Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
DANTE
The neon sign outside the Grim Reaper casts an eerie red glow through the grimy windows. A haze of cigarette smoke and the sharp tang of spilled whiskey greet me as I spot King at his usual table in the back.
This dive bar has been ours for many years now. It’s home. Even if it’s rundown and very dirty. I glance at Ava, wondering what she thinks about it.
Ava glances up, her storm-gray eyes meeting mine. She opens a small smile. She seems comfortable enough. Not disgusted at the sticky floors, neither shocked by how loud my brothers can be.
I take the lead, striding to King’s table. Archer and Ava follow close behind. The table empties.
King picks up his phone and slides it toward Ava over the table. “Take a look.”
Ava picks it up. There’s a paused video on the screen. “What’s this?”
“Security footage of the fuckers who broke into your place.”
Ava exchanges a wide-eyed glance with Archer, then hits play. I lean in beside her, my arm brushing hers as I watch the black-and-white video.
Two men in dark hoodies jimmy the lock on the front door and slip inside. Ava turns the video back a few seconds and watches it again. One of the men turns to glance over his shoulder. She pauses.
Rage boils in my gut, my wolf snarling to be let loose on them. It’s the same assholes who tried to kidnap her.
Ava lets out a low whistle. “Damn. The cops sure as hell don’t have access to this.” She glances at King, respect glinting in her eyes. “This is amazing. How did you get this?”
King shrugs. “We have our ways.”
Ava glances back at the phone. “This guy is the same who tried to kidnap me. We can assume the second one is… well…” She looks up at me in doubt.
“Dead,” I offer. I did kill two out of the three.
Ava nods, meeting her brother’s eyes. “You really don’t mind getting your hands dirty, huh?”
King grins, all teeth. “Damn straight.” He gets to his feet. “Back when me and Dante first met, we had to get real fucking filthy to survive.” He claps Archer on the shoulder. “Then this one came along and we started the club. A haven for outcasts, fighting for what’s right, even if we have to get a little dirty.”
I stare at Ava, waiting for a reaction. She’s a journalist, so I expect her to get mad at Archer for dealing with this kind of shady stuff.
She doesn’t. She merely nods.
Archer leans forward, his face serious for once. “So what’s the plan, Prez? How do we keep my sister safe?”
“We’ll ID the surviving prick, track him down, and make him squeal about who hired them,” King says. “He’ll lead us to the real threat.” He tilts his chin at Ava. “With some luck, it might be directly related to the Congressman you spoke of.”
Relief washes through me. This whole thing is going to end soon. No more kidnapping attempts, no more threats.
I also hate the thought of her leaving. Going back home. Maybe even getting together with that shitty ex.
King and Archer strike up a conversation about some problem in the clubhouse. Ava pushes up from the table and heads for the bar, weaving between the rowdy bikers with a swing on her hips that sends heat curling through my core. She looks at home here. Comfortable.
Before I can stop myself, I’m trailing after her, sliding onto the stool beside her as she flags down Roxy, our bartender. Roxy saunters over—all black lipstick and ripped fishnets. She tilts her chin at me in greeting, then gives Ava a once over.
“Hey gorgeous. What can I get you?” she asks Ava with a wink.
Ava grins. “Whiskey, neat.” She takes a beat as Roxy picks up a bottle. “Make it double, actually.”
Roxy laughs as she pours. “A woman after my own heart. I like you already.”
Ava takes a slow sip, studying the bar. “Is the Grim always this rowdy?”
“Gorgeous, this is tame .” Roxy snorts. “But you’re safe here. “You’re under the blessings of the founders.” She tilts her chin to Dante. “Dante will punch anyone who bothers you, I’m sure.”
I glare at Roxy. Why is she grinning as if she knew more than she should?
Ava’s gaze slides to me, a smirk playing at the corners of her full lips. “I’m surprised there aren’t more bunnies around. Isn’t that part of biker culture?”
I shrug. “I guess.” There usually are a few, but we’re not any motorcycle club. “Don’t care about that.”
Ava arches an eyebrow. “Why not?” Her eyes darken with defiance.
My wolf whimpers inside me like a freaking dog in heat.
Ava’s phone buzzes in her pocket. She frowns at the screen before hopping off the barstool. “I have to take this.”
I watch her head toward the back, that tantalizing ass swaying with each step. My jeans tighten. Fucking hell, this woman.
Roxy leans on the bar with a knowing look. “Are you mad?” she hisses. “Isn’t she Archer’s baby sister or something?”
I grunt in response.
Roxy grunts right back. “Archer’s gonna be pissed if he finds out you’re sniffing after her and you know that. I thought that was an unspoken rule about not fucking your best friend’s sister?”
I take a swig of beer, keeping my face blank. “Don’t know what you’re talking about, Roxy.”
