18. Char
CHAR
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Even in the dead of night, the rapid knocking at my front door pulled me upright in bed.
Knock knock knock knock knock.
My heart leapt into my throat as I tossed my legs over the edge of my bed.
Knock knock knock knock knock.
Was she back? That agent? No, it couldn’t be. It was dark outside. Dark in my apartment. Jesus, what time was it?
Knock knock knock knock knock.
I reached for my cell phone and slapped my hand against it. Half past two. It was two-fucking-thirty in the morning. Who in the hell was?—?
Knock knock knock knock knock. “Char? Open this fucking thing before I use my key.”
I didn’t care that he was growling. I didn’t care that he sounded pissed.
All I cared about was the fact that he was there.
I took off like a bat out of hell, rushing through my apartment and routing around the shadows that clawed their way out of the darkness.
I moved around sharp corners and avoided furniture that was ready to break my pinkie toe the second I slammed into it.
And when I flung that door open, all of my fears melted away.
“Deacon,” I said breathlessly, “what in the world are you doing?”
He stood there, looming over me with that harsh look on his face. “I came to see you.”
“Obviously.”
He peered over the top of my head. “Are you all right?”
“Now that you’re here, yes.”
That pulled his gaze back down to mine, and all I could do was wrap my arms around his neck.
I stood onto my tiptoes and jumped, locking my arms around him.
Just like that, I felt safe again. In his presence, nothing could get to me.
Nothing could harm me. That much, I knew for certain.
I buried my face into his mountainous chest, feeling his heart beating against my nose.
I slid my hands down his torso, rumbling my fingertips along the crests and valleys of his strength as his arms blanketed me.
Cloaking me off from the rest of the world.
“I gotcha,” Deac murmured as he walked me back into my apartment, “you’re safe. It’s okay.”
I shivered against him. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you guys again.”
He snickered as he flung the door closed behind him. “Can’t get rid of us that easily.”
I pushed myself closer against him, relishing the way his arms held me.
I never felt more precious in all my life.
Like a trinket someone tried to keep safe from falling off a shelf.
He ran his fingers through my hair. He bent forward just so I could press my face into the crook of his neck.
I wanted to stay there forever, trapped in his effortless embrace as the world passed us by.
Nothing could get to me if he was there.
“Char?” he muttered.
“Mhm?” I hummed softly against his chest.
He kissed the top of my head. “You have to pack a bag and come with me. You’re not safe here any longer.”
I wasn’t even shocked at his words. I wondered about it for days. Ever since that agent dropped by my place, I wondered exactly how much she watched me.
“I knew it,” I whispered.
Deac froze. “Knew what?”
I peeked up at his quizzical stare. “When that ATF agent came by and asked me about Dallas?—”
His nostrils flared as a growl rattled his ribcage. “So she did ask about you and him.”
I shook my head quickly. “Please don’t be mad. It was just a spur of the moment thing. I think he just needed?—”
He pressed his finger to my lips. “You’re not who I’m angry with.”
I puckered my mouth and kissed his skin. “I’m really not safe right now, am I?”
He shrugged as he pulled away from me. “Well, I do technically owe you a night ride.”
I had to admit, that sounded amazing after everything that had transpired. “Will you answer my questions, though, once we’re done?”
“Once you’re safe, yes.”
So for once, I decided not to fight. “All right then. How many outfits will I need?”
His silence told me everything I needed to know.
“All right, I’ll pack however much I can. Give me twenty minutes,” I said as I backtracked through my apartment.
I heard his footsteps following me, but I didn’t try to stop him.
Whatever was going on, if he felt the need to be around, I sure as fuck wasn’t complaining.
I hadn’t slept much since that agent stopped by.
When she asked me about Dallas and us being together, my red flags flapped in the tornadic winds that the rest of her questions kicked up.
I was so lost in thought analyzing my encounters with her that I didn’t realize Deac was trying to help me pack.
“What a fucking shame,” he said.
I turned to face him. “What’s that?”
He pivoted toward me with a thong dangling from his middle finger. “The tag’s still on and everything.”
My eyes widened. “Give me that.”
I reached for it, but he pulled it above his head to where I couldn’t reach. “And if I don’t?”
I jumped, trying to snatch it from him. “Deac, give it to me.”
He chuckled. “Anytime, anywhere, any place.”
I shot him a look. “Give me the fucking thong, Deacon.”
He lowered it, dangling it in front of my face. “Only if you pack it.”
I tried to snatch it away again, but he moved it out of the way.
“Deac,” I groaned as I tried grabbing it from him again, “this isn’t funny.”
“You’re right,” he said as he handed me the thong and reached back into my lingerie drawer, “it isn’t funny when most of these beautiful, lacy pieces still have the goddamn tags on them.”
I shoved it back into the drawer and closed it quickly. “We need to keep packing.”
Despite my holding the drawer closed, he grabbed the knob and pulled it back open. “That’s what I’m doing.”
“You’re not packing these up.”
“How else will they get used if I don’t?”
My stomach jumped at his words. “Used?”
He bent forward, leveling his eyes with mine. “Used and marked and ripped.”
“We won’t—have time for that. Right?”
Another growl bubbled up his throat. “We’ll make time.”
A warm shiver worked its way down my spine. “Just a few, okay?”
He chuckled as a wild grin spread across his face. “Good girl.”
I took a step back from him. “I’m just gonna go and pack my toiletries.”
I watched as he pulled that thong back out of the drawer and tossed it into my bag. “One for me.”
He dug around and found the missing bra before reaching in and pulling out a black teddy set I had yet to use.
“One for Gauge,” he said as his grin spread into a devious smile.
I couldn’t help but watch. I was a slave to his movements as he rummaged around and pulled out an emerald green set.
“And one for Dallas,” he glowered as he tossed it toward my suitcase.
It took all of the strength that I had to turn away from him.
His chuckling followed me into the bathroom where I proceeded to chuck my toiletries in a plastic grocery store bag.
It didn’t have to be fancy, there just had to be a plastic barrier in case something popped or came open during our night ride.
“So where are we headed on this ride?” I asked as I came out of the bathroom.
I saw Deac zipping up my duffle bag. “You got another one of these?”
I peered over at my lingerie drawer and saw that it was empty. “Seriously, Deac?”
“Seriously.”
I would’ve rolled my eyes if it wasn’t the most flattering thing any man had ever done. “In the closet, toward the back. It’s got a rainbow-colored strap on it.”
Watching him stick that ass of his up in the air as he bent forward to find it made my head tilt to the side.
Damn, he had a nice ass.
“Like what you see?” he asked.
His voice ripped me out of my trance. “You know I do.”
He chuckled. “Good girl.”
My nipples puckered at the words as I reached for my laptop. “So where are we headed?”
His playful demeanor slipped right off his face. “Somewhere where electronics aren’t allowed.”
I blinked. “You’re joking, right?”
“Does it look like I’m joking?”
I shook my head. “But what if DeShawn and M.J. come by? What am I supposed to tell them?”
He nodded toward my cell phone. “Tell them that since there’s no work to be done, you’re taking a trip.”
“What?”
He picked up my cell phone and tossed it to me. “A trip, Char. Tell them you’re going somewhere and leave it at that.”
“They’ll never buy that, though, I don’t have anywhere?—”
“Then come up with something else,” he bit.
He heaved a heavy sigh as he tossed my lingerie-filled duffle bag over his shoulder.
“Whatever you feel is necessary to tell them so they don’t come looking for you is fine. But you can’t take your electronics with you. Those can be tracked, and we can’t be tracked to where we’re going. It’ll compromise the entire crew.”
I slid my thumb mindlessly over the screen. “All right, give me a second.”
I pulled up our group text message and stared at the last text I got from DeShawn.
It was from two days ago, and all he did was check up on me.
M.J. was completely off the grid, save for her reading the messages.
So I figured if she was that busy, then it wouldn’t look so weird if I suddenly got that busy, too.
So, I crafted the best message that I could.
Me: Hey, you guys. I know we’re all pretty busy right now, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m taking a trip home.
I sent the message, but I knew they’d want an explanation.
Me: That ATF agent that came into the bar the other day got me thinking about Dad.
I have a lot of things I’ve never said to him, and I think that I deserve the chance to say them.
I’m gonna go visit him, and before you ask, I’m gonna be okay.
I don’t know that I’ll be up to talking much while I’m there, but I swear I’ll fill you guys in once I’m home. Love you.
“There,” I said before I plugged my cell phone into its charger. “That should hold them at bay. Just let me throw some actual clothes into this second bag and we can get out of here.”
Deac grinned. “What? Lingerie is real clothing.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean.”