“He’s making moves, preparing to take us on. Larry wasn’t lying when he said this guy was unpredictable and brutal. He’s moving in on the drug dealers and pimps first, either getting them to agree to his terms or making an example of them. He considers Wick small potatoes, so he’s saving us for later.”

My eyebrows lifted. I couldn’t imagine anyone considering Wick small. He was a scary dude, one I wouldn’t want to mess with on my best day.

“But he will be coming for us. We already know he won’t hesitate to go after those we’re close to, so that means you will be in danger again.”

My heart stopped as memories threatened to overwhelm me.

King’s hands cupped my face. “Jena, don’t go there. Stay with me.”

I blinked and suddenly I was back.

“I can see that the thought terrifies you, darlin’. I’ll arrange for you to go somewhere safe. You won’t have to worry about this shit touching you,” he murmured.

Steel made my spine straighten. “No.”

“Jena, babe, you don’t have to put on a brave face. You’ve had a really bad exp-”

I interrupted him for a change. “No. I’m staying here,” I insisted. “I can’t run every time something scares me. If I leave, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. We’re talking about getting married. That’s for better or worse. So, this is the worst. That means it can only get better.”

King studied me closely for a few seconds. “How likely is it that I’ll change your mind?” he asked.

“You know the answer to that,” I responded.

He sighed, but smiled a little. “Okay, but no arguing when I do whatever is necessary to keep you safe.”

I nodded. “I think I should train with Tia too,” I said suddenly. “I’ll feel less…weak.”

It was King’s turn to nod. “I think that’s a good idea.”

I bit my bottom lip, looking down at him. “I’m scared, King.”

He pulled me close and kissed me. “You’d be stupid if you weren’t. Fear in this situation is normal, darlin’.”

“Are you scared?” I asked, pulling back to look at him.

“Yes,” he admitted.

Amazingly, that made me feel better. King was a badass. If he was afraid, then I wasn’t weak for feeling that way too.

“But we will be fine,” he insisted. “Wick is the smartest man I’ve ever met and he’s already got a plan in motion. This will all be over before Christmas.”

I hoped he was right.

I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him, tucking my face into his neck. “I love you, King.”

I felt his lips brush my shoulder. “Love you too, darlin’.”

Soaking up his strength and his love, I felt hope that we were all going to be fine.

Epilogue

Tia

“Damn, Tia, not only can you kick ass and look good doing it, you make a damn good drink,” Lana yelled, lifting her martini glass in a mock toast.

I paused in wiping down glasses and looked up, grinning at her. “I’ve had lots of practice.”

And I had. From the time I was old enough to read until I left at seventeen, I’d been mixing my mother’s drinks. I’d started making martinis at age seven, so I’d had twenty-four years of experience.

The bar was closed and Lana demanded I make her a martini, just like she did every night. She said it was good practice for me and I went along with it because she was a lot of fun to work with. King didn’t seem to mind if she had one while we closed up. In fact, he would join us for a beer from time to time if he stayed that late.

I finished with the glasses and went out on the floor to wash tables. I was about halfway done when the atmosphere in the bar changed. It felt as though the air were suddenly charged with electricity.

Every hair on my body stood up and I lifted my eyes to see Wick sitting at the bar, watching me. Lana was standing behind him. I could tell by her posture that she was trying to flirt with him, but Wick wasn’t really paying attention to her.

Our eyes locked and I knew tonight was the night.

We’d been dancing around each other for two months, like fighters looking for a weakness to exploit. Only the pounding Wick wanted to give me wouldn’t involve blood and bruises, but moans and orgasms.

I’d resisted for as long as I could, refusing to become another faceless woman in his harem. I knew about the other women. I listened to the talk and only believed about half of it, but I did know that Wick was not a one-woman man. All the women who worked here thought it was because he liked variety.

I knew better.

Wick didn’t want to get attached. He wanted to keep his distance. I understood it because I was similar. Only, instead of having two or three men on rotation, I preferred one-night stands.

Either way, I knew what he was all about.

This was why I avoided him. While I didn’t necessarily want to be tied down, I also had no desire to be part of a crowd.

Still, there was something about him. He was magnetic and I was at the end of my resistance.

So I would give him one night.

Decision made, I continued with my to do list until everything was done. Lana had long since given up trying to flirt with Wick and was finishing up her own stuff as well.

As I worked, I could feel his eyes following me. My limbs tingled with anticipation, but I focused on giving nothing away. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

When we were done, Lana gathered her bag from the back and I grabbed by leather jacket and my helmet. Jack was waiting for us by the front doors when we returned to the bar area, but Wick was nowhere to be seen.

He was still here somewhere, though. I could feel him.

Jack walked us out, well, specifically walked Lana out. I knew he was sweet on her, but had to admit I was glad she wasn’t giving him any encouragement. Lana wasn’t a bad woman, but she wanted to find a man to take care of her. Jack was smart, funny, and hard working, but he would never be rich and definitely never wealthy enough for someone like Lana. It was a train wreck in the making.

As I headed to my bike, I immediately noticed Wick leaning against his SUV parked next to it.

I walked right up to him, stopping a couple feet away. “Wick,” I greeted.

“Tia.”

We stared at each other, neither of us willing to break first. When he didn’t speak again, I lifted an eyebrow and lifted my helmet to settle it on my head.

He’d come here for me and I sure as hell wasn’t going to make the first move. That’s what Wick was used to, what he wanted. If he didn’t chase me, then he didn’t have to admit he wanted me, and I wasn’t going to let him get away with that.

He wanted me as badly as I wanted him and he was going to fucking admit it.

As I strapped my helmet down, my eyes on Wick’s, I watched as the realization hit him. When he still didn’t speak, I turned toward my bike. I wasn’t going to play fucking games all night. I usually didn’t play games at all, but there was something about Wick that made me break all my own rules.

His hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist. “Wait.”

I faced him again without speaking.

Finally, he growled, “I want you.”

I nodded, but didn’t respond verbally.

“Come with me tonight,” he continued.

“Where?” I asked.

At my acquiescence, his eyes flashed. “Get in the car. I’ll drive.”

I shook my head. “I’ll meet you there. Tell me where.”

His hand tightened on my arm before he released it. “Just follow me,” he instructed firmly, sounding almost angry.

I nodded once and went to my bike, throwing my leg over the seat. He climbed into his SUV and waited until I started up the Harley before he pulled out of the parking lot.

I followed behind him, secure in the knowledge that I was in control.

Because I had to be.

The End

Tia and Wick’s story will continue in 2016.