She arches a brow. “Sure you don’t.”
Ignoring her, I push off the bar and follow Ava’s path. I tell myself it’s because my wolf is so damn annoying. As I step outside, Ava’s strained voice reaches my ears.
“Steve, I told you, we’re done. No, I don’t want to ‘talk it out.’ There’s nothing left to say.”
She paces the cracked asphalt, free hand clenched at her side. I lean against the door frame, crossing my arms.
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” Ava snaps into the phone. “Get it through your thick skull—I’m not getting back together with you. I’d rather be alone for the rest of my goddamn life than spend one more second as your girlfriend.”
Pride surges in my chest. My wolf growls approvingly.
“No, Steve. Goodbye.”
Ava hangs up with an aggravated sigh, shoving the phone in her pocket. When she turns, she startles seeing me.
“Shit, Dante!” She presses a hand to her chest. “Wear a bell or something.”
I smirk, pushing off the wall to close the distance between us. “I’m impressed. Not many people have the balls to tell their cheating ex to fuck right off like that.”
Her shoulders drop. “Yeah, well, it wasn’t easy,” she mutters, looking away. “Took me way too long to notice the red flags.”
I stiffen at that. “What red flags?” Did he ever hurt her? He’s still in her apartment, right? I can get her address, be there in the morning, kick his teeth in before breakfast…
Ava shoves a hand through her dark hair. “I’ve always been the one who took care of absolutely everything. The house, the rent, furniture, cleaning, cooking. He works, but his money is his, and my money is ours. You know?” She narrows her eyes. “And I think he was cheating. Before coming here, I mean.”
Anger festers inside me. Yes. I could get his teeth kicked in alright.
Ava raises her hands. “No need to kill him. Seriously. I let him go. Good riddance.”
“You’re a better person than me.”
She smiles, but her eyes are still sad. “Not really. I was putting it off because it was comfortable. Because I’m afraid.”
“Afraid?”
She nods. “Afraid of ending up alone. My whole life, I was told finding a man is the most important thing a girl can do, and then I was told I’m not good enough to keep a man. Because of my size, because I’m too bold, because…” She shrugs, defeated.
It takes everything in me not to fold my arms around her, hold her to my chest.
“Hey.” I tip her chin up with a finger, forcing her gray eyes to meet mine. Sadness swims in their depths and it clenches my heart. “You’re not gonna be alone, Ava. You’ve got Archer, the club...” I swallow hard. “And you’ve got me.”
Uncertainty clouds her features. “Dante, I...” She bites her lip, blinking back tears. “Fuck, I’m such a mess. I don’t even know why I stayed with Steve for so long. I guess I thought I’d never find anyone better, you know? Because of my weight and my fucked up family and the way I always put work first. I’m not exactly a catch.”
The vulnerability in her voice cracks something open in my chest. This fierce, brilliant, strong, sexy-as-hell woman can’t even see how amazing she is. A surge of protectiveness rises up, fiercer than anything I’ve felt before.
And that’s when it hits me like a goddamn freight train.
Holy shit... I’m in love with her.
I am absolutely, completely, violently in love with Ava.
I must be staring like an idiot because concern furrows her brow. “Dante?”
Heart pounding, I step into her space, our chests almost touching. Her breath hitches, eyes widening.
“Ava,” I rasp, my voice low and rough with the emotions welling up, threatening to burst out of me. “You’re brilliant, strong, fearless, passionate... And you’re so fucking gorgeous you take my breath away every time I look at you.”
A pretty blush stains her cheeks. She starts to shake her head, but I catch her face in my hands, holding her gaze.
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you, Ava. No one compares.”
“Dante,” she whispers, trembling fingers gripping my wrists. She glances past my shoulder. “But Archer...”
“I’ll think of something. Just please,” I growl. “Please, let me taste these lips before I go mad.” I surge forward and capture her lips with mine.
And holy hell, if I thought I was on fire before, it’s nothing compared to this. Her lips are soft and sweet, parting on a gasp as I sweep my tongue into her mouth. Desire rips through me, hot and raw. I wrap an arm around her waist, hauling her deliciously curvy body flush against me.
Ava whimpers into the kiss, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she arches closer. I tangle a hand in her hair, changing the angle to take the kiss deeper. The scent of her makes my head spin.
My wolf is going fucking crazy, howling and clawing to get closer to her. And I can’t deny it any longer. I can’t ignore the truth.
It’s her.
Ava is my fated mate. The other half of my soul. Something so rare it’s almost a myth.
Everything inside me cries out that this girl is mine . An answering shudder rolls through her and I know she feels it too, this bond pulling us together, binding our hearts.
Fated. Destined.
She was made for me... and I was born to be hers.