s different. You’re my woman and you can call me whatever you want in private.”
“Your club…” I nibbled my lower lip a moment while I gathered my thoughts. “Is it like the Devil’s Fury?”
“In what way?” he asked.
“The girls at the clubhouse. When you aren’t home, are you going to be with them?”