9. Dante
nine
Dante
The last thing I needed was for someone from an outside party to get involved, let alone someone I know is directly tied to the mayor himself.
If I could, I'd opt to just make him disappear. But if he's set on Steelwood having Madalyn, with promised proof, I can't risk the chance that he hasn't told someone else, just in case he expected us to take such a deadly path.
Gritting my teeth at the very thought, it's hard to focus on how out of my hands it feels when I've got Margot's arms wrapped around my body.
She may have a helmet on and my jacket wrapped around her to hide her identity, but these feelings filling my chest aren't temporary. From the sharp pain behind my ribs, I'm willing to bet they're permanent.
This feels right. Like something I'd want to experience on the daily.
When Margot asked what would happen to her, the answer came to me immediately. She could stay right where she's at. No reason to move at all.
Even if I'm a busy man, I could find the time to take care of her.
But then reality is a cold splash of water. Why would a beauty like her want some scarred asshole?
Frowning to myself, I'm left with nothing to sit on but that question as I head to our destination.
The safest place to take these two is anywhere but Meadow Falls. Hitting the highway without any issues, we head toward another town all too familiar. In Willowbrook Ridge, we have our charter to back us up if needed.
It never hurts to see familiar faces if the opportunity arises, but I'd rather not have Judge get caught up in my mess.
It's not hard to find the secluded patch of land we've assisted with deals on, and despite the unfamiliar face waiting for us, I'm relieved that both Crow and Butcher have tagged along.
I'm barely shutting off my bike when there's a loud gasp. The poor prospect next to me can barely settle himself on his bike before Madalyn is throwing herself off. Helmet be damned, she looks in near tears as she rips it off and sprints.
I'd be more worried if she weren't running into the man's arms.
Hex had done a pretty good job at running background checks on the security for the night of the grab. This man, Brandon Ramsey, had an impressive background that was worth worrying about. A retired SEAL, of all people. His experience is what kept them together at all times.
He would've been my biggest threat if he had been there.
Seeing the way he crushes her to his chest, I'm starting to understand why he was not.
Now I'm wondering how much of a threat he truly is. If he and I share the same thinking about the women that have us wrapped around their finger, then that bastard is his enemy, too.
Behind me, Margot gets off and pulls her helmet off. Looking at them in surprise, she cradles the helmet. Her eyes soften when watching her sister sob out her relief to see him.
"He would be the one..." Letting out a sigh, she matches the longing look in her eyes with a smile. "You wouldn't think the two of them would work, but look at them."
I am. The more I look at them, the more I wonder if something between us could take place. He's graying at the temples, nearly twice her age. Compared to Margot, I've only got eleven years on her.
"He's still a problem," I say, trying to focus. "He's going to want to keep her, and that's not a risk I can take."
Not when so much can go wrong. All Madalyn would have to do is tell anyone where they've been staying for the last three days, and the past years of my hard work, the club's research, will go down the drain, and for what?
So she can be with a man we know nothing about?
"You don't need her." The words leave Margot, catching me off guard. "You only need me, right?"
Already knowing where she's going with this, I can't control the way my face immediately forms into a deep scowl.
"I've always wanted Madalyn to be happy, and I've never seen her happier than when she is with him."
I have to fight the urge to grab her by the shoulders and demand she look out for her own happiness for once, whatever that be. Instead, I grit my jaw, already knowing what words are coming next.
"Let's make a deal. If Brandon wants to whisk her off somewhere, then let him. He'll keep her safe now that she's where he can see her." She inhales deep before meeting my gaze. "Do so, and I'll do whatever you want. We can take down my father together."
Half of me says her deal is beyond reckless, with too many holes, too many risks. The other half, the louder half, wants to dive in head deep.
If I say yes, Margot will be by my side willingly. At that point, will I still be thinking about my goals, or will she be the one taking up every inch of space in my head?
Hell, I haven't stood a chance in opposing her from the start, and what happened on the rooftop may as well have been the start of my very demise when it comes to her. No, it had to be further than that. Had to be the night I first came across her.
"Let's see what he has to say first. We'll go from there." Between fighting myself and not wanting to jump the gun, I slide a hand against her back and lead her toward the others.
Butcher wastes no time catching me up on what's going on.
"Cops have been questioning him left and right as he's the number one suspect.
The only reason why they haven't pushed the blame onto him is that they still need to find those two.
" Butcher clicks his tongue and shakes his head.
"He says he'll give us the footage for the woman.
He'll take her out of the States to keep her out of harm's way until she's ready to come back. "
Next to me, Margot's breathing shifts.
I gaze down at her, noting her nerves. "Still want me to let her go?"
I may not know their relationship well, but if I can compare Madalyn to Cassia, I know there's no way in hell I'd be able to let her cross state lines, let alone leave the country.
Hell, I had to grit my teeth passing her off to Killer, and we live in the same building.
Not knowing if she's okay all of the time? I'd be driven mad.
Margot chews her lip before nodding. "If she wants to go, then who am I to stop her? She's not happy here, and won't ever be."
Now I want to shake her and kiss her. What a dilemma to be trapped in. Even if her thought process frustrates me, it's her kindness that's clutching at my chest.
Grunting, I return my gaze to the couple. Weighing out the risks is hard when Margot is watching me from the side.
As the one people always come to when second-guessing themselves, it would be nice to have someone to ask. Casper, as my VP, as much as I care for him, is hardly ever serious enough to understand the weight of such a decision.
I could turn to Butcher for a dose of reality. He’d tell me to shield the club from the fallout. But protecting my family feels like a hollow promise when I can't even tame the wild, chaotic pulse roaring in my own chest.
Feels like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"You know, my sister has always dreamed about being a model. I think, if she can get far away enough, she'll stand a chance. Keeping her here, after everything goes down, I don't think she'll ever get the chance. Brandon's a good guy, pretty respectable. He's a man of his word."
I turn my gaze back to her, the weight on my shoulders feeling even heavier. "Yeah? Well, I've learned even good men can turn bad. What's to say he won't turn around and bring her back to your father for something in return? What then?"
I could ask any of these men, and their answers would be the same. But it's not their answers I want.
"He won't." She smiles at me fully, nearly making my knees give out all at once. "He's in love with her. After being separated once from her, to go this out of his way to find her again, you think he'll let her go?"
I know I wouldn't.
Swallowing thickly, I shake my head and look away. "No, I don't."
Putting my trust in something as complicated as love is beyond me, but here I am, ordering Butcher to get Hex involved. She'll need the footage to track what she can to see if she can erase it at its source.
At my agreement, I feel a slight warmth against my elbow. Freezing, I don't dare more as she holds onto my limb, looking longingly at her sister.
"What about you?" I say, my voice wavering at the worst part. "What is your dream?"
She doesn't answer at first, be it because she's thinking, or debating if she wants to answer at all. Then, finally, she sighs.
"I just want to live and be happy. Experience things I missed out on. Feel things I never got the chance to feel." She lets out a soft laugh. "That's not too corny, is it?"
Shaking my head, I can't tell her no. Can't trust my voice enough to do it.
Deep down, I can feel it, the need to make her dream come true.
And if that means needing to take the biggest risk to make it happen, then as crazy as it seems, I'm going to do just that.
The meeting goes exactly how I expect it to. Brandon makes the same stipulations as he'd told Butcher, and Madalyn tries to tell Margot to come with her. Obviously, that's not happening.
"I'll be alright, I can handle myself." Next to me, Margot gives her a big smile, one that looks too stretched. "You won't get another opportunity like this again. Once Brandon disappears, it's going to be suspicious enough that you'll be targeted all throughout Montana."
"Where we're going, I don't think we have anything to worry about. The weather is incredible, and you'll be able to do whatever you want," Brandon explains to her as he strokes her shoulder.
"I can't just..." Madalyn's eyes get glossy again, "I want to be able to talk to her. Give me that, at least."
Giving Margot a phone is dangerous, but I can work around it. "We can figure out the small details along the way, but you'll be able to. I'm not going to hurt your sister."
Can't promise I won't be able to keep my hands off of her, so I carefully phrase my words.
"Once everything is done, I'll make sure she has what she needs.
You have my word. If she wants to run off to wherever you're going, then I'll buy her a plane ticket.
" The words taste sour coming out of my mouth, but I force them out.
Not to satisfy Madalyn, but to reassure Margot that no matter what happens, I'll take care of her.
I feel Margot's eyes for a brief sweep before she steps forward, wrapping her arms around Madalyn. The two share a moment, and I have Butcher and Crow check the perimeter to give them some space.
Meeting Brandon's gaze, I give him a nod, agreeing to his deal.
If he’s good enough to score that footage, I can only hope he’s just as good at running. Apparently, he’s been planning to disappear with her for weeks, and he’s got a guy who pulled together a clean exit before anyone could get suspicious.
Our timing couldn't have possibly been worse for him, but if he's willing to put on a fake smile toward me, then the least I can do is the very same.
The exchange takes a long time, but I'm not going to interrupt the two until they're ready to part ways.
"I'll want to call her every single day," Madalyn warns, frowning at me. "Every. Single. Day, Dante."
Sounds tedious, but I could possibly make that work. Cash may complain if I have to buy an abundance of burners on Steelwood's dime, but maybe Hex can teach me her ways to not getting traced.
"I'll call," Margot muses, hugging her once more. "Maybe once you settle and are comfortable, I'll call. We'll figure it out; just don't freak out if you don't hear from me. From the sounds of it, I'm going to have my hands full. Dad needs to be taken care of first, and then I'll be free to chat."
Just when I think the two won't be able to part ways, Margot returns to my side. We watch together as the other two disappear in a car, and I know there's no going back.
Margot keeps it together until the car disappears from view, but the second we’re alone, the mask slips. Her eyes gloss over, heavy with everything she’s been forcing down.
She grabs my arm and squeezes it tight. She held herself together so well in front of her sister. "We should go."
Giving a look to the others, I jerk my chin to send them away. I won't have them witness this vulnerable moment of hers.
I break free of her hold only to loop my arm around her waist, dragging her into my space until she’s pressed tight to my chest. She buries her face in my shoulder, her hands fist in my shirt, and she just lets it all out—the quiet, heavy sobs vibrating straight through my own skin.
Her pain feels like it's being absorbed straight into me, and I take every wave like a sponge.
It's only then that the truth hits me square in the chest. I'm not just feeling this need to protect her and make her happy. This isn't some kind of obsession I can kick. Fuck, it's far deeper than that.
I'm in love with her.
It’s the biggest liability a man in my position could ever have. But as I hold her shaking body against mine, I realize I’d wage war against the entire world just to keep her right here. Starting with the man who did her wrong